Podcasts about newson health

Could hormones be the key to longevity?Dr. Louise Newson is one of the world's leading voices in menopause and hormone health, a GP, best-selling author, and founder of Newson Health, the largest menopause clinic globally. She has transformed the landscape of women's health through her groundbreaking work in clinical care, research, education, and public advocacy. Louise founded The Menopause Charity, hosts the UK's No.1 medical podcast, and developed a free menopause training programme downloaded by over 30,000 clinicians worldwide. More from MOTHER:Subscribe to the newsletter: https://themotherverse.substack.com/Want to create some magic together? Reach out to us: https://forms.gle/zfKWVCbw1ERKUgKB8Follow Louise:Website - drlouisenewson.co.ukNewson Clinic - newsonhealth.co.ukThe Dr. Louise Newson Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/@menopause_doctor(00:00) Intro(01:20) Highlights from the UK tour(03:40) What does a healthy hormone cycle look like?(06:50) Why is estrogen so central to women's health?(09:00) Autoimmune conditions and inflammation(10:00) Endometriosis and hormone treatment(11:00) Quick summary of estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone(12:30) What happens during perimenopause and menopause?(15:30) What is HRT?(17:00) Hormone therapy as a longevity tool(19:10) How does getting started with HRT work?(20:20) The controversy around the Women's Health Initiative Study in 2022(23:20) Is hormone therapy unnatural?(27:10) If you could commission any study…(28:20) What is inflammation, and why does it matter?(31:40) Social media, hormone myths, and misinformation(33:20) How should we redesign our approach to menopause?(34:50) Lessons about life, nature and the universe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Advisory: this episode contains themes of suicide and topics which listeners may find upsetting. In this week's podcast Dr Louise Newson is joined by Lisa, who shares her deeply personal and challenging journey through perimenopause, mental health struggles, and the impact of her experiences on her family. Lisa discusses the devastating effects of her mental health decline, which led to a crisis point and ultimately a prison sentence for attempted murder. She also reflects on her time in prison, the realisations she had about her health, and the transformative impact of HRT on her recovery. The conversation also delves into the impact of hormonal changes on women's mental health and the often-overlooked connection between hormonal imbalances and criminal behaviour. Dr Louise and Lisa also discuss the importance of education around hormonal health, especially during perimenopause and menopause, to prevent tragic outcomes such as suicide and criminal behaviour. Click here to find out more about Newson Health. Contact the Samaritans for 24-hour, confidential support by calling 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

This week, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Professor Cassandra Szoeke, academic professor, general physician, consultant neurologist and multi-award-winning clinical researcher and author. As principal investigator of the Women's Healthy Ageing Project, the longest study of women's health in Australia, she authored the book Secrets of Women's Healthy Ageing and has several hundred published articles in academic journals. This week's episode explores the topic of healthy ageing, including the connection between inflammation and chronic diseases, the importance of physical activity, mental health, and the role of nutrition and gut health in inflammation. Dr Newson and Professor Szoeke also emphasise the need for a holistic approach to healthcare and the importance of prevention. Click here to find out more about Newson Health.

Content advisory: this episode discusses themes of suicide and sexual assault. In this week's episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Christiane Gurner, who shares her story of endometriosis and PMDD, highlighting the challenges many women face in getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. Christiane also shares her experiences of IVF and menopause at the age of 42. The conversation also covers the importance of listening to patients, individualising care and access to the right treatment, as well as the impact of hormone-related conditions on mental health. Christiane has written about her IVF experiences in the Sydney Morning Herald here (subscription required) and here, and menopause at 42 here. She can be contacted via email at christianewrites@outlook.com. Click here to find out more about Newson Health.

In this week's episode, Dr Louise Newson talks to Professor Mike Kirby, president of the British Society for Sexual Medicine and author of more than 450 clinical papers and 32 books. He was previously director of the Hertfordshire Primary Care Research Network, visiting professor to the Faculty of Health and Human Sciences at the University of Hertfordshire, and was attending physician to the Prostate Centre, London, where he dealt with complex medical problems until 2020. Dr Newson and Professor Kirby discuss the importance of hormone health for both men and women, including testosterone. They also explore the benefits of phosphodiesterase inhibitors – which include Viagra – in treating not only erectile dysfunction, but their potential to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, urinary symptoms, dementia, and even cancer. Professor Kirby is one of the speakers at the upcoming Newson Conference: The Hormone Blueprint, which will be held in London on 21 March. An event for healthcare professionals, the conference will delve into the far-reaching impact of hormones on the body. For more information and to book your place, click here. Click here to find out more about Newson Health.

Content advisory: this episode includes themes of mental health and suicide In this week's podcast, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Rachel Jones to delve into the critical role hormones, particularly progesterone, play in women's mental health. They discuss the importance of understanding hormonal changes throughout a woman's life, the differences between natural and synthetic hormones, and the need for individualised treatment plans. The conversation emphasises the significance of balancing hormones and considering lifestyle factors that impact mental health. Dr Louise and Dr Rachel share insights on how natural progesterone can help with mental health symptoms, including mood and anxiety, and encourage women not to give up on finding the right hormonal balance for them. Click here to find out more about Newson Health. Find out more about Dr Rachel on Instagram @the_hormone_clinic Contact the Samaritans for 24-hour, confidential support by calling 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.

Joining Dr Louise Newson on this week's podcast are Jane Hajduk and Shari Dolan, the real-life friends behind Thee Third Act, a YouTube comedy series about women's third act: menopause. Thee Third Act follows Jane and Shari's characters, Josephine and Lauren, in their search for answers during menopause. From life coaches to hormone replacement therapy, they strive to conquer or at least ease hot flushes, sleepless nights, and astronomical mood swings. Jane and Shari discuss their own menopause experiences, their off-screen friendship, and why sisterhood, laughter and honesty are key when navigating menopause. Catch with Thee Third Act on YouTube here – the second season premieres on 27 January Click here to find out more about Newson Health

In this week's episode of the podcast, Dr Louise Newson talks to Paula, a 76-year-old woman who reached out to share her experience of being on HRT for over 30 years. Paula explains how she was prescribed HRT after a hysterectomy when she was 44, following a complicated gynaecological history, which included an ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cysts, fibroids and endometriosis. She had been taking HRT for a decade when the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study was released. Paula explains how she researched the study, then weighed up her personal risk and benefits in discussion with her doctor and made the decision to carry on taking HRT. Paula was happy to stay on HRT and credits it with helping her to feel better in her 70s than she did in her 30s. Click here to find out more about Newson Health

Joining Dr Louise on this week's podcast is Matt Roberts, one of Britain's foremost fitness experts and personal training pioneer. Matt opened Europe's first exclusively personal training gym in 1996, is a bestselling author and is responsible for honing some of the most famous physiques in fashion, sport, film, music and politics. In this episode, Matt and Dr Louise discuss the importance of strength training, cardio and mobility exercise for health span, as well as some of the key barriers to exercise during perimenopause and menopause –  and how to overcome them. Finally, Matt offers advice on getting into good habits during menopause, whether you are already active or haven't exercised for a while. Find out more about Matt at www.mattroberts.co.uk and follow him on Instagram @mattroberts_lifestyle Click here for more about Newson Health.

On this week's podcast Dr Louise Newson is joined by her friend Liz Earle MBE, writer, TV presenter, award-winning entrepreneur and best-selling author of A Better Second Half: Dial Back Your Age to Live a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life. Liz is synonymous with wellbeing, and as we head into 2025, she talks about why most New Year's resolutions fail because they are unachievable. Instead, Dr Louise and Liz together offer practical tips on making some small but meaningful changes to improve health and wellbeing in midlife and beyond, including nutrition, exercise, mental health and hormones. They also talk about the importance of prioritising yourself – and why self-care is anything but selfish. For more about Liz, visit www.lizearlewellbeing.com You can follow Liz on Instagram @lizearleme Click here for more about Newson Health.

Joining Dr Louise Newson on the podcast this week is A&E consultant Professor Rob Galloway, who talks about his career to date and pressures facing the health service. He also shares the nutrition and exercise changes he's made in his own life that have improved his physical and mental health, as well as his top tips on living healthier for longer. You can follow Professor Galloway on X @DrRobgalloway Click here for more about Newson Health.

