While estrogen often steals the spotlight, progesterone is equally vital for women’s health and deserves more attention. Join us as Dr. Tami Rowen shares her expertise on the critical roles of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. We explore everything from progesterone’s stabilizing effect on the uterine lining to the impact of birth control on hormonal balance.

Dr. Rowen provides valuable insights into the often-overlooked hormone progesterone and its significance in conditions like PMDD. She also delves into cultural attitudes toward genital grooming, the realities of labial surgery, and societal pressures affecting perceptions of genital appearance.

Highlights:

• Progesterone’s Essential Role: Discover why natural progesterone is crucial for health and how it differs from synthetic hormones in birth control.
• Managing PMDD: Learn about hypersensitivity to progesterone in PMDD and explore treatment options that avoid worsening symptoms with progestin.
• Cultural Perspectives: Understand the influence of societal standards and the porn industry on genital grooming and body image.
• Labial Surgery Insights: Explore the reasons behind labial reconstructions, associated risks, and Dr. Rowen’s approach to managing complications.
• Patient Advocacy: Emphasizing the importance of counseling for labial surgeries and addressing potential sexual sensitivities and outcomes.
• Progesterone Beyond the Uterus: Examine how progesterone impacts brain health, postpartum depression, and overall sexual health.
• Research Challenges: Learn about the difficulties and costs associated with researching progesterone and obtaining FDA approval for testosterone treatments for women.
• Comprehensive Treatment Approach: Highlighting the need for a holistic approach to treating hypoactive sexual desire disorder, including the use of testosterone formulations.

Guest Bio: 

Dr. Rowen is an obstetrician and gynecologist whose care and research focuses on sexual health and transgender health, as well as complex gynecologic care for people with cancer. A lead gynecologic surgeon at UCSF, Rowen has expertise in laparoscopy (surgical diagnostic procedure to examine the inside of the abdomen) and vaginal and vulvar surgery, including especially hysterectomy. She is medical director of perioperative services for the obstetrics and gynecology department.

Rowen earned her medical degree and a master's degree in health and medical sciences through a joint program of the University of California, Berkeley and UCSF. She completed a residency in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at UCSF.

Rowen is an international expert in sexual health. She has served as a board member for the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health and as an associate editor for the Journal of Sexual Medicine. She is a sought-after speaker on sexual medicine and has published dozens of papers and book chapters on the topics of sexual health and family planning and safe motherhood in developing countries. She is a member of the International Society for Sexual Medicine, World Professional Association for Transgender Health and American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

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