Marlene Werner, MSc
Marlene Werner is a PhD student at the Department of Sexology and Psychosomatic Gynaecology at Amsterdam UMC, location AMC. She graduated as a Master’s student of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Methods at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). Her PhD thesis focuses on the role of testosterone in the sexual response and functioning of women. Specifically the sexual health of women who have received chemo(radio)therapy as treatment against lymphoma (the TOSCA study). Such treatment can lead to diminished ovarian and, potentially, adrenal production of testosterone which might be part of the reason why women can experience sexual and other psychophysiological problems after cancer therapy, such as chronic fatigue, low energy, reduced motivation, and lowered mood. The latter symptom complex is also clinically known as the Female Androgen Insufficiency Syndrome (FAIS). The goal of Marlene’s PhD thesis is twofold: (1) if possible, working towards a diagnostic testosterone level for the diagnosis of FAIS and (2) specifying the relationship between testosterone and sexual response and (dys)function in women. The results might act as a springboard to study testosterone supplementation as a treatment for women with FAIS after cancer therapy.
Promotors: Prof. Dr. ETM Laan (†), Prof. Dr. IM Verdonck-de Leeuw and copromotors: Prof. Dr. M den Heijer, Dr. BI Lissenberg-Witte