Testosterone therapy tested as new pain relief for women on opioids

NCT ID NCT04895306

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether giving testosterone to older women with chronic back pain and low testosterone could improve pain, physical function, and quality of life. 36 women received weekly injections of either testosterone or a placebo for several weeks. The goal was to see if testosterone could be a safe and effective way to manage pain and reduce opioid use.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

testosterone cypionate (a form of testosterone)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward a new way to manage chronic pain in older women and reduce reliance on opioids.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase trial with only 36 participants, so results may not apply widely. Testosterone therapy can have side effects, and the benefit over placebo is uncertain.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Back Pain hypogonadism opioid abuse Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Brigham and Women's Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States