On this week's episode, Dr Sumi Rampling, a GP and Menopause Specialist who works alongside Dr Louise at Newson Health, shares her personal story of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Diagnosed in early adulthood, Dr Sumi talks openly about the challenges of her ADHD diagnosis, as well as the impact that hormone changes, including perimenopause, can have on women with ADHD. She talks about the determination her condition has given her, and also offers advice for women navigating hormone changes and ADHD. Download balance's ADHD and menopause booklet here. Click here for more about Newson Health.

In a departure from our usual format, as we reach the end of 2024, Dr Louise looks back on her highlights of this year, including her recent theatre tour, her education work and the work of the Newson Health research team. She looks at some of the key developments for menopause in 2024, and busts some myths around hormones and hormone replacement therapy. Plus, she'll be looking forward to 2025, and sharing details of some exciting work for the year ahead. For more information on Newson Health, click here.

Joining Dr Louise this week is Louise Mulley, who shares her experience of anxiety and menopause. Louise shares the importance of speaking openly about menopause and mental health, and how a conversation with a close friend helped her recognise her symptoms and find the right support and treatment. She also shares her top three tips on helping friends or loved ones who may be struggling with their mental health during perimenopause and menopause: Help your friend unburden: ask them ‘would you like to talk to me about it?'. Make it clear they can talk to you with no judgement and in confidence. Share your own menopause story to encourage your friend to open up about what they may be going through. Keep an open mind: if you're a woman of menopausal age and experiencing mood changes, consider that it might be your hormones. For more information on Newson Health, click here.

On this week's podcast, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Dr Rebecca Walker, a GP who specialises in headache medicine and migraines. In this episode, Dr Rebecca and Dr Louise (who suffers from migraines herself) get back to basics, looking at what migraines are, why they can occur and management approaches, from lifestyle measures to medication. They also talk about how hormone changes during perimenopause and menopause can impact the frequency and severity of migraines, and bust some myths around taking HRT if you have a history of migraines. Follow Dr Rebecca on Instagram @dr_rebeccawalker. For more information on migraines, visit the National Migraine Centre here, and you can find resources about migraine and menopause on the balance website here. You can also listen to an earlier episode of the Dr Louise Newson Podcast with Dr Katy Munro, author of Managing Your Migraine, by clicking here or searching for episode 115 on your favourite streaming app. For more information on Newson Health, click here.

Joining Dr Louise Newson on the podcast this week is Jen Moore, a campaigner dedicated to raising awareness of endometriosis and adenomyosis. Jen started experiencing endometriosis symptoms at the age of 11, but it took her 22 years to receive a diagnosis of endometriosis, adenomyosis and fibroids. By this stage organ failure was a risk and she required multiple surgeries, including a hysterectomy. She has since become committed to helping other women – from speaking out to creating research projects. Here, she shares three things she believes women with endometriosis can do to make a difference to their future health: Find a specialist – someone you can ask as many questions as you want, because if they are genuinely a specialist, they will not be afraid of answering questions. Don't feel like you have to do it alone. You have your medical team, but you also need a team outside of the hospital. It doesn't matter who it is, even if it's somebody online, just reach out. There are so many of us who are just happy to help even if it's just to talk. Keep going. When you get your diagnosis, you can think awesome, everything's going to change. But then you realise, that's just the start of it – you've got this wait list to get treatment and it can be a long slog. It's exhausting, but it's important that we do. You can follow Jen on Instagram at @jen.dometriosis and find out more at www.jenmoore.co.uk For more information on Newson Health, click here.

This week, Dr Louise is joined by Nicola McFarlane, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2023. Nicola shares the story of her MND diagnosis, as well as the barriers she faced in accessing treatment for perimenopause symptoms – including low mood, anxiety and recurrent UTIs – to improve her quality of life. Nicola talks about how health professionals often put her perimenopause symptoms (which pre-dated her MND diagnosis) down to her MND, and why she is sharing her own experiences to help other women living with MND and facing hormonal changes. For more information on Newson Health, click here.

On this week's episode Dr Louise is joined by Dr Marty Makary, Johns Hopkins professor, member of the National Academy of Medicine and bestselling author. Together they discuss the impact of the Women's Health Initiative study on women's hormone health, menopause education for healthcare professionals and the importance of patient-centred care that focuses on root causes, rather than just symptoms. Dr Marty talks about his new book Blind Spots, and the importance of asking big questions in medicine. You can follow Dr Marty on Instagram @martymakary, and TikTok @marty.makary For more information on Newson Health, click here. Dr Louise Newson's first-ever live theatre tour, Hormones and Menopause – The Great Debate, runs until 12 November. For more information and tickets, click here.

Joining Dr Louise this week are Dr Tash Mirando and Dr June Tan Sheren, who are GPs based at Osler Health International in Singapore. Dr Tash and Dr June explain the pillars of lifestyle medicine, including sleep, nutrition and exercise, and talk about longevity and the importance of taking a holistic approach to menopause care. They also discuss menopause care in Singapore, bust myths on how menopause can affect women of different ethnicities and highlight the importance of knowledge and empowerment in making informed decisions about your health. You can find out more about Osler Health International on Instagram @oslerhealth.sg and Facebook at oslerhealthsingapore. For more information on Newson Health, click here. Dr Louise Newson's first-ever live theatre tour, Hormones and Menopause – The Great Debate, runs until 12 November. For more information and tickets, click here.  

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women and this risk increases after the menopause, and a woman's risk of heart attack is around five times higher after the menopause than before*. Joining Louise on this week's podcast is Dr Jeremy London, a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon based in the US, to discuss heart health, hormones and menopause. They discuss the role of oestrogen in reducing inflammation in the body, why women typically present with different heart attack symptoms compared to men – and the signs to look out for – and the crucial role of nutrition and exercise in maintaining good heart health. Finally, Dr London shares his top three tips on what women (and men!) can do to help their future cardiac health: Don't smoke: it is the single worst thing you can do for your health in general. From a cardiac standpoint, from a blood vessel standpoint, for the risk of lung cancer. Nutrition: avoid processed foods and eat real, whole foods. Exercise and recovery: look to incorporate resistance training and some aerobic training, and don't forget about recovery and prioritising sleep. *El Khoudary, S.R. et al. (2020), Boardman, H. et al. (2015). Follow Dr London on Instagram @drjeremylondon For more information on Newson Health, click here. Dr Louise Newson's first-ever live theatre tour, Hormones and Menopause – The Great Debate, runs until 12 November. For more information and tickets, click here.

In a special episode to mark World Menopause Month, and ahead of World Menopause Day on 18 October, Dr Louise is joined by Dr Rebecca Lewis, co-founder of Newson Health. Together they cover some of the most frequently asked questions about perimenopause, menopause and HRT, including: When should I expect symptoms to improve after starting HRT? How long can I take HRT for? Plus advice on taking a holistic approach to menopause, tracking your symptoms, and talking to your healthcare professional. Dr Rebecca also suggests three things women and healthcare professionals should consider about hormones: Know there is a difference between older synthetic hormones and body identical, natural hormones Be aware of the health benefits of HRT  The importance of shared decision making and patient-centred care. You can download the balance app here, and the Easy HRT prescribing guide mentioned in the episode here. For more information on Newson Health, click here. Dr Louise Newson's first-ever live theatre tour, Hormones and Menopause – The Great Debate, runs until 12 November. For more information and tickets, click here.

Joining Dr Louise on this week's episode is Victoria Faulkner, who was diagnosed with type one diabetes in childhood. Victoria talks about day to day life managing menopause and diabetes, as well as her experiences of a surgical menopause due to treatment for endometriosis. Finally she shares the three things she thinks women with type one diabetes should know about hormonal health, and what has helped her personally: Familiarise yourself with the NICE guidelines on diabetes and see what you can access to monitor your diabetes Use a body map to track your symptoms ahead of any appointments you have to help discussions on any symptoms you might be experiencing Ask your healthcare professional for a continuous glucose monitor to help monitor your blood sugars and spot any patterns, and if possible, push for a sensor augmented pump system to monitor any highs or lows. For more information on Newson Health, click here. Dr Louise Newson's first-ever live theatre tour, Hormones and Menopause – The Great Debate, takes place 27 September to 12 November. For more information and tickets, click here.

