My healthcare provider is suggesting I try testosterone to help me increase my sex drive. Isn’t that a male hormone? Is it used in women? —Denise Hill, California

You’re right: Testosterone is a sex hormone that is a male (androgen) hormone sometimes recommended for boosting the libido. But women make testosterone in their bodies too, in their ovaries and in the adrenal glands located above their kidneys. Women have lower levels of testosterone than men, and experts don’t know what normal levels of testosterone are for women, so we can’t test women for such levels.

The limited research to date suggests that testosterone helps restore vitality, particularly for women who had their ovaries removed before menopause. But there’s little evidence that the same effects are possible for the rest of us. In fact, in some studies, women in the placebo groups (those who weren’t receiving testosterone) reported the same increases in drive and vitality as women who were receiving testosterone.

Testosterone for women is approved in only one form, Estratest (esterified estrogens and methyltestosterone), which is hormone therapy of both estrogen and testosterone. All other approved forms are for men only. The North American Menopause Society recommends testosterone only for post-menopausal women, and only with estrogen (which raises the whole issue of hormone therapy safety). They recommend using the prescription-based supplement only, and for no more than 6 months.

Women shouldn’t take other forms of testosterone simply because of the lack of a standard dose for women. Yes, there are many pharmacies touting bioidentical hormone compounding, but there’s no way you can ensure that the exact amounts of the hormone you want are actually present (or if they’re present at all). Many may include steroid hormones that potentially increase your cancer risks, as these may include phytoestrogens, or plant-based estrogens.

The side effects of testosterone aren’t exactly pretty: acne, facial hair growth, clitoral enlargement and a deepening voice. Testosterone is linked to risks of breast cancer because it’s changed to estrogen in fatty tissue.

What I recommend instead is to focus on the reasons for your low sex drive. What’s going on in your life? Stress is the number one reason for a low sex drive. Next, relationship reality check: How do you feel about your partner compared to when your drive was strongest? Unresolved issues create resentment. Are you withholding yourself from your partner out of anger or disinterest?

Are you happy in your body? Have you recently gained weight? Poor body image often leads to avoiding sex. Has something changed in your life? Children leaving the home or health problems in aging relatives can divert the energy we could otherwise give to sex.

Libido is complex and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to treating it. There’s simply no good evidence for using testosterone for low libido in women; in fact, it may be dangerous. Remember the women in the studies who thought they were getting testosterone, but who didn’t? They reported the same increased sex drives. So perhaps just believing you’re doing something to boost libido may be the key to actually achieving it.