The Hormone of Desire: The Truth about Sexuality, Menopause, and Testosterone

Testosterone, the hormone responsible for libidinal energy, is produced by women mainly in the ovaries. When the ovaries shut down at menopause, the amount of testosterone they produce is reduced by half, resulting, for many women, in diminished sexual desire, thinning pubic hair, flatness of mood, dry skin and decreased mental sharpness, among other effects. In this sure-to-be-controversial book, Rako, a psychiatrist, suggests that gradually developing testosterone deficiency is a treatable condition that ignorance, fear, ideological resistance and sexual politics have prevented the medical community, as well as the general population, from dealing with. Acknowledging the need for controlled clinical studies on supplemental testosterone, as there are for hormonal supplements of estrogen and progesterone, Rako advocates the prudent use of supplemental testosterone for women who need it and offers a thorough discussion of the uses, benefits and risks of testosterone therapy. (Feb.)