Anvisa warns against routine testosterone replacement for women

Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has issued guidance stating that testosterone replacement therapy is not for all women and must only be administered in specific clinical situations following medical evaluation.

This warning follows the spread of social media content promoting hormone use to improve appearance, energy, and libido. Medical entities, including the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology (SBEM) and the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FEBRASGO), emphasize that there is no scientific basis for the claim that all women require testosterone to combat aging. The only recognized therapeutic indication for women is hypoactive sexual desire disorder in post-menopausal patients.

Experts warn that using testosterone without clinical indication or in improper doses can lead to adverse effects, including acne, hair loss, liver changes, blood lipid alterations, and cardiovascular issues. Anvisa's pharmacovigilance data shows an increase in adverse event reports related to anabolic medications, particularly testosterone and somatropin, with a peak in 2024. The agency notes this increase may be due to improved registration systems and higher reporting rates rather than a proportional rise in health problems.