Testosterone for women | Professor Susan Davis, AO

The Proof with Simon Hill

Simon Hill

Nutrition, Health & Fitness, Self-improvement, Education

4.9 • 2.9K Ratings

🗓️ 25 August 2025

⏱️ 68 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In today’s episode, I sit down with Professor Susan Davis, an endocrinologist and one of the world’s foremost experts on hormones in women’s health. We explore the role of testosterone in women, separating fact from fiction, and tackling the common myths that circulate online and in the media. Susan shares what decades of research actually show about testosterone therapy, its benefits, limitations, and safety, and why participation in clinical trials is essential for moving the science forward. What We Cover Why testosterone is not just a male hormone How levels change throughout a woman’s life Common myths about testosterone therapy and the truth behind them The link between testosterone, libido, and sexual function Evidence for and against claims around mood, muscle, and wellbeing Side effects and safety considerations at female-appropriate doses Compounded hormones compared with pharmaceutical formulations The biggest gaps in research and where the science needs to go next This episode offers an evidence-based look at testosterone in women, helping you cut through the noise and focus on what the science really says. Intro: (00:00) Which Testosterone Claims Are True And Which Are False? (05:42) What Does Testosterone Do In A Woman’s Body? (12:09) How Do Testosterone Levels Change Across A Woman’s Life? (15:12) How Can Women Measure Testosterone Accurately? (20:24) What Is The Relationship Between Testosterone And Low Libido? (27:32) What Are The Outcomes And Dosing Of Testosterone Therapy? (32:24) Which Delivery Methods Work Best For Testosterone Therapy? (39:22) Does Testosterone Improve Muscle Mass Or Mood? (43:46) What Are The Safety Considerations For Testosterone Therapy? (47:15) Compounded Versus Pharmaceutical Testosterone Therapy (52:02) Research Gaps In Testosterone And How Women Can Help (58:09) This episode is brought to you by: 38TERA Consider 38TERA's DMN prebiotic supplement a daily multivitamin for your gut. Formulated by yours truly and gastroenterologist Dr Will Bulsiewicz. Use code THEPROOF for a discount at checkout. Pique Tea Pique's Nandaka provides sustainable, all-day energy and makes you feel like you’re doing something good for your body! Try Pique and get 20% off plus a FREE starter kit when you shop exclusively at Piquelife.com/simon. Eight Sleep Upgrade your sleep with the Pod 5 Ultra by Eight Sleep. Clinically validated to deliver up to 1 extra hour of quality sleep per night through temperature control and biometric tracking. Use code THEPROOF for $350 off at eightsleep.com/theproof. Try it risk-free for 30 days, with worldwide shipping. Fireflies Stay focused and let Fireflies handle the notes. From transcriptions and summaries to real-time voice commands, Fireflies turns your meetings into actionable insights, seamlessly integrating with Zoom, Google Meet, Slack, and more. Sign up for a yearly plan and get two months FREE at fireflies.ai/theproof. Function Health Take charge of your health with advanced blood testing and personalised insights. Function Health provides a practical solution to track key health markers such as cholesterol, blood sugar, and more. For the first 1,000 listeners, new members get a $100 credit when signing up. Head to functionhealth.com/simonhill to claim your credit. Only available to those living in the United States. LMNT Stay hydrated with LMNT. Get a free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular drink mix flavours with any purchase at DrinkLMNT.com/SIMON Find your favourite LMNT flavour, or share with a friend. And if you don’t like it? Full refund, no questions asked. Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons) Creator of theproof.com Host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Subscribe & Connect: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram: @simonhill Twitter: @theproof Facebook: The Proof with Simon Hill

Transcript

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0:00.0	When most people think of testosterone, they think of men. But here's the thing. Women make testosterone too. In fact, it is the most abundant, biologically active hormone in a woman's body. And yet, for decades, its role in female health has been misunderstood, under-researched, and wrapped in myths. Today, with the help of world-renowned endocrinologist and clinical professor Susan Davis
0:25.3	A.O., we're going to cut through the noise.
0:29.2	From what testosterone actually does for women, to who it can help, the safest ways to take
0:33.7	it, and the truth behind those scary-sounding side effects.
0:37.0	This conversation will
0:37.7	give you the clarity that you need about your hormonal health. Let's get into it.
0:42.4	I recently ran my full labs through function health and I have to say the results
0:51.2	were eye-opening. Turns out my APOB was higher than ideal,
0:55.9	probably thanks to a little too much coconut yogurt.
0:59.4	I also found out I was slightly low in copper,
1:02.1	something that I would have never suspected without testing.
1:05.9	On the flip side, my biological age came back 13.3 years younger than my actual age, a calculation based on the
1:14.2	work of aging researcher Dr. Morgan Levine. So all in all, I've got a few tweaks to make to optimize my
1:21.0	lipids and nutrient status, but overall my blood work says I'm doing pretty well. That's what I love
1:26.5	about function. You get access to
1:28.7	over 160 biomarkers covering everything from hormones and inflammation to nutrients, toxins,
1:37.3	cardiovascular risk and more. And all your results are housed in one beautiful platform,
1:42.9	all tracked over time.
1:44.5	Once you get your results, you can make informed changes before small issues become big ones.
1:50.0	To get started, head to functionhealth.com forward slash Simon Hill.
1:55.0	The first 1,000 people get a $100 credit toward their membership.
2:00.0	That's functionhealth.com
	...

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