6. Testosterone in Perimenopause & Menopause with Dr. Tami Rowen

About this episode

This episode explores the role of testosterone in women's health during perimenopause and menopause, featuring insights from Dr. Tami Rowen.

Is testosterone the "missing piece" of your hormone puzzle, or is it a social media-fueled performance enhancer? In this deep-dive episode, Dr. Rachel Pope is joined by Dr. Tami Rowen, a lead gynecologist at UCSF and expert in sexual and transgender health, to separate data from hype. They tackle the confusing world of testosterone for women—from its role in desire and energy to the hidden history of how it was once used to protect the uterus. In This Episode, We Discuss: * The HSDD Breakthrough: Why the best-known data for testosterone is in treating Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), and the surprising truth about the doses used in successful clinical trials. * The "Menopause Cliff" Myth: Why testosterone doesn't actually crash at menopause, but rather begins a slow, steady decline in your 30s. * Dosing & Safety: The difference between "physiologic" levels (what you had in your 20s) and "supra-physiologic" doses (performance-enhancing levels) often seen in boutique pellet clinics. * The Breast Cancer Debate: Is testosterone protective or risky? Dr. Rowen explains the "anti-proliferative" nature of the hormone and the nuances of aromatization into estrogen. * The…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Rachel Pope

Guest: Dr. Tami Rowen

Topics covered

• testosterone
• perimenopause
• menopause
• HSDD
• women's health
• sexual health

Keywords

• testosterone
• HSDD
• menopause
• women's health
• sexual desire
• hormones
• gynecologist

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UCSF

More episodes of Our Womanity Q & A with Dr. Rachel Pope

• 9. 15-Minute Consult: New Research in Vestibulodynia with Dr. Jill Krapf · June 9, 2026 · 17 min
• 8. Weight Lifting & Prolapse with Dr. Jessica Jenkins · May 29, 2026 · 15 min
• 7. 15-Minute Consult: Acne and Facial Hair in Perimenopause & Menopause with Dr. Melissa Mauskar · April 15, 2026 · 12 min
• 5. Hormone Therapy in Perimenopause & Menopause with Dr. Rachel Pope · March 11, 2026 · 17 min
• 4. Disordered Eating in Perimenopause & Menopause with Lucene Wisniewski, Ph.D., FAED · February 24, 2026 · 32 min
• 3. Eating for Satiety & Longevity in Perimenopause & Menopause with Gretchen Spetz, RD · February 10, 2026 · 29 min