The Testosterone Conversation with Dr. Kelly Casperson: Beyond Libido
4/23/20261 hr 14 min
In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Kelly Casperson, urologist, author, and host of the podcast "You Are Not Broken." Part 2 goes deep on testosterone therapy for women, the most misunderstood hormone in women's health, and covers the full range of what it actually does in the female body, why every woman will experience declining levels over time, and why there are still zero FDA approved testosterone products for women while men have more than a dozen. Dr. Casperson opens with the basics: ovaries make testosterone, the hormone pathway runs one way from cholesterol through progesterone to testosterone to estradiol, and women in normal cycling years carry four times more testosterone than estrogen in their bodies. She explains where testosterone receptors are found, which is everywhere from the brain to bone to muscle to the clitoris to the tear ducts, and why reducing testosterone in women to a libido drug misses the full picture entirely. Guest links: Kelly Casperson, MD Kelly Casperson (Instagram) Kelly Casperson (YouTube) You Are Not Broken (Apple Podcasts) Books: “You Are Not Broken,” by Kelly Casperson, MD "The Menopause Moment," by Kelly Casperson, MD “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver "Sexual Behavior in the Human Female," by Alfred Kinsey To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Showing 10 of 13Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMary Claire Haver· Host0:00
[upbeat music] In our last episode of Unpaused, Dr. Kelly Caspersen and I began unpacking the myths and medical blind spots that shape women's sexual health. We covered desire, pain, orgasm, and the pathways that restore function and confidence, but we were just getting started. Dr. Caspersen is a urologist, surgeon, podcaster, and author who has become one of the most trusted voices in women's sexual health. Through her podcast, You Are Not Broken, and her books, You Are Not Broken and The Menopause Moment, she has helped thousands of women understand their bodies with science instead of shame, clarity instead of confusion, and permission instead of fear. In this episode, we go deeper on testosterone, how it works in the female body, why it affects libido, energy, and brain health, and why every woman will experience declining levels over time. Yet, there are no FDA-approved testosterone products for women, while men have more than a dozen. We also explore the genital urinary syndrome of menopause, the underuse of vaginal estrogen, pelvic floor dysfunction, vaginismus, and the role of vibration and blood flow in restoring sexual function. And we examine medications, SSRIs, hormonal contraceptives, and GLP-1 therapies,