About
Does testosterone help women with more than low libido?Real-world data from Dr Louise’s research team says yes. Content advisory: this episode includes themes of mental health and suicide.
In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Aini Kamal, a neuroscience graduate and researcher with Newson Research, the small team Louise funds to study hormone health. Aini shares how her mum’s mental illness drew her to neuroscience, and how a gap year showed her just how under-researched women’s health still is.
Together they discuss data showing testosterone improving joint pain, vaginal dryness, urinary symptoms and mood, research linking HRT with fewer suicidal thoughts, why FSH blood tests can mislead doctors diagnosing menopause, and why female athletes are being denied testosterone.Louise also explains why every cell in the brain responds to hormones.
Aini closes with the three things she most wants her research to achieve, from easier access to care to closing cultural gaps in hormone education.
Chapters
0:00 Why does women's hormone research matter so much?
1:05 Why did a neuroscientist move into women's health?
2:12 Why is women's health so under-researched?
3:13 Can a digital tool help explain HRT?
5:30 Does every brain cell respond to hormones?
7:00 Why does so much medical research never help patients?
8:38 Can a private clinic produce unbiased research?
13:11 How do clinic notes become research data?
15:22 Can HRT reduce suicidal thoughts in menopause?
17:47 Can an FSH blood test miss menopause?
21:34 What symptoms does testosterone improve in women?
23:44 Do women have more testosterone than oestrogen?
25:15 Why are female athletes denied testosterone?
27:56 What hormone research is coming next?
28:53 What does Aini want her research to change?
Let’s connect
👉 Told your blood tests are "normal" but still struggling with symptoms? Book with a doctor who understands testosterone at Newson Health: DrLN.co.uk/clinic
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👉More from Dr Louise Newson: https://linkin.bio/drlouisenewson