The health industry is no stranger to bold promises, from peptide regimens to seed cycling and “moon milk.” Collagen-infused drinks with questionable flavor profiles have also made the rounds. Still, a hormone cream that claims to increase libido, improve energy and support testosterone levels — without containing testosterone — raises eyebrows even in a crowded market.
Testosterone therapy for women has long been a complicated area. Pellet treatments are often associated with mood changes, while topical creams can trigger skin problems such as rashes. Adding to the challenge, there is currently no FDA-approved testosterone product designed specifically for women.
Against that background, a cream positioned as a solution to these common drawbacks may sound unlikely.
The product, Oestra, comes from the women’s health company Inner Balance, founded by hormone specialist Dr. Sarah Daccarett. Its central claim is simple: help restore testosterone levels without directly administering the hormone.
Surprisingly, the concept is rooted in a biological mechanism that has received increasing attention – the relationship between progesterone and testosterone.
The science behind the claim
Instead of adding testosterone, the method focuses on progesterone, a hormone that acts as a precursor to the body’s production of testosterone. As progesterone levels drop, testosterone can also decrease. Restoration of progesterone can therefore support the body’s natural hormone synthesis.
Image credit: Sarah Daccarett
Oestra is designed to address this pathway and effectively support what some experts describe as the body’s internal hormonal “highway” so that it can produce necessary hormones more efficiently.
According to an internal company study, reported results included:
- 75.3% of participants reported improved libido
- Testosterone levels increased naturally
- No significant reports of outbreaks
- No hair loss
- No notable mood elevations
If validated by wider independent research, such findings could signal a shift in how hormone support for women is approached – particularly for those seeking alternatives to direct testosterone treatment.
Another direction for hormone therapy?
For decades, critics have argued that women’s hormonal health has been under-researched and often misunderstood. Treatments have often been adapted from models originally designed for men or limited by limited clinical options.
Inre Balans seems to be positioning itself as part of a newer wave of companies trying to rethink hormone therapy with women’s physiology in mind. The emphasis is on minimizing side effects, avoiding dramatic hormonal fluctuations and grounding treatment strategies in established biological pathways.
Image credit: Sarah Daccarett
Whether products like Oestra represent meaningful progress remains to be seen. Larger peer-reviewed studies will ultimately determine their clinical efficacy.
Still, the idea of improving libido and energy by supporting the body’s natural hormone production — rather than directly replacing hormones — points to a potentially important development in women’s health.
If future research supports these early claims, innovations like this could help reshape expectations about hormone therapy and expand the range of options available to women seeking balance without the compromises historically associated with testosterone therapy.