Content advisory: this podcast contains themes of mental health and suicide Joining Dr Louise on the podcast this week is Linda Gask, retired psychiatrist and author of new book Out of Her Mind: How We Are Failing Women's Mental Health and What Must Change. In her book, Linda draws on the lived experiences of women, alongside expert commentators, recent history, current events, and her own personal and professional experience to look at women's mental healthcare today. Dr Louise and Linda discuss the challenges women face in accessing mental health treatment, the importance of understanding the impact of hormones on women's mental health, and the need for women to be listened to. Find out more about Linda's book here. For more information on Newson Health, click here. Dr Louise Newson's first-ever live theatre tour, Hormones and Menopause – The Great Debate, runs until 12 November. For more information and tickets, click here. Contact the Samaritans for 24-hour, confidential support by calling 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.

On this week's podcast, Dr Louise is joined by Dr Mohit Khera, a US-based leading urology specialist treating urinary tract disorders, male infertility, and male and female sexual dysfunction. They discuss the role of testosterone, the most biologically active hormone in the female body, why he believes testosterone is the best barometer of health of all hormones, and testosterone replacement. For more information about Dr Mohit, click here, and you can follow him on Instagram @ drmohitkhera. For more information on Newson Health, click here. Dr Louise Newson's first-ever live theatre tour, Hormones and Menopause – The Great Debate, takes place 27 September to 12 November. For more information and tickets, click here.

Joining Dr Louise on this week's podcast are US-based Kristin Johnson and Maria Claps, authors of new book The Great Menopause Myth: The Truth on Mastering Midlife Hormonal Mayhem, Beating Uncomfortable Symptoms, and Aging to Thrive. Kristin and Maria share their own menopause stories, why they wanted to write a book to help others and why menopause can be the best time of your life. The pair also share the four things, besides hormones, that can help women during this time: Education Exercise Nourishing your body with the right foods Managing stress For more information on The Great Menopause Myth, which will be released in the UK on 26 September, click here. For more information on Newson Health, click here. Dr Louise Newson's first-ever live theatre tour, Hormones and Menopause – The Great Debate, takes place 27 September to 12 November. For more information and tickets, click here.

This week's episode is all about Dr Louise Newson Menopause Masterclass, a brand new video-led, one-stop guide to perimenopause and menopause. In this episode, Dr Louise chats to Kate Muir, journalist, author, documentary maker and menopause activist, who worked with Dr Louise on developing Menopause Masterclass. Together they discuss the inspiration behind Menopause Masterclass, topics covered, featured experts and why it's a must watch for everyone, whether you are menopausal, keen to be prepared for the future or simply want to know more to support loved ones. To find out more and to sign up to the Menopause Masterclass, click here. Click here to find out more about Newson Health.

Joining Dr Louise on this week's podcast is Melanie Verwoerd, political analyst, former member of parliament for the South African ANC party under Nelson Mandela, and former South African ambassador to Ireland. In this episode, Melanie shares her experience of radical hysterectomy, and her shock at just how little information is available to women before their operation. She tells Dr Louise how she is on a mission to close the information gap by chronicling her experiences in a book, Never Waste a Good Hysterectomy, followed by a podcast series of the same name. Dr Louise also shares her own experience of a having a hysterectomy, and together with Melanie offers advice to women who are preparing for surgery on what to expect. Click here to find out more about Newson Health.

In this week's episode Dr Louise is joined by one of her patients, Lesley Henry, a nurse who lives in Northern Ireland. Lesley shares her experience of menopause, which started before she received a diagnosis of endometrial cancer. Her treatment for cancer led to a surgical menopause, which she found debilitating. Lesley explains she feared her brain fog and fatigue would prevent her from returning to work and from caring for her mother. A firm believer in the importance of quality of life, Lesley decided to resume taking HRT. She hopes to help other women who are going through similar experiences and shares the things that have given her the strength to make decision about her treatment and her life: I have a faith. Not everybody will have the same faith as I have, and that's fine, but I think having a faith helps. Be proactive and find support groups. Through Action Cancer I learnt about scar therapy, which has helped, plus I completed a positive living programme to learn how to re-energise and rebuild my life. Be prepared to say goodbye to the old you. She's not coming back and in a way, she needs to go. Trust in yourself and listen to your heart. You are worthwhile and your life matters. Click here to find out more about Newson Health  

Menopausal women are the fastest-growing demographic in the UK workforce, yet a 2022 survey by the Fawcett Society found one in ten women leave work due to their menopause symptoms. This week, Dr Louise is joined by Oonagh Ferson, who researched the experiences of perimenopausal and menopausal women in the workplace as part of her MSc in HR management at Queens University Belfast. Oonagh shares her research findings and some of the stories of women she interviewed, and with Dr Louise discusses the impact of perimenopause, menopause and other conditions such as PMS and PMDD in the workplace. Oonagh offers advice on how women can thrive at work, including the three things she believes would make the biggest difference to women in the workplace: A bottom up approach, where employers sit down with women and ask them: what would help you? What can we do? Even though it may be difficult at times, advocate for yourself: be open with your employer to secure the support or adjustments you need  Having open discussions, using clear language and avoiding terms like ‘the change', can help dispel the stigma around menopause   There is a chapter dedicated to menopause and the workplace in Dr Louise's bestselling book, The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause. Order your copy by clicking here. Click here for more about Newson Health.

This week on the podcast, Dr Louise is once again joined by her friend, retired consultant urologist Steve Payne. Together they look at the similarities and differences in women and men's experiences of menopause and andropause, and the effect of low testosterone levels, including loss of libido and lust for life, lethargy, mood changes, depression and muscular weakness. They address the issues surrounding testosterone replacement and Steve questions if medical professionals can learn from the treatment of men with prostrate cancer with testosterone supplementations when treating women with breast cancer with hormones. Steve has written a factsheet about making informed decisions during cancer care. You can also read more about his and his wife Jan's experience, plus practical advice, here, and listen to the podcast  Making decisions about cancer treatment and the importance of quality of life with Steve Payne. Click here for more about Newson Health.

This week, Dr Louise is joined by Dr Claudia DeGiovanni, a consultant dermatologist with a keen interest in the menopause. Dr Claudia has published a four-part review on the effect of menopause on skin and hair and has carried out research into the effect of menopausal skin issues on quality of life. Here she talks about the prevalence of skin issues in menopause and their causes, the significance of oestrogen and what to look out for in products and what to avoid. Finally, she shares three tips for menopausal skin: If you have got significant skin problems, if it's affecting your quality of life, seek help, see your GP, see a dermatologist, get a diagnosis and find some accurate treatments because we will take you seriously. Look at your skincare routine and be aware of how your skin is changing. It's likely to become more sensitive so avoid harsh exfoliants or anything that strips the skin of moisture, and include a good quality SPF into your regime. When choosing products it's more important to look at the ingredients list, and choose quality ingredients such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid, than buying those labelled for menopause. You can follow Dr Claudia on Instagram @dr.degiovanni_dermatology and read her paper on menopause and skin disorders here. There is a chapter dedicated to skin and hair in menopause in Dr Louise's bestselling book, The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause. Order your copy by clicking here. Click here for more about Newson Health.

