Is Testosterone Associated With Libido?

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Testosterone is not the only hormone involved in libido, but is it the main one? It goes down, doesn't change at menopause, gets low in the 60s and starts to creep up again. In young women even though they've got more testosterone, most of what's determining their sexual function is whether they're partnered or depressed. So does your blood level of testosterone say anything about your sexual function? No. Don't measure it. Not worthwhile. And if you give testosterone to a woman who presents with low sexual desire, does it make a difference? The jury is out in the studies of younger women.

In Episode #245, I'm joined by endocrinologist and clinical researcher Professor Susan Davis, AO. In this detailed exchange – taking place over more than two hours – Professor Davis shares the best practice guidelines for managing menopause. You will learn from a world-leading expert about sex hormones, the physiological changes underpinning menopause, signs and symptoms of peri-menopause/menopause, the struggles of menopause, medical and lifestyle interventions for managing menopause (including hormone therapy), testosterone and sexual desire, the beautiful side of menopause, and plenty more.

"One of the – dare I say – more sinister symptoms that women often do not relate to menopause is anxiety."

Professor Susan R Davis AO*,* is Director, Monash University Women’s Health Research Program and an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow; Consultant Endocrinologist and Head, Women’s Endocrine Clinic, Alfred Hospital Melbourne; and consultant at Cabrini Medical Centre.

Her research spans from basic science to clinical trials, and has been pivotal in the understanding of sex hormones in women across the lifespan in multiple non-reproductive target tissues, including the brain (cognition, mood, sexual function), cardiovascular system (lipids, vascular function, and coagulation), and other tissues (fat, muscle, joint cartilage, and bone).

Specifically, we cover:

Intro (00:00)
Understanding Menopause: Communication and Misconceptions (06:00)
Hysterectomy and its Impact on Menopause (10:48)
Medical Consultation during Menopause: Is it necessary? (15:48)
In-Depth Discussion on Menopause Symptoms and Phases (18:03)
Menopause as a Part of the Aging Process (28:28)
Hormones and Reproduction during Menopause (30:47)
Women's Experiences and Body Changes during Menopause (33:10)
Estrogen and Sex Hormones during Menopause (48:20)
A Proactive Approach to Menopause: Starting Early for Symptom Management (49:10)
Guidelines for Managing Menopause (1:04:31)
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) (1:13:28)
HRT and Breast Cancer Risk (1:24:30)
HRT Medications: Guidelines and Recommendations (1:26:50)
The Trustworthiness of Big Pharmaceutical Corporations (1:45:35)
Breast Cancer and Menopause Medications (1:55:12)
The Funding of Menopause Research (1:58:00)
Testosterone Therapy in Menopausal Hormone Treatment (2:00:10)
Empowering Menopausal Women: Their Continued Contributions to Society (2:18:55)
Outro (2:19:40)

To connect with Professor Davis, you can find her on Twitter @SRDwomenshealth. Read her published work here, and make sure to check out the resources below for more useful information on this topic.

Discover more insights and supporting studies in the full show notes.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

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Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

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