How could the NICE cost-effectiveness appraisal of a new testosterone cream affect the NHS?
The NHS may face changes in drug funding based on NICE's cost-effectiveness review. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) must appraise the female-formulated testosterone cream, AndroFeme, for cost effectiveness. Although the cream was approved in 2025, it is not yet available on the National Health Service (NHS). The outcome of this appraisal will determine whether the NHS will fund and provide the treatment to patients in England. This is significant given that NHS prescriptions for testosterone gel to women in England rose roughly tenfold between 2015 and 2022.
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How it reaches National Health Service
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The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence must appraise a female-formulated testosterone cream, AndroFeme, for cost effectiveness in England. Although the UK approved the cream in 2025, it is not yet available through the National Health Service because NICE has not completed its cost-effectiveness review. In England, NHS prescriptions for testosterone gel for women increased roughly tenfold between 2015 and 2022.
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The cost-effectiveness recommendation from NICE dictates whether the National Health Service will include the cream in its funded treatments. If the cream is deemed cost-effective, it becomes available on the NHS; otherwise, it remains unavailable.
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publicly-funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom
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The facts so far
As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.
- NICE still needs to appraise the female-formulated testosterone cream for cost effectiveness.theweek.com
- The UK approved the female-formulated testosterone cream AndroFeme in 2025.theweek.com
- The cream is not yet available on the NHS.theweek.com
- NHS prescriptions for testosterone gel to women in England rose roughly tenfold between 2015 and 2022.theweek.com
Why it matters
The availability of this cream is critical for women seeking treatment for menopause-related symptoms, such as low libido and mood changes. The decision by NICE will determine if these treatments are accessible through the publicly-funded NHS, or if patients must rely on private options or online pharmacies.
This appraisal comes against a backdrop of rapidly increasing demand for testosterone therapy in the UK. In England, NHS prescriptions for testosterone gel to women saw a tenfold increase between 2015 and 2022, highlighting the growing need for effective and affordable treatments.
What we don't know yet
- What specific cost-effectiveness threshold will NICE use for this appraisal?
- What is the long-term safety data available for the cream in women?
What would change this answer
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