This week on the podcast, Dr Louise is joined by Dr Ceri Cashell, a GP in Australia who specialises in female hormonal health. After completing Newson Health's Confidence in Menopause course, Dr Ceri became passionate about educating both patients and fellow healthcare professionals about the importance of hormones, and busting myths around HRT. Here she talks about the advantages of longer consultations with patients and shares the things she thinks it's important for healthcare professionals to know so they can improve their care of perimenopausal and menopausal women:  Understand that menopause can affect women of a wide range of ages, and to consider perimenopause when you are presented with multiple-system symptom clusters. Simplify your HRT regime. Use body identical hormones, oestradiol patches, gels or sprays, micronised progesterone and consider testosterone. Understand that women don't all absorb medication through the skin the same so you may need to tweak the doses. Know that not all oestrogens and progestogens are the same. The oestrogen in body identical HRT on its own has been shown to reduce the lifetime risk of breast cancer, while the body identical progesterone is not associated with any increased risk of breast cancer in the best data. Testosterone is licensed for loss of libido, but in clinical practice does seem to really help other symptoms of perimenopause and menopause and can really be a gamechanger. If you do prescribe more HRT, you'll see the most transformational medicine that you've probably ever encountered. You can follow Dr Ceri on Instagram @drcericashell Find out more about the Confidence in Menopause course here and the balance app symptom checker mentioned on the podcast here Click here to find out more about Newson Health

This week Dr Louise is joined by sprinter Desirèe Henry who is representing Team GB at the Paris Olympics this year. Desirèe is no stranger to the Olympics – she was one of seven young athletes who lit the Olympic caldron at the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Games, plus she took home a bronze medal in the 4 X 100m relay at the 2016 Rio Games. And she'll be heading to Paris on a high after being part of Team GB's gold medal-winning women's 4x100m relay team at the European Athletics Championships in Rome in June. Desirèe talks about the challenges of competing throughout the menstrual cycle and coping with heavy periods, plus the importance of talking openly about these issues, maintaining a healthy weight and body positivity. Finally, Desirèe shares three tips to help you lead a happier and healthier life: Set one goal every day. It doesn't have to be anything big, it could be drinking water or having a piece of fruit every day, but it's something that will add up over the week and benefit your lifestyle in a positive way. Try to incorporate exercise into your lifestyle. It could be watching a YouTube yoga video or anything that just allows your body to move, that increases blood flow around the body and helps you get in some extra stretching. Check in on other people more often. Just find out how they are and show them that somebody cares – you'll be appreciated. You can follow Desirèe on Instagram @desiree_lh Click here to find out more about Newson Health  

This week on the podcast, Dr Louise is joined by Manisha Morgan, whose own experience of menopause led her to train as a nutritionist. Manisha offers support to women who are fed up with yo-yo dieting to build a positive relationship with food, lose weight, and lead a healthy lifestyle. She helps women learn mindset techniques to help improve self-confidence and implement habits that can lead to long-term success. Manisha talks about the importance of acknowledging cultural attitudes and approaches to food, and how genetic doesn't necessarily dictate your future health. Finally, Manisha shares three achievable goals: Manage your expectations, start small and then gradually build up. So for example, if you don't go for a walk, start going for a 20-minute walk and then maybe gradually increase that over a period of time. Start to include protein in every single meal that you're having, breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you're having three different meals, there are lots of different things that you can have. If you have a 'bad' day, don't let that throw you off. Just pick yourself up the next day and continue with whatever new habits you're establishing. You can follow Manisha on Instagram @manisha_your_nutritionist Click here to find out more about Newson Health.  

This week on the podcast, Dr Louise is joined by Osama Naji, a Consultant Gynaecologist who is an expert in advanced gynaecological scanning at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. In this episode Osama shares his vast knowledge on fibroids – common, benign growths that usually develop during a woman's reproductive years when oestrogen levels are at their highest. He explains the impact menopause can have on fibroids, treatment options and the possibility of HRT. Finally, Osama advises on things to consider if you've recently been diagnosed with fibroids: Find out all the facts about your fibroid - number, location and size – as knowledge is power. You can usually get this from an ultrasound scan. Use that knowledge to get professional guidance about managing your fibroids. HRT is safe. The benefits of it usually outweigh the risks. The only thing to consider is if the fibroid is causing problems before starting HRT but even in this scenario, HRT may worth trying. If you experience rapid growth in the fibroids or accelerated symptoms seek help to determine the right treatment. Find out more about Osama here and read his feature on balance on fibroids and the menopause here. Click here to find out more about Newson Health.

This week on the podcast, Dr Louise is joined by Dr Corinne Menn, a New York-based, board-certified OB-GYN and North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner, with more than 20 years of experience caring for women. When she was 28, Corinne was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following her BRCA2+ diagnosis, she underwent multiple surgeries and chemotherapy then navigated pregnancy and menopause plus longer term survivorship issues. Corinne received support from the Young Survival Coalition, an organisation that advocates for women under 40 with breast cancer, and worked with her oncologists to manage her pregnancy, menopause and treatment options. She feels passionately that women who have or have had breast cancer receive individualised care and treatment for their cancer and menopause symptoms, and shares three tips to help with quality of life:    Do not minimise your menopausal symptoms, your hot flushes, your night sweats, sleep etc. So whether you use hormonal therapy or non-hormonal medications, make sure you get help and can sleep so you function better and breaking the vicious cycle of spiralling menopausal symptoms. Please do not neglect vaginal sexual health. Again, if you can preserve a little bit of that, it can stop a negative cycle of suffering, of urinary tract infections and relationship and intimacy issues. Scheduling time to have a separate appointment with your oncologist and your GYN. Come prepared. Listen to Louise's podcast. Listen to Menopause in Cancer podcast and Instagram page. Be empowered because you and your quality of life are worth it. You can follow Corinne on Instagram at @drmennobgyn Click here to find out more about Newson Health.  

This week on the podcast with Dr Louise, Consultant Dermatologist Dr Sajjad Rajpar returns to talk about acne and its effect on women during the perimenopause and menopause, including on their self-confidence and mental health. Dr Saj explains the causes of acne and the different treatments available, including an encouraging new treatment that could make a big difference to acne sufferers in the long term. Finally, Dr Saj shares his three tips for anyone who might have acne: Keep skincare simple and targeted. Pick one of three active ingredients – retinoids, benzoyl peroxide or azelaic acid – and give it three to six months to work. Only supplement it with a very simple supporting skincare regime. Assess the impact of the acne – if it is leaving persistent blemishes, pigmentation or scars, then escalate the treatment. If the first line treatment hasn't worked, give it three months and see a medical professional to try to get it under control because prevention of scars is so much easier than trying to reverse and cure them. Be mindful about all the different risk factors and triggers, and do not underestimate the impact of diet and stress. Where we can treat acne holistically, we should. You can follow Dr Saj on Instagram @dr.rajpar_dermatologist There is a chapter dedicated to skin and hair in menopause in Dr Louise's bestselling book, The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause, which includes expert contributions by Dr Saj. Order your copy by clicking here. Click here to find out more about Newson Health

About 28 million people in the UK are thought to be living with chronic pain – that's 43% of the population, according to the 2011 Census. But what is chronic pain, and how can it overlap with the perimenopause and menopause? In this week's episode Dr Louise is joined by Dr Deepak Ravindran, a consultant in pain medicine and author of The Pain-Free Mindset: 7 Steps to Taking Control and Overcoming Chronic Pain. Dr Deepak unpicks the science behind chronic, or persist, pain and the two discuss the relationship between hormones, inflammation and pain. Dr Louise and Dr Deepak have co-authored a new article which offers 10 top tips for primary care practitioners on improving care for women with fatigue and/or pain. You can access the article here. Follow Dr Deepak on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and X. Click here to find out more about Newson Health

This week on the podcast Dr Louise meets comedian Anne Gildea, who will be joining Louise on her 34-date theatre tour this autumn, Hormones and Menopause: The Great Debate. Anne, a founding member of Irish musical-comedy trio The Nualas talks to Louise about her diagnosis of breast cancer, aged 45, and her ensuing menopausal symptoms, which she was unprepared for. She explains how her research inspired her to create her own show, How to Get the Menopause and Enjoy It. Louise and Anne discuss why they've come together to create a new show that will take you on a journey through the history of women's health and lead you to see menopause and hormones in a whole different light. Finally, the pair share some of the reasons they think people should come to the show: It'll be a wonderful night out - a real sharing experience where you can also have a laugh. There'll be lots to learn with new content and a sharing of knowledge. You'll be able to ask questions and gets answers. Some shows will also have doctors available in the interval but Louise will answer questions on the stage as well. You can follow Anne on Instagram @annegildea   To buy tickets to the show click here Click here to find out more about Newson Health  

