Former UK health minister Nadine Dorries has publicly shared her personal experience with testosterone therapy, describing it as a transformative treatment for symptoms commonly associated with menopause, including brain fog, fatigue, and memory loss.
Dorries, 68, recounted instances of significant forgetfulness and exhaustion earlier this year, which she initially worried might be signs of dementia. She noted that many women of her age experienced similar cognitive and physical challenges. These symptoms began to impact her daily life, leading to forgotten tasks like turning off a kitchen tap or overcooking food left unattended in the oven. The experience also led to a decline in her self-confidence and social withdrawal.
Having been on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for two decades to manage menopause symptoms, Dorries decided to explore adding testosterone to her regime after observing friends who reported significant improvements in their energy levels and libido. She noted that testosterone is a natural hormone present in women, with levels declining after menopause, impacting cognition, mood, and energy.
After consulting with a private General Practitioner, Dorries underwent a blood test which revealed her testosterone level was at the lower end of the normal range. She was prescribed a testosterone gel, AndroFeme, which she applied daily. She reported immediate positive effects within 24 to 48 hours, including a return of mental clarity and a significant reduction in exhaustion within a week. The brain fog, she described, completely cleared over the following month, enabling her to think clearly and resume writing with renewed confidence.
Dorries drew parallels between the under-researched status of testosterone therapy for women and the widely available treatments for men, such as Viagra. She referenced the Scottish NHS, which states that testosterone replacement therapy in women can increase dopamine levels and maintain cognitive function, contrasting this with the British Menopause Society's more cautious stance, which calls for more research into its cognitive and mood benefits.
However, Dorries also detailed a subsequent challenge where her testosterone levels decreased after three months of therapy, a phenomenon her doctor explained as a potential feedback loop where the body reduces its own production. Her doctor advised increasing the dosage, and Dorries reported feeling a positive difference again soon after. She emphasized the importance of regular re-testing of hormone levels for individuals undergoing such treatments.
Dorries encouraged other women experiencing similar symptoms to discuss treatment alternatives with their healthcare providers. "Don't embrace old age," she advised. "Explore the alternatives with whoever backs you, and live your life to the full."