Postmenopausal women using testosterone therapy may face an elevated risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, according to new research presented at The Menopause Society's annual meeting. The study analyzed data from over 6,000 postmenopausal women aged 45 and older, excluding those with a prior history of cardiovascular disease.
Among the participants, 3.8% of women receiving testosterone therapy experienced a first-time cardiovascular event. In contrast, only 0.5% of women who were not on testosterone therapy experienced such an event. This translates to approximately 38 cardiovascular events per 1,000 women on testosterone compared to five per 1,000 women not using the therapy.
Testosterone, a hormone produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands, plays a role in sexual desire, muscle and bone health, mood, and cognitive function. While it can potentially improve sexual desire and satisfaction in certain postmenopausal women, experts advise that any potential benefits should be carefully weighed against possible risks.
Physicians considering testosterone therapy for patients should conduct a thorough assessment of the individual's overall health, including their cardiovascular history, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, metabolic health, current medications, and family medical history. This is particularly important given the study's findings.
Researchers acknowledged significant limitations in the study, noting that it was observational. This means the study can identify a correlation between testosterone use and cardiovascular events but cannot definitively establish causation. Factors other than testosterone therapy, such as age, blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol levels, and other health conditions, could have influenced the outcomes for women using the therapy. Experts emphasize that this finding serves as an important signal for further investigation rather than conclusive evidence of causality.