This week on the podcast, Dr Louise is joined by Elin Sullivan, a young woman who suffered a myriad of symptoms for years before getting the right treatment. Elin first experienced recurring urinary tract infections at 19 years old, and twice required hospitalisation. She also suffered from sweats, sleep disruption and fatigue, shaking and lichen sclerosus. After a chance encounter with Louise, she tried local HRT, which was transformative, and now takes testosterone to balance her low levels. Elin talks about how hard it can be to experience perimenopausal symptoms at a young age and shares her tips for other younger women experiencing issues that they think might be down to their hormones:   Although it can feel really hard, don't stop advocating for yourself. You may have self-doubt or worry that you're wrong but keep pushing. My doctor was sick of seeing me, I was there probably every week, but don't give up. Rather than just giving your doctor a list of your symptoms, show them when they were happening as well. Have a log of symptoms and anything that might have affected them on that day. This will help your doctor rule out things but also show if your diet, etc, has an influence. Don't be scared to try medications or suggestions. It might help but if it doesn't it can potentially help your doctor decide the next step. I never believed local HRT could make such a big difference but am so glad I tried it. Click here to find out more about Newson Health.

This week on the podcast Dr Louise is joined by Dr Felice Gersh, who is double board-certified in OB-GYN and Integrative Medicine, and specialises in female health, with a focus on managing female hormonal dysfunctions. She is the author of the book PCOS SOS: A Gynecologist's Lifeline to Naturally Restore Your Rhythms, Hormones, and Happiness, and recently published a paper on oestrogen and cardiovascular disease, and a 2021 paper on HRT. Here she talks about the family of oestrogens and the important role of hormones on the heart. Finally, she shares three tips on improving heart and whole body health: Eat a lot of phytoestrogen-containing foods - so every kind of plant in all the different colours, including beans, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables. They are nature's gift to us. Sunlight is like happy medicine. Try to get sunlight in the morning, midday and watch the sunset every chance you get. This will help you to sleep better, make more serotonin, and help to set your master clock in your brain, which tends to drift when we lose our oestrogen production. Move. Your fitness status is more predictive of healthy longevity than your blood pressure. Think of your fitness, strength, flexibility and balance as a critical part of your life so get active in every way you can. You can follow Dr Felice on Instagram @felicegershmd. Click here for more about Newson Health.

This week Dr Louise is joined by Aoife O'Sullivan, a family medicine doctor who trained in Dublin before completing a second family medicine residency at the University of Maryland.   After taking some time out to complete extra training in perimenopausal and menopausal care, including Newson Health's Confidence in the Menopause course, Dr Aoife is passionate about providing more comprehensive and holistic care to women during midlife.   Dr Aoife share the ways clinicians, and all people, can educate themselves in order to improve the health of women in the US, and across the world: Take every opportunity to learn and educate. So join any local healthcare Facebook groups and pass on links to the Confidence in the Menopause website, the balance app, etc. Even if you reach one or two people like that, it will make a difference and they might reach another one or two people. Share small bites of information because it can be a little overwhelming. So when you're trying to reach somebody, give them small amounts of information at a time. Harness the power of friends. If everyone informs their friends and they all go to their doctors, obstetricians, gynaecologists and urologists, and ask questions, it will fuel discussion and increase knowledge. You can follow Dr Aoife on Instagram @portlandmenopausedoc Find out more about the Confidence in the Menopause course and click here for more about Newson Health.    

This week on the podcast Dr Louise is joined by a new colleague, Dr Louisa James, a psychiatrist who has recently joined the team at Newson Health. Dr Louisa's personal experience of the menopause prompted her to learn more about the impact of hormones, and incorporate her knowledge in her role as an NHS consultant psychiatrist in a home treatment service. Here she discusses the importance, and power, of asking patients about their hormones during a psychiatric appointment. Finally, Dr Louisa shares her tips for thinking about your hormones alongside your mental health: 1.Consider whether this feels different to any previous episodes of depression you may have experienced or if your symptoms are fluctuating. Some women have suicidal thoughts or are depressed at certain times of the month. Track your symptoms and look at the fluctuations. Your history can affect your menopause. If you've had an episode of postnatal depression or PMDD, then you're more likely to experience mental health difficulties in the perimenopause. How do you feel about your life? Lack of joy rather than a sadness, the emotional lability, is often greater with a hormonal mental health problem whereas irritability, rage and impulsiveness can be greater with mental health problems. Dr Louisa James is now offering consultations to existing Newson Health patients. Click here for details.    

This week is a celebration of Dr Louise Newson's new paperback book, a revised and updated version of the bestselling The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause & Menopause. Dr Louise is joined by Kat Keogh, who worked on the book with her and is the head of editorial at Newson Health and across the balance website and app. Here Kat turns the tables and asks Dr Louise the questions, discovering why the subject of HRT doses warranted more attention in the book, the importance of hearing directly from women experiencing the menopause as well as experts in their fields, plus how Louise felt sharing her personal experiences. Finally, Dr Louise shares three reasons she thinks people should buy the book: The bright yellow cover is uplifting, and when you're happier you're healthier. It's packed with information so you'll learn something that will either help you or a loved one. Increasing awareness of hormones, perimenopause, menopause, plus PMS and PMDD will help women feel less lonely, more included and more listened to. Pre-order the paperback book here Click here to find out more about Newson Health.  

This week on the podcast, Dr Louise is joined by Tova Gillespie, a working single parent to two daughters, one of whom has severe disabilities and complex medical needs. Here she talks about the challenges of being perimenopausal while being a carer and how it's easy to not recognise or understand your symptoms.   Louise and Tova discuss how it's easy for your own needs to end up at the bottom of the to-do list when you're a carer or have a busy family life, and Tova shares three tips for anyone who may not be looking after themselves: Learn to ask for and accept help. People want to help, but very often they don't know how to offer it and our usual response can be ‘no, I don't need anything'. Instead, say straight out: ‘Please do my washing up. Or I have five loads of clean laundry that needs sorting. Or can you bring over some food?' Anything really. If your health isn't what it should be, go to your GP. When you ring your GP, ask for an appointment to talk about perimenopause and hormones. They'll know from the get go what it is you're after and if they have anyone in the clinic with an interest in that area, they'll put you in with that person. Try to see the good every day. I do gratitude journalling, where I write down a minimum of three positive things that have happened that day, and they're not big. It could be the sun is shining. It could be the taste of that first sip of coffee in the morning. I train myself to look for the positive because it's so easy to get overwhelmed in the bad stuff. Learn more about Tova on her YouTube channel. Or follow her on Instagram @parentXP Click here to find out more about Newson Health.

This week on the podcast, journalist Bryony Gordon, bestselling author of several books including her latest, Mad Woman, explains how the perimenopause caused her to reconsider her mental health. Was her experience of OCD affected by her hormones and what would society look like if women's health was taken more seriously? Bryony shares her belief that there's a 'witchy magic' to menopause and that the issues it brings are the ones that you need to deal with and there is power in doing so. Finally, Bryony shares three bits of advice to any woman being dismissed with 'it's just your hormones': Don't dismiss yourself. Don't discount your point of view or feelings just because they are yours. Maybe sometimes you're right, maybe sometimes you're wrong - that's OK. It's OK sometimes to be bad. We all are. It's just society wants us to live as women in a way that isn't very human. Confidence is a trick. No one has confidence. I don't have confidence. I just have a will and a desperation not to spend the rest of my life hating on myself because it's such a waste of energy. Follow Bryony on Instagram @bryonygordon her community organisation @Mental Health Mates Click here to find out more about Newson Health.

