Professor Talaulikar gives a detailed overview of testosterone, its role and how it may change during peri-menopause and menopause - as well as options for replacement as part of HRT.

There are too many pundits on Social Media and in the mainstream and other press giving opinions and views that so-often have no supporting evidence. With so much confusing information out there, it is vital that we have a well-balanced view with research-based data, backed up with sound clinical evidence of both safety and efficacy.

In the presentation, Vikram talks about:

• Testosterone is an important hormone for women
• Our understanding of its role during peri-menopause and menopause is still developing
• Women actually produce around 3 times more testosterone than oestrogen that is made in the ovaries
• Some testosterone is metabolised into oestrogen
• Half the testosterone is produced by the adrenals and their function is not affected by menopause so levels do not drop as much as oestrogen
• Iatrogenic menopause (that induced by medical intervention such as hysterectomy or chemotherapy) causes a more significant drop in testosterone and potentially leads to more effects
• The role and function of testosterone in women and observations showing the effects of testosterone replacement (as part of HRT)
• The effects of low testosterone and the difficulty of attributing some just to testosterone
• The challenge of measuring testosterone levels and how different levels affect women differently
• Current proscribing guidelines
• Available testosterone products
• Possible side effects
• DHEA