// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Women pose as men to buy testosterone online after prescription difficulties
Testosterone is sometimes prescribed to post-menopausal women who are already taking other forms of HRT but are still struggling with symptoms like low libido
Women are posing as men to buy testosterone from online pharmacies because of difficulties getting NHS prescriptions in Wales, according to a consultant.
There has been a "very sharp increase" in testosterone referrals to the NHS for post-menopausal women, but access varies between health boards.
Menopause specialist Dr Michelle Olver said she had seen women with up to 12 times the safe level of the hormone - risking permanent side effects - because they have bought online.
She would like to see an equitable all-Wales approach to testosterone prescribing, with it used to help with things such as libido.
The Welsh government said: "All health boards are expected to provide individualised care."
While testosterone is proven to help with libido after menopause, many women also claim it helps with energy levels and cognition.
Olver, a consultant in sexual and reproductive health, said it was "incredibly sad" to see women lying to get hold of the drug online, because they were being "denied access to something they need", but urged proper counselling and monitoring was needed.
"We want to maintain women in female physiological range for testosterone. We don't want them to have sky-high levels," she said.
"When you persistently have very high testosterone levels you can get undesirable permanent side effects.