In 2021 Menopause Support teamed up with Dr Zoe Hodson to see if we could collectively improve access to Testosterone for women via the NHS.
The possible prescribing of Testosterone to women via the NHS is still a postcode lottery, but we are making encouraging headway. Each area of the country has a prescribing formulary, and if you search on the Integrated Care Board (ICB) formulary for your area and then search ‘testosterone’ then click on it and see who is ‘allowed’ to have testosterone it will tell you about the situation in your area.
If there is no sign of Testosterone being considered an appropriate treatment for women in your area, please contact the ICB and ask why, using the template letter that you can find here.
Once you have received a reply, please drop us an email hello@menopausesupport.co.uk so that we can update the information below.
Dr Hodson deserves much of the credit for this project as she has done all the emailing to ICBs etc, we have simply helped by preparing and sharing the information. Thanks to all the doctors, nurses, pharmacists and women on social media who have got involved in this project by contacting their own ICB. As they say, teamwork makes the dream work. All hail the team.
Below you will find the latest update and an explanation of the NHS traffic light system. We will continue to update this as more information is received.
NHS Traffic Light System
The “traffic light” system defines where responsibility for prescribing between primary and specialist clinicians should lie through categorising individual drugs as red, amber, or green.
Red Considered suitable for a consultant or specialist, usually within a secondary or tertiary care services, to initiate and continue prescribing.
Amber Medicines that are appropriate for shared care – responsibility for prescribing may be transferred from the specialist team to primary care with the agreement of an individual GP.
Green Regarded as suitable for primary care prescribing
Black/Grey Not recommended for use except in exceptional circumstances.
England
East of England
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes -Amber, specialist or GP with relevant experience
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough-Amber
Hertfordshire and West Essex-Amber
Mid and South Essex-Amber
Norfolk and Waveney-Amber
Suffolk and North East Essex-under discussion
South West
Bath, Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire-Amber
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire-only for surgical menopause and P.O.I.. Plans to discuss again
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly-not currently commissioned, plans to review. No current menopause service. Complaints can be directed to ciosicb.complaints@nhs.net
Devon-emailed, not currently listed
Dorset-Amber
Gloucestershire-Amber
Somerset Green for specialist and GP with additional training
South East
Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West-Amber
Frimley-Amber
Hampshire and IOW-Amber
Kent and Medway- not currently listed
Surrey Heartlands-Amber
Sussex-Green
London
North Central London-Amber
North East London- not currently listed
North West London-Amber
South East London-Amber
South West London-Amber
Midlands
Birmingham and Solihull-Amber and Green for GP with additional training
Black Country-Amber
Coventry and Warwickshire-Amber
Derby and Derbyshire-Green
Hereford and Worcestershire-Amber including specialist primary care prescribers
Leicestershire and Rutland-Amber
Lincolnshire-Grey (specialist initiated and then GP can continue)
Northamptonshire-not on formulary
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire-Amber
Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin-Amber
Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent-under consideration
North of England
Humber and North Yorkshire-Green
North Cumbria, North of Tyne, Gateshead-Green
South Yorkshire Amber, Green for GP with specialist training
West Yorkshire-Amber
Cheshire and Merseyside-Amber
Greater Manchester-Green after specialist advice
Lancashire and South Cumbria-Amber
Wales
| Area | Classification |
| Betsi Cadwaladr | Red |
| Powys | Green |
| Swansea | Amber |
Scotland
| Area | Classification |
| Fife | Amber |
| Tayside | Amber |
(*BRISTOL
TESTOSTERONE GEL 21
Tostran® 2% gel and Testogel® 40.5mg/5g gel sachets
TLS Amber 3 months – See Shared Care Protocol
Restricted to use for treatment of low libido causing distress in women with optimised HRT and with either early menopause (age 45 and under) or surgical menopause only.
Use of testosterone gel for women outside of this indication is non-formulary.)
NHS Traffic Light System
The “traffic light” system defines where responsibility for prescribing between primary and specialist clinicians should lie through categorising individual drugs as red, amber, or green.
Red Considered suitable for a consultant or specialist, usually within a secondary or tertiary care services, to initiate and continue prescribing.
Amber Medicines that are appropriate for shared care – responsibility for prescribing may be transferred from the specialist team to primary care with the agreement of an individual GP.
Green Regarded as suitable for primary care prescribing
Black/Grey Not recommended for use except in exceptional circumstances.
Updated 13/3/23