This week, Dr Louise is once again joined by journalist and activist Kate Muir, who made the Davina McCall documentary Sex, Myths and the Menopause. In Kate's new book, Everything You Need to Know About the Pill (but were too afraid to ask), she turns her attention to the hormones commonly used in the contraceptive pill. Kate shares personal stories of how women have been negatively affected by synthetic hormones and uncovers the bad science and patriarchy that have had such an impact on women's health. She also offers hope that women have options and can demand change. Finally, Kate shares three things every women should know about hormones and the pill: Progestins are not all the same. Some of them are androgenic and some of them are oestrogenic, and they have very different effects. So, women can be on the wrong pill for them. You can always take a pill holiday. There's nothing wrong with taking a few months off and seeing how you feel. And you may be a different person, or there may be other reasons for why you are in that state of mental health. There needs to be more research into every bit of what synthetic hormones do in our bodies, and particularly in our minds. You can follow Kate on Instagram at @muirka and on @pillscandal Click here to find out more about Newson Health.

This week we mark 250 episodes of the Dr Louise Newson Podcast! And joining Dr Louise this week is Anita Nicholson, a nurse practitioner and menopause expert at Age Management Center in the US, where she aims to help patients lead the best quality of life for as long as they can. Here, Dr Louise and Anita compare notes on the attitudes towards testosterone in the UK and the US, share their clinical experience of the benefits it can provide women, particularly in restoring their zest for life. Finally, Anita shares three things she thinks could make a huge difference to women's health: Women need to educate themselves. They have to be their own advocate. I would love for hormones to become available and affordable. In the US, we don't even have vaginal oestrogen covered by some insurance here, never mind over-the-counter access. More education of healthcare providers. So have a fellowship in menopause. Let's start very early with med students and nurse practitioner students so they understand that menopause and sexual medicine is very important for our life span and our health span. You can follow Anita on Instagram @menopause_agewellfnp and the Age Management Center on Facebook /AgeManagementCenter and YouTube /@agemanagementcenter. Click here for more information about Newson Health    

The Dr Louise Newson Podcast is celebrating two huge milestones this week: not only is the podcast five years old, we've hit six million downloads since Dr Louise started her podcast back in March 2019! Making a welcome return to the podcast this week is world-renowned neuroscientist Dr Lisa Mosconi, PhD. Her new book, The Menopause Brain is released on 21 March and in it Dr Lisa shares some of the fascinating changes that occur to the brain during menopause. In this episode, Dr Lisa explains how our understanding of the importance of hormones' role in the brain is relatively new – man was walking on the moon almost 30 years before scientists realised that the hormones that play an important part in ovarian function also have a fundamental role in the brain. She explains that she wrote her book to empower women with the information they need to navigate the menopause – by understanding why your brain might feel foggy and the science behind it, she hopes to reassure and enlighten. You can follow Dr Lisa Mosconi on Instagram @dr_mosconi Click here to find out more about Newson Health  

Joining Dr Louise on this week's podcast is Alex Newman, a substance misuse therapist with a special interest in the menopause. Alex's passion is supporting women who are self-medicating menopausal symptoms with alcohol and drugs – a recent survey by Newson Health of nearly 1,200 women found some were spending nearly £3,000 a year on alcohol and over-the-counter medication in a bid to cope with menopause-related symptoms. The pair discuss the relationship between substance misuse and menopause, and crucially, strategies on how to get help for yourself or a loved one. Follow Alex on Instagram @alexnewmantherapy or email alexnewman.therapy@gmail.com. Click here to find out more about Newson Health

In the final episode of this series, Natalie is joined by GP & Menopause Specialist Dr Louise Newson to debunk the myths and misinformation around perimenopause and menopause. From menopause being labelled a disability to the idea of it being over medicalised, Natalie and Louise bring their individual thoughts to the table with Dr Newson providing expert insight and advice on how to manage symptoms. Whilst the conversation covers various aspects of Louise's role as a specialist and pioneering doctor, we are also given a more personal view of Louise as the woman behind the public persona and how she has dealt with difficult situations in her own life, including shedding light on her own perimenopause experience. Throughout the chat the pair discuss the rise of menowashing and the unfairness of companies preying on desperate women for financial gain and how medical professionals are also falling prey to the commercialisation of menopause. Elsewhere Louise talks frankly about how cycle tracking, lifestyle changes and open conversations in our personal relationships can help us feel more empowered during the perimenopause transition and how hormonal treatment across our reproductive and post reproductive years needs to be discussed on a wider level, with frequent reform to ensure women are receiving the best possible care. Listen in for an informative and personal conversation with one of the leading voices in menopause care. For more from Dr Newson you can follow her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/menopause_doctor or visit the Newson Health website at www.newsonhealth.co.uk

Content advisory: this episode contains themes of suicide and self-harm Joining Dr Louise on this week's podcast is Wendy Barker. Wendy experienced postnatal depression after the birth of her first child in the late 80s and was later diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a very severe form of premenstrual syndrome. ‘For probably three weeks of the month, I was like a coiled spring,' Wendy recalls. ‘And the only way that I would get anything sort of relief from that would be to either rage, scream, shout, and then there'd be the tears. And then I would think that's it until it starts all over again.' Wendy movingly describes the impact of PMDD on her physical and mental health and her relationship with her family, her fight for a diagnosis and ongoing access to treatment, plus her advice for others in similar situations. You can find more information about PMDD in Dr Louise's book, the Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause. And you can listen back to episode 216 of the podcast with Dr Hannah Ward on progesterone, PMDD, postnatal depression and menopause. Click here for more information on Newson Health. Contact the Samaritans for 24-hour, confidential support by calling 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org  

This week Dr Louise is joined by feminist cultural historian Dr Elinor Cleghorn, author of Unwell Women, which unpacks the roots of the misunderstanding, mystification and misdiagnosis of women's bodies, illness and pain. From the ‘wandering womb' of ancient Greece to today's shifting understanding of hormones, menstruation and menopause, Unwell Women is the story of women who have suffered, challenged and rewritten medical misogyny. Elinor tells Dr Louise how the book draws on her own experience of being dismissed by doctors for years before finally being diagnosed with systemic lupus, an autoimmune condition which is nine times more prevalent among women than men. In the episode, Dr Louise and Elinor discuss how women's health, including menopause, has been viewed through the ages, and the misconceptions that need to be consigned to the history books once and for all. Follow Dr Elinor on Instagram @elinorcleghorn Click here to find out more about Newson Health

On this week's podcast, Dr Louise is joined by Dr Ashley Winter, a urologist and sexual medicine specialist, and Dr Sarah Glynne, a GP and menopause specialist who is a member of the research team at Newson Health and chairs a working party that promotes access to evidence-based menopause care for patients with breast cancer. They discuss Fezolinetant – brand name Veoza – a new drug recently approved in the UK and other countries to treat moderate to severe hot flushes in menopausal women aged 45 to 60 years. You can read an article about fezolinetant on the balance website here. Related articles Lederman S., Ottery F.D., Cano A., Santoro N., Shapiro M., Stute P., et al. (2023) 'Fezolinetant for treatment of moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause (SKYLIGHT 1): a phase 3 randomised controlled study', Lancet, 401(10382):1091-102. doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00085-5 Johnson K.A., Martin N., Nappi R.E., Neal-Perry G., Shapiro M., Stute P., et al. (2023), 'Efficacy and safety of fezolinetant in moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause: a Phase 3 RCT', J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 108(8):1981-97. Doi:10.1210/clinem/dgad058 Douxfils J., Beaudart C., Dogne J.M. (2023), 'Risk of neoplasm with the neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist fezolinetant', Lancet, 402(10413):1623-5. doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01634-3 Follow Dr Ashley Winter on X and Instagram @ashleygwinter Follow Dr Sarah Glynne on Instagram @sarahglynne Click here to find out more about Newson Health 

In this episode, Dr Louise is joined by Dr Clair Crockett, a GP and menopause specialist at Newson Health. Dr Clair has completed diplomas in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Sexual and Reproductive Health, and fits coils and implants. Here, she discusses some of the challenges for perimenopausal and menopausal women when it comes to contraception, and the importance of individualisation. She gives an insight into the hormones used in the contraceptive pill and HRT and shares how the Mirena coil can be transformative for some women. Finally, Dr Clair suggests three things to consider about contraception: Spend some time gathering information, talking to other women about their experiences with contraception and considering what your priorities are. Your healthcare professional can also help you make your decision. Remember that side effects of contraception are quite unusual but that if something doesn't work for you, you can change your mind. It's OK to take time to find the best contraception for you.  Some forms of contraception may mask perimenopausal symptoms so if you're not sure if this is happening to you, track your symptoms and how you are feeling so you can get guidance from your healthcare professional. Click here to find out more about coil fitting services at Newson Health

