Testosterone Hormone Therapy in Perimenopause: How to Match Symptoms, Labs, and Treatment Correctly
Thu Feb 05 2026
Testosterone is having a moment—but much of what women are being told about it is incomplete, oversimplified, or outright misleading. If you’ve been told testosterone is only about libido, or that your fatigue, emotional flatness, loss of motivation, or inability to build muscle is just “getting older,” this episode challenges that narrative. In this conversation, Dr. Jolene Brighten breaks down what testosterone actually does in women’s bodies during perimenopause, why symptoms matter as much as labs, and how poorly matched hormone therapy can lead to side effects that leave women feeling worse instead of better.
This episode is a deep dive into testosterone hormone therapy in perimenopause, designed to help women—and clinicians—understand how to evaluate symptoms, interpret labs with nuance, and choose treatment approaches that respect the entire hormone system. Rather than pushing testosterone as a cure-all, this episode lays out when it helps, when it harms, and why careful dosing, delivery method, and monitoring are essential.
This Episode Is Brought to You By
Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind — a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience.
Shop now https://drbrightenessentials.com/products/radiant-mind
Sunlighten Saunas — Want a gentle, science-forward way to sweat, recover, and unwind? At Sunlighten, infrared saunas deliver soothing heat that supports relaxation, muscle recovery, and deep, comfortable sweating—without the stifling temps of traditional saunas. With low-EMF tech and options for near, mid, and far infrared, you get a calm, restorative session tailored to your goals.
Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code DRBRIGHTEN to save up to $1,400 on your sauna
Shop now https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten
LUMEBOX
Ready to take your skincare results to the next level—right from home? 💡 LUME Box delivers professional-grade LED light therapy in a sleek, easy-to-use device that targets fine lines, pigmentation, and dullness at the cellular level. Just minutes a day can help boost collagen, calm inflammation, and reveal that lit-from-within glow. It’s the same science trusted in top dermatology clinics, now in your hands.
Shop now http://drbrighten.com/lumeboxuse code drbrighten for our exclusive community discount on your purchase.
👩🏻⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten:
💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten
🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten
🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/
🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten
👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬
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Testosterone is having a moment—but much of what women are being told about it is incomplete, oversimplified, or outright misleading. If you’ve been told testosterone is only about libido, or that your fatigue, emotional flatness, loss of motivation, or inability to build muscle is just “getting older,” this episode challenges that narrative. In this conversation, Dr. Jolene Brighten breaks down what testosterone actually does in women’s bodies during perimenopause, why symptoms matter as much as labs, and how poorly matched hormone therapy can lead to side effects that leave women feeling worse instead of better. This episode is a deep dive into testosterone hormone therapy in perimenopause, designed to help women—and clinicians—understand how to evaluate symptoms, interpret labs with nuance, and choose treatment approaches that respect the entire hormone system. Rather than pushing testosterone as a cure-all, this episode lays out when it helps, when it harms, and why careful dosing, delivery method, and monitoring are essential. This Episode Is Brought to You By Dr. Brighten Essentials Radiant Mind — a science-backed formula created to support women’s brain health through every stage of life. If you’ve ever felt the brain fog of perimenopause or noticed how ADHD can amplify challenges with focus, memory, mood, or sleep, you’re not alone. Radiant Mind combines clinically studied saffron extract, Bacognize® Bacopa, Cognizin® Citicoline, and zinc to help nourish your brain chemistry and support clarity, calm, and resilience. Shop now https://drbrightenessentials.com/products/radiant-mind Sunlighten Saunas — Want a gentle, science-forward way to sweat, recover, and unwind? At Sunlighten, infrared saunas deliver soothing heat that supports relaxation, muscle recovery, and deep, comfortable sweating—without the stifling temps of traditional saunas. With low-EMF tech and options for near, mid, and far infrared, you get a calm, restorative session tailored to your goals. Exclusive for podcast listeners: use the code DRBRIGHTEN to save up to $1,400 on your sauna Shop now https://get.sunlighten.com/drbrighten LUMEBOX Ready to take your skincare results to the next level—right from home? 💡 LUME Box delivers professional-grade LED light therapy in a sleek, easy-to-use device that targets fine lines, pigmentation, and dullness at the cellular level. Just minutes a day can help boost collagen, calm inflammation, and reveal that lit-from-within glow. It’s the same science trusted in top dermatology clinics, now in your hands. Shop now http://drbrighten.com/lumeboxuse code drbrighten for our exclusive community discount on your purchase. 👩🏻⚕️Follow Dr. Jolene Brighten: 💻 Website: https://www.drbrighten.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjolenebrighten 🧵Threads: https://www.threads.net/@drjolenebrighten 🌟 Grab my free hormone friendly recipes here! https://drbrighten.com/hormonekit/ 🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi?si=481df20ef0a6417 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjolenebrighten 👉 If you found this episode valuable, drop a comment below to tell us what you loved most, and share it with a friend! Let’s spread the knowledge. 💬 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices