Hormones Not Hysteria: How Testosterone and DHEA Can Help Women Thrive in Midlife
By Dr. David Samadi
Let’s debunk a myth: perimenopause and menopause are not just inevitable phases you have to endure. The persistent fatigue, waning libido, brain fog, or the discomfort of vaginal dryness during intimacy? You don’t have to silently bear these. There are safe, science-backed ways to regain your vitality and hormones like testosterone and DHEA can be your allies in this journey.
Yes, testosterone. The one most people associate with men.
But here’s the truth: testosterone is just as vital for women, especially during midlife hormonal transitions.
Why Women Need Testosterone Too
While estrogen tends to get the spotlight, testosterone is quietly working behind the scenes to support your energy, mood, muscle tone, and sex drive. Produced in smaller amounts by the ovaries and adrenal glands, testosterone starts to decline in your 30s—and can drop even more during perimenopause and menopause.
Here’s how it supports your health:
Revives Your Libido
If sex feels like a chore or you’ve lost interest altogether, you’re not alone. Falling testosterone levels are a major contributor to low libido and vaginal dryness leading to painful sex. Hormone therapy—including low-dose testosterone—can help rekindle desire and make intimacy enjoyable again.
Preserves Muscle Mass
Testosterone plays a crucial role in maintaining strength, muscle tone, and metabolic health. Without it, women can experience age-related muscle loss, resulting in weakness, weight gain, and a slower metabolism. (No, testosterone won’t make you bulky. It helps you stay strong and lean.)
Boosts Energy and Vitality
Feeling drained, sluggish, or like you’re running on fumes? Low testosterone could be a factor. Restoring healthy levels may help improve endurance, motivation, and that get-up-and-go feeling.
Stabilizes Mood
This hormone also plays a role in balancing neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine—chemicals that regulate mood. If you’ve been feeling more anxious, irritable, or low lately, hormones may be contributing to the issue.
Signs You Might Have Low Testosterone
While everyone’s experience is different, these are some common symptoms that might suggest your levels are low:
- Decreased libido or arousal
- Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse
- Persistent fatigue
- Loss of muscle strength
- Mood swings or low mood
- Difficulty concentrating (“brain fog”)
- Weight gain, especially around the middle
- Thinning hair or brittle nails
- Decreased bone density
If this sounds familiar, don’t dismiss it as just “getting older.” There are solutions.
DHEA: Your Hormone’s Helpful Precursor
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is another hormone your body naturally makes—and it’s a big deal. Think of it as the “mother hormone” because it helps your body produce both testosterone and estrogen. As levels decline with age, supplementing with DHEA may help restore balance.
Here’s how DHEA supports you:
- Boosts Hormone Production: DHEA converts into both testosterone and estrogen, helping ease symptoms related to their decline—like low libido, mood swings, and brain fog.
- Improves Bone Health: It helps maintain estrogen levels, which are crucial for maintaining strong bones and reducing the risk of fractures.
- Enhances Mental Clarity: Early research shows promise that DHEA may improve memory, focus, and overall cognitive health.
- Supports Metabolism and Muscle Mass: By indirectly supporting testosterone, DHEA helps prevent age-related muscle loss and can aid in maintaining a healthy weight.
It’s crucial to work with a healthcare provider who can test your hormone levels and determine whether DHEA is appropriate and safe for you. Potential side effects of DHEA can include acne, hair loss, and changes in menstrual cycle. However, these are not common and usually resolve when the supplement is stopped.
But What About HRT Risks? Let’s Clear the Air
We understand the mixed reputation hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has garnered over the years. But rest assured, research has advanced, and so has our understanding of its benefits.
Here’s the truth:
- HRT Isn’t Always Risky: The risk of side effects varies based on your health history, age, and how and when therapy is started. For many women, the benefits far outweigh the risks—especially when treatment is tailored to individual needs.
- HRT May Help Your Heart: When started at the right time (usually within 10 years of menopause), HRT can support cardiovascular health.
- It’s Not One-Size-Fits-All: Hormone therapy can be customized to your body’s needs—whether that includes estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, or a combination.
You Deserve to Feel Good Again
Menopause is a natural stage of life—but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it. If you’re feeling unlike yourself, especially in ways that affect your energy, confidence, and relationships, it’s worth having a conversation with a hormone-savvy provider.
There are real solutions available, and you deserve access to them.
Bottom Line
Testosterone and DHEA are powerful tools for supporting women’s health during midlife. From mood and muscle to libido and bone strength, they can help you feel more like you again.
You don’t have to suffer in silence. Help is available—and your quality of life is worth fighting for.
Dr. David Samadi is the Director of Men’s Health and Urologic Oncology at St. Francis Hospital in Long Island. He’s a renowned and highly successful board certified Urologic Oncologist Expert and Robotic Surgeon in New York City, regarded as one of the leading prostate surgeons in the U.S., with a vast expertise in prostate cancer treatment and Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy. Dr. Samadi is a medical contributor to NewsMax TV and is also the author of two books, Prostate Cancer, Now What? A Practical Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery and The Ultimate MANual, Dr. Samadi’s Guide to Men’s Health and Wellness, available online both on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Visit Dr. Samadi’s websites at robotic oncology and prostate cancer 911.