Louise Newson is a general practitioner, menopause specialist and founder of Newson Health.Menopause do not mean – end of fertile age, end of menstruation. It's more than hot flushes, night sweats or low libido.Todays episode campaigns for better menopause care for all women!A big thank you to our clinical leadership at C-Medical  #https://cmedical.no/no  for the opportunity to interview this global menopause superstar!With us in studio we have our dear colleague and hormone specialist,  Gynaecologist Dr. Ida Waagsbø Bjørntvedt.You'll learn about our hormones oestrogene, progesterone and testosterone and what happens in our body and cells when the production of these hormones decreases.What symptoms can occur in our bodies due to perimenopause?We'll get in to how our diet, exercise and daily life, earlier trauma can play a role in our symptoms and how we can increase the levels of hormones, find our hormonal and life balance through HRT (Hormonal replacement therapy)We'll dive into the myths of oestrogene and menopause.What about women with endometriosis? Elderly women or women after breast cancer?Link to Newson Health:https://www.newsonhealth.co.uk/Balance by Newson health :https://www.balance-menopause.com/Link to C-Medical and Gynaecologist Ida Waagsbø Bjørntvedt:https://cmedical.no/no/ansatte/ida-waagsbo-bjorntvedt

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, this week's podcast looks at how menopause can affect sex and intimacy. Joining Dr Louise is US-based Dr Kelly Casperson, urologic surgeon, author, and sex educator with expertise in hormones and pelvic health, whose passion is empowering women to embrace their best love lives. They talk about how genitourinary symptoms, such as recurrent UTIs, can impact sex, why communication is crucial and the importance of education in helping women make informed decisions about their treatment and health. Follow Dr Kelly on Instagram @kellycaspersonmd and listen to her podcast here Click here to find out more about Newson Health

Around three years ago, Katie's life fell apart. She couldn't focus on daily tasks, struggled to sleep and became angry and impatient. Worst of all, she started forgetting everything. After visiting her GP, Katie learned her ADHD symptoms had got significantly worse because she had entered the perimenopause. And she's not alone. 94% of women with ADHD said they experienced more severe ADHD symptoms during perimenopause and menopause according to a survey by ADDitude. Many women find the treatments that have worked for them in the past, suddenly don't. They struggle to cope and hit crisis point.Dr Louise Newson is a GP and menopause specialist who founded Newson Health. She joins Sam and Katie to explain how the menopause can affect women with ADHD and sets out the different treatment options available.For more information, check out Newson Health's website: www.newsonhealth.co.uk/wellbeing-centre/You can find Newson Health's fantastic booklet on ADHD and the perimenopause and menopause here: www.balance-menopause.com/menopause-library/adhd-and-the-perimenopause-and-menopause-booklet/

Advisory: this podcast includes themes of mental health and suicide. Do you find yourself easily distracted, with your attention rapidly shifting between different things? If so, you could be one of the legion of women who are under-diagnosed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Here, Australia-based psychiatrist and ADHD expert Dr David Chapman joins Dr Louise to discuss what ADHD is, how it affects women and the impact that female hormones – which have a powerful role in the brain – can have on symptoms. He talks about how ADHD symptoms can worsen for women just before their periods and around their perimenopause, and sets out the common treatment options, including increasingly the role of HRT and the Pill, and how lifestyle changes such as mindfulness can help women affected by ADHD. Dr Louise and Dr David also discuss how symptoms may only need treating if they are having an impact on a women's life. Download balance's ADHD and menopause booklet here. Click here for more about Newson Health. Contact the Samaritans for 24-hour, confidential support by calling 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org    

On this week's podcast Dr Louise is joined by Dr Rupy Aujla, founder of The Doctor's Kitchen, which aims to inspire and educate about the joy of food and the medicinal effects of eating well. Dr Rupy shares his thoughts on how to best enjoy a healthy and fulfilling diet and looks at some of the challenges food can bring during the perimenopause and menopause, but also how it can be a time to rethink and set new nutrition habits. While the new year is often a time to set goals or resolutions, Dr Rupy believes that consistency is the key to success and it can come through small steps, such as simply adding on vegetable to every single meal. Finally, Dr Rupy shares his three top tips for healthy eating: Master one meal that you're proud of and make it a solid base to then adapt, add twists with different vegetables, flavour bases, herbs, etc. If you have a child who doesn't like a particular ingredient, don't force it because that will introduce animosity towards that ingredient. When they're older, they may have developed different taste buds that allow them to appreciate it better. Aim for 90/10 because you probably will get to 80/20. And if you do have a cheeky take out, indulge, allow yourself to indulge without any guilt, particularly as it pertains to food, and then make yourself a pact to get back on it the following day. Follow Dr Rupy on socials @doctors_kitchen Click here for more on Newson Health

On this week's podcast, Dr Louise is joined by Dr Peter Greenhouse, a menopause specialist with 40 years' experience in women's sexual healthcare who is actively involved in postgraduate lecturing. He has recently spoken out about NICE's draft menopause guideline update, and tells Dr Louise it contains inappropriate and inaccurate statements, particularly concerning HRT and breast cancer safety, and ignores the cardioprotective effect of HRT when it's started within 10 years of the menopausal transition. Dr Peter challenges NICE's stance on HRT for primary prevention and proposes a pre-emptive approach that could help reduce the amount of other medications GPs are prescribing menopausal women. Finally, he shares his belief that women should be able to take as much HRT for as long as they need to. You can read about Newson Health's response to the NICE draft guideline consultation here. Follow Dr Peter Greenhouse on X @GreenhousePeter Click here for more on Newson Health

This week Dr Louise is joined by Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi, our brand-new fitness and longevity coach on the balance app. Dr Hussain is a GP who runs an NHS-based fitness and lifestyle clinic that helps patients to eat better, move more and connect with their community. Dr Hussain is a long-distance triathlete but he hasn't always been fit – a shock medical appointment prompted him into action after years of inertia and slowly but steadily he lost 24 kilos. Here Dr Hussain shares what he's learnt, including shifting your mindset from thinking about exercise as an obligation to choosing which movements you enjoy, be it a walk with friends or dancing. He explains why menopause can pose a challenge but also an opportunity to figure out what positive steps you can take for a healthier, happier you. Finally, Dr Hussain shares three things you can do in this new year to improve your quality of life and longevity: Get a partner in crime – someone who can support you. Without my wife, I wouldn't have made these changes. Try to control the cues in your life - we all have cues that trigger behaviours that we're not happy with. You might need to change your evening routine, for example. Harness self-belief. It really matters and is so powerful.   You can access Dr Hussain's new content on the balance app, and follow him on Instagram @irondoctorhaz. Click here for more about Newson Health

Menopause often happens at a time when you are juggling a career, relationships and caring responsibilities. Here Dr Nadira Awal, a GP and menopause specialist, joins Dr Louise to discuss her work in raising awareness of the menopause and the importance of partners and families understanding what their loved on is going through. Dr Nadira's personal experience of the menopause helped drive her passion for educating and supporting other women, especially those in ethnic minority communities who may not feel able to speak openly about it. She talks about increased health risks owing to genetics, particularly with diabetes and increased blood pressure, and the challenge of treating a woman's symptoms holistically in a ten-minute GP appointment. Follow Dr Nadira on Instagram @pauseandcohealthcare and on Facebook at Pause and Co Healthcare. Click here for more about Newson Health

