In this episode, I talk to menopause clinician, author and podcaster Dr. Heather Hirsch, about the role of testosterone for women, especially in midlife, often misunderstood as just a male hormone. Testosterone can actually be the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to our perimenopause and menopause symptoms. We'll be talking about what we need it for, how and why we lose it, how it can help with boosting libido, brain clarity and energy levels too, but also why it may not be right for everyone. And we'll also find out why it's hard to get it prescribed in the UK right now.  Dr. Hirsch is an internal medicine physician specialising in women's health and menopause care at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, USA. Her clinical work and research centres on inequalities or unanswered questions in the field of women's health, specifically menopause education, and she aims to help women experiencing symptoms of perimenopause and menopause to thrive in midlife. In this episode 2:09 What is testosterone and why do women need it? 4:07 Where is testosterone made? 6:45 What happens to testosterone levels in women during menopause? 10:01 How do you receive testosterone if you need it? 14:08 Side effects and span of treatment 17:39 Problems in accessing testosterone 23:39 Inequalities in women’s healthcare   About The Latte Lounge: This episode of the Latte Lounge podcast was presented by Katie Taylor from The Latte Lounge. We help women over 40 navigate perimenopause, menopause and midlife with confidence! Download our free perimenopause symptom checker here: https://www.lattelounge.co.uk/the-34-symptoms-of-perimenopause-and-menopause-symptom-checker/  Would you like some extra support with managing your menopause symptoms?  Here's a few ways we can help: The Latte Lounge + is our online menopause clinic where you can get an online appointment with a menopause doctor, a personalised treatment plan and prescriptions delivered to your door, all for an affordable monthly payment. More info here. The Latte Lounge Membership: join Katie in her inner hub for just £9.99 a month and you'll get monthly practical masterclasses (things like taster menopause yoga sessions, Q&As with menopause specialists etc), members-only content (including 'cheat sheet' summaries of our podcast episodes), how-to guides and resources, and closer support from Katie when you need it. More info here.  Our free menopause symptom tracker: download our free symptom resource to check, track and understand your symptoms. Download for free here. Find The Latte Lounge community online... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thelatteloungewomenover40 (or search The Latte Lounge group to find us) Instagram: @loungethelatte Twitter: @lounge_latte YouTube: The Latte Lounge Website: www.lattelounge.co.uk Menopause resources: www.lattelounge.co.uk/menopause The Midlife Festival: https://www.themidlifefestival.com/  Links from this episode: Website: www.heatherhirschmd.com Twitter: @HeatherHirschMD Instagram: @HeatherHirschMD TikTok: @HeatherHirschMD Thank you to: This series is sponsored by Sylk Natural Lubricant. Visit Sylk for a free sample or use code LL40 at the checkout for a 40% discount on products! The Latte Lounge podcast is produced by Emily Crosby Media. Disclaimer: Information contained within this podcast is no substitute for personalised medical advice and should not replace advice from your own doctor. Please note that none of our podcast guests receive payment from our sponsor!