Partner's Testosterone Gel: Can It Cause Hair Growth in Women?

New coarse hair on your chin or chest, or a burst of acne, usually sends women looking at their own hormones. If a partner uses testosterone gel, there’s another place to look.

How it transfers

Testosterone gel is rubbed onto the skin, usually the upper arms and shoulders, and some stays on the surface. The prescribing information warns that women and children can absorb it through skin contact, and that this can cause signs of excess male hormone.¹

In a transfer study described in the label, women rubbed their bellies against men’s gel-treated bellies for 15 minutes, through a T-shirt, 2 hours after the gel went on. After 7 days, the women’s average testosterone was about 60% higher than at the start.¹

What to watch for

The label lists these signs in women after contact:¹

• Changes in body hair
• A noticeable increase in acne

It says these should be raised with a doctor, along with the possibility of secondary exposure.¹

A shared washcloth

A case report from a New York hospital described a 63-year-old woman who developed male-pattern changes after her partner started testosterone gel, even though the couple knew about the risk.² The likely route was a washcloth they shared.² Her changes reversed after the gel was stopped, and the partner was able to restart it with precautions.² Blood tests and a careful history were enough to find the cause.²

Preventing transfer

The label’s instructions for the person using the gel:¹

1. Apply only where a short-sleeved T-shirt will cover, on the upper arms and shoulders.
2. Wash hands with soap and water right after applying.
3. Cover the area with clothing once the gel is dry.
4. Wash the area with soap and water before any skin-to-skin contact.

And for the household: keep separate towels and washcloths.² If you’re pregnant, the gel can affect a female fetus, so avoid contact.¹

When to get checked

See a doctor for thick, dark hair on your face, chest, belly or back, and ask for an urgent appointment if it appears suddenly or your voice deepens.³ Mention any testosterone, DHEA or hormone creams in the house, including a partner’s. See how much facial hair is normal and why you’re getting chin hairs.

Try: “I’ve had new dark hairs on my chin and more acne over the last few months. My husband started testosterone gel around the same time. Could I be absorbing it, and should my levels be checked?”

Hair, Everywhere covers this in Chapter 10, “Less Here, More There,” in a section called “Other Causes.” Its Hair Log asks you to date anything new that came into the house, so a partner’s prescription can be matched to when the hair started. See the book.