Testosterone therapy tested as new pain relief for women on opioids

NCT ID NCT04895306

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Brigham and Women's Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for ANDROGEN DEFICIENCY are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

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.

ANDROGEN DEFICIENCY BACK PAIN OPIOID USE PAIN

Contacts and locations

Locations

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.