Androgens are important for maintaining bone density and sex drive. After menopause the ovaries stop making androgens, the adrenals continue, but the total amount produced by the body is greatly diminished.
Androgens are available combined with estrogen, for replacement therapy.
This is prescribed as second line therapy. For women who have not achieved good relief from hot flashes, or who are complaining of loss of sex drive, on estrogen. Taking estrogen stops the loss of any more calcium but does not replace the calcium already lost. Taking calcium supplements and vitamin D will not replace the lost calcium either. There is now evidence that taking a estrogen-androgen combination can promote new bone formation.