Why are cis women suddenly into taking testosterone?

An emerging trend in wellness has women seeking out T to improve their sex lives or energy levels

Cis women are taking testosterone in droves, spurred by a new wave of testosterone influencers convincing them that it will dramatically improve their libido, energy levels and other aspects of their day-to-day lives.

In recent weeks, sweeping features in the New York Times, National Geographic and New York Magazine have profiled this trend of—usually middle-aged—cis women taking testosterone to improve their energy and sex lives. They boast about finally finding their husbands attractive or being able to better keep up with their busy schedules. 

And this all makes testosterone sound like a miracle drug for women, and a lot of influencers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok pitch it as such.

But there are two big complicating factors here. We break down what you need to know about the risks associated with cis women’s new embrace of T, and what it means for gender-affirming care for trans people.

Senior editor Mel Woods is an English-speaking Vancouver-based writer, editor and audio producer and a former associate editor with HuffPost Canada. A proud prairie queer and ranch dressing expert, their work has also appeared in Vice, Slate, the Tyee, the CBC, the Globe and Mail and the Walrus.

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