# S1E17 Wait… Women Need Testosterone Too?!

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/40s-forward-7631177/s1e17-wait-women-need-testosterone-too
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/40s-forward-7631177/s1e17-wait-women-need-testosterone-too.md
Podcast: [40s Forward](https://stenobird.com/podcast/40s-forward-7631177)
Published: 2026-04-20T18:04:00+00:00
Episode link: https://72eafd7c-7b40-45ab-8e38-1b5a902bcba1.libsyn.com/s1e17-wait-women-need-testosterone-too
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/72eafd7c-7b40-45ab-8e38-1b5a902bcba1/Episode_17_Full_Audio_FF.mp3?dest-id=4472573
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/40s-forward-7631177/episodes/s1e17-wait-women-need-testosterone-too
Duration seconds: 1808

## Resource

In this episode of 40s Forward, Dr. Betsy Greenleaf breaks down one of the most misunderstood—and overlooked—hormones in women's health after 40: testosterone. If you've been feeling flat, unmotivated, disconnected, or like your drive—physically, mentally, or emotionally—has faded, you're not alone. And it may not be "just aging" or menopause. It may be hormonal. This conversation challenges outdated narratives and reframes testosterone as a critical hormone for women's vitality, confidence, and overall well-being. What You'll Learn in This Episode • Why testosterone is not just a "male hormone" • The role testosterone plays in libido, energy, mood, and cognition • How declining testosterone impacts confidence, motivation, and performance • Why symptoms matter just as much as lab values • The connection between stress, inflammation, and hormone depletion • Why hormone therapy is not a quick fix—and what needs to come first Testosterone in Women: What It Really Does Women produce testosterone in the ovaries, adrenal glands, and peripheral tissues—and it affects far more than sex drive. Testosterone supports: • Libido and sexual function • Muscle mass and body composition • Bone density • Cognitive function and mental clarity • Mood, confidence, and motivation • Nitric oxide production and orgasm quality When levels decline, women often experience not just low libido—but loss of drive, ambition, assertiveness, and vitality. What Happens After 40 Testosterone begins declining in the 30s and can drop significantly by the 40s and 50s. This decline is often compounded by: • Chronic stress and cortisol dysregulation • Poor sleep • Insulin resistance • Inflammation • Hormonal birth control history • Gut health imbalances • Surgical menopause One key principle: Stress and sex h…

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## Transcript

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