--- title: Is low-dose testosterone treatment safe for women with severe PMS? description: Low-dose testosterone treatment caused small unfavorable changes in cholesterol that could increase heart disease risk, but did not damage the ovaries. This i url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-effects-of-low-dose-testosterone-treatment-on-lipid-metabolism-clotting-1998/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Is low-dose testosterone treatment safe for women with severe PMS? Randomised trial, 1998 # Is low-dose testosterone treatment safe for women with severe PMS? Low-dose testosterone treatment caused small unfavorable changes in cholesterol that could increase heart disease risk, but did not damage the ovaries. This is a small comparison study without random assignment, so results are preliminary. Early or limited evidence 22 women with severe PMS treated with testosterone implants versus 22 untreated women with severe PMS, average age 39.6 years ## What they did A comparison of 22 women with severe PMS who had been treated with testosterone implants (100 mg injected under the skin every 6 months) for an average of 3.3 years, versus 22 similar untreated women with severe PMS. Blood tests measured cholesterol and clotting factors. Ovarian ultrasounds were performed between days 1 to 4 of the menstrual cycle. ## What they found Testosterone levels were higher in treated women (4.5 nmol/l) versus controls (1.9 nmol/l). HDL cholesterol (the good kind) was lower in the testosterone group (1.3 vs 1.5 nmol/l). Apolipoprotein A1 was lower (99.2 vs 116.2 g/l). VLDL cholesterol was higher (0.4 vs 0.2 nmol/l). Ovarian ultrasounds were normal in both groups. No women reported side effects like unwanted hair growth or acne. ## What it means for you Low-dose testosterone treatment for severe PMS may have small negative effects on cholesterol patterns that could increase heart disease risk, but ovaries appear unaffected. This was a small comparison study without random assignment, so more research is needed. 22 per group Number of women compared 100 mg Testosterone implant dose every 6 months 3.3 years Average treatment duration ## About the study Original title The effects of low-dose testosterone treatment on lipid metabolism, clotting factors and ultrasonographic ovarian morphology in women Authors Buckler HM, McElhone K, Durrington PN et al. Journal Clinical endocrinology Year 1998 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Subcutaneous testosterone implants (100 mg every 6 months) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2265.1998.00525.x](https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2265.1998.00525.x) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-pcos/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Cohort study, 2025 Does having PCOS raise the risk of premenstrual disorders like PMS or PMDD? Systematic review, 2010 Does acupuncture treat premenstrual syndrome? Cohort study, 2026 Does having worse premenstrual symptoms mean you are more likely to get pregnant? Cohort study, 2026 Do early-life exposures like antibiotics or breastfeeding affect PMS risk? Randomised trial, 2026 Does vitamin D help with PMS symptoms? Systematic review, 2025 Does seed cycling reduce PMS symptoms? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