Episode 166

Published August 18, 2026

Join the conversation as Dr. Tori Hudson and host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton discuss the evolution of menopause hormone therapy through the eras: pre-2002, post-Women’s Health Initiative, and the current state of menopause hormone therapy, with a particular focus on testosterone therapy.

This episode also covers:

• Testosterone usage and dosing and the correlation with libido, mood, energy, and muscle mass
• Dr. Hudson’s dosing protocols and concerns about supraphysiological dosing
• Methods of delivery for estrogen therapy
• Cardiovascular disease as an underappreciated priority in menopause care
• The importance of individualized care over following hormone therapy trends

Key Moments

0:53 Episode Introduction

3:18 Introduction to Menopause and Hormone Therapy

6:17 Evolution of Hormone Therapy Practices

9:18 The Role of Testosterone in Women's Health

12:12 Understanding Testosterone Prescribing Guidelines

15:16 Patient Perspectives on Testosterone Therapy

18:22 Dosing and Monitoring Testosterone in Women

21:18 Research Gaps and Future Directions for Testosterone Use

30:01 DUTCH Direct

30:28 Research Gaps and Future Directions for Testosterone Use (Cont'd)

37:40 The Future of Testosterone Therapy for Women

39:29 Injectable Testosterone and Pellet Therapy

43:22 The Controversy of Hormonal Treatments

46:15 Cardiovascular Health and Hormone Therapy

51:34 The Role of Lifestyle in Menopausal Health

56:23 Oral vs. Transdermal Estrogen

1:02:25 Revisiting Hormone Therapy After Menopause

About our speaker

Dr. Hudson is a respected Naturopathic Physician with a deep passion for women’s health, especially in the areas of gynecology and endocrinology. Nationally recognized for her thoughtful and integrative approach to perimenopauses, she combines the best of naturopathic principles with conventional research to support and guide her patients. She currently is an adjunct clinical professor at NUNM, Sonoran University of Health Sciences, Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and Bastyr University, as well as the medical director at her clinic, A Woman’s Time. 

Show Notes

Check out The American Heart Association’s PREVENTä Online Calculator mentioned in this episode.

Learn more about Dr. Tori Hudson and her practice, A Woman’s Time!

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