In this episode Dr Louise is joined by world-renowned neuroscientist Dr Lisa Mosconi, PhD. Dr Lisa is Director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic and Women's Brain Initiative at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York and author of bestsellers The XX Brain and Brain Food. Dr Lisa was studying nuclear medicine and neuroscience when her grandmother and her grandmother's three sisters all developed Alzheimer's. Dr Lisa became interested in the cause of Alzheimer's and why women are more susceptible. Her research has shown that, rather than a disease of old age, it starts in midlife and menopause potentially plays a part. Dr Lisa discusses her most recent paper, which found that women who took hormones in midlife to treat their menopause symptoms were less likely to develop dementia than those who hadn't taken oestrogen. Finally, Dr Lisa shares three things to consider about female hormones: Oestrogen, and oestradiol in particular, is the master regulator of women's brains. It really is like saying that oestrogen is to your brain what fuel is for an engine. It keeps your brain running. Endogenous oestrogen (produced within your body) is different from exogenous oestrogen (synthetic). The bioidentical oestradiol is probably the best one to use because it really maps on the same circuits for your own endogenous oestrogen. I would love for all women to be able to make an informed decision about whether or not hormone therapy is a viable option for them. Many women who are eligible for HRT do not go on HRT out of fear and the fear comes from outdated information, mislabelling on some of the packages. Follow Dr Lisa on Instagram @dr_mosconi Click here to find out more about Newson Health

Content advisory: this podcast contains themes of mental health and suicide. Dr Louise is joined by her patient Trudie Jennings in this episode to talk about the complexities around HRT during and after treatment for breast cancer. Trudie describes how she started HRT to successfully manage crippling anxiety and other menopause symptoms and a few months later she was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer. NICE guidance states women should stop taking systemic HRT if they are diagnosed with breast cancer. However, after careful discussion with her cancer doctor and nurse, Trudie decided to continue with HRT during her treatment as, for her, the menopause symptoms were more challenging than her cancer treatment. Trudie and Dr Louise discuss shared decision making and informed consent, and how important it is for women with and after breast cancer to be fully informed about potential risks, benefits and uncertainties about HRT following a breast cancer diagnosis so they can make the best decision that is right for them. Trudie's three tips for women who have had breast cancer and are struggling with their menopause:  Know that as a patient you do have choices about whether to start or continue HRT after breast cancer treatment. Speak to your doctors and nurses and be informed so that you can make the right, personalised, decision for yourself. Trudie has found her healthcare professionals in cancer care open and helpful when discussing her need for HRT. You know your own body best, so listen to your body to get the treatment that will be best support you. Contact the Samaritans for 24-hour, confidential support by calling 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org Click here to find out more about Newson Health

Dr Louise Newson is a GP & Menopause Specialist and joined us to share her knowledge and expertise. Dr Newson and her team at Newson Health are at the forefront of advocating for women to get the appropriate treatment to support their hormone health. As well as investing in research and training to help healthcare practitioners make the best decisions for their patients.We cover a wide range of questions, from perimenopause and menopause to how oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone impact the body and the importance of good hormone health to help prevent serious inflammatory disabilities later in life, such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Dr Newson also answers questions from Sunflower wearers.If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast please contact your healthcare practitioner.For support:Download the Balance appNewson HealthHosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Want to share your story? email conversations@hdsunflower.comMusic by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby websiteFollow us on socials:InstagramTik TokFacebookLinkedIn Twitter

Why do women struggle with weight during and after the menopause? This is the key question I'm putting to Dr Louise Newson on todays podcast as it's the most commonly asked question that I get from Doctor's Kitchen followers as well as from patients during my medical career.She is the perfect person to be discussing this topic as Dr Louise Newson is one of the UK's leading medical experts on the menopause and has championed women's health for years. I also discuss with Dr Louise the 3 key things that all women should understand about the menopause.Having worked as a GP as well as opening the Newson Health menopause clinic, she has built a wealth of knowledge from first-hand experience of treating perimenopausal and menopausal women. And she's also written “The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause” which lays out everything women need to know to understand and reclaim their power during this stage. Her book covers:- The key facts about hormones- An essential guide to HRT- Navigating an early menopause- Exercising and Eating during the menopause- Taking care of your mental healthWe also discuss the unlikely way in which Louise found out about her own menopause, which just goes to show how unaware we could all be about these symptoms!

Testosterone is an important sex hormone for both men and women (although women have much lower levels) produced by your ovaries and adrenal glands and declines during the menopause. When it comes to menopause, testosterone is a hormone that can be misunderstood, and many women struggle to access testosterone treatment on the NHS. Here Dr Louise and her Newson Health colleague, GP and Menopause Specialist Dr Catherine Coward, talk about how it can be a valuable addition to HRT for women around the menopause and beyond. NICE menopause guidance recommends testosterone can be beneficial for women experiencing low libido where HRT alone hasn't helped. Yet Dr Louise and Dr Catherine talk how in their clinical experience, testosterone benefits can extend beyond sex drive-related symptoms, with patients reporting improvements including having more energy, and reduced brain fog and anxiety.   Click here for more about Dr Catherine.

Lucy Rocca, founder of ⁠⁠⁠www.soberistas.com⁠ talks to Clair Crockett, who is a GP and works as a menopause specialist at Newson Health. She will be speaking about the menopause, perimenopause and other times of hormonal change which can lead to a variety of symptoms which can be challenging to manage. The menopause also has health implications which it is important that women are mindful of.  The Balance menopause website can be found here and the link for information on the App can be found here. 

October marks World Menopause Month, and on this week's podcast, Dr Louise is joined by Newson Health colleague Dr Penny Ward to talk about the relaunch of our Confidence in the Menopause. Confidence in the Menopause is a CPD-accredited online course from Newson Health which is designed to increase your knowledge of, and confidence in, managing all aspects of the perimenopause and menopause. The course contains free and subscriber-only modules and is designed not only for those working in healthcare: it's for everyone. We've included tailored information for non-healthcare professionals, whether you are a woman looking for information to help you make the right decisions and get the most out of their healthcare consultations, or a partner, friend or colleague who simply wants to know more. Dr Penny's top three reasons for completing Confidence in the Menopause: It will give you an understanding what is inevitably going to happen to your own body or a loved one's body if you're a partner, friend or colleague. You will be able to appreciate the wide variety of symptoms that women can experience whilst undergoing hormonal changes. It's an opportunity to listen to the presentations, particularly the one that is dispelling the myths about the menopause and HRT to understand exactly what's gone before us. Find out more about Confidence in the Menopause here This World Menopause Month, help us start the most menopause conversations - ever. Everyone's menopause is individual and to help others understand and manage their menopause, we must break taboos, educate and start the conversation. How to get involved Have a conversation about the menopause Log your conversation on the balance website Share that you've got involved by tagging us on social media, using the hashtag #PauseToTalk

The supply of HRT medication Utrogestan is being restricted by the UK government because of shortages amid increase demand. Pharmacies will only dispense two months' worth of Utrogestan 100mg capsules per prescription to help ensure continued access for women. In this special episode, Newson Health pharmacist prescriber and menopause specialist Faiza Kennedy joins Dr Louise to talk about the restrictions, and where and how to seek advice and help. They talk about the importance of taking a progesterone as part of your HRT regime if you still have a womb, as well as alternatives to Utrogestan, including progesterone in pessary form, the Mirena coil and combined forms of HRT containing both estrogen and progesterone. Faiza's top three tips:  Only order the amount of Utrogestan you need to help everyone get through the shortfall Be organised about ordering your HRT prescriptions. Do it about two weeks before you run out so you have time in case you have any difficulties getting your supply or need to seek an alternative Reach out for help if you are struggling with your supply Click here for a balance article for more information about the current Utrogestan supply restrictions, plus alternatives. You can read more about Faiza here.

Women's health takes centre stage at this year's BBC Gardeners' World Live (NEC Birmingham, 15-18 June) as leading menopause expert, Dr. Louise Newson, joins forces with award-winning garden designer, Ruth Gwynn, to create the Newson Health Menopause Show Garden. The walk-through Show Garden reflects Newson Health's ethos of inclusive and accessible menopause support for everyone. It is designed to evoke feelings of community, creating a safe, tranquil and comfortable space for women to reflect on their health and to discover the nutritional and physical power of plants for mental health and wellbeing. There will be interactive ‘symptom stations' exploring different aspects of menopause and perimenopause, with clinicians and experts on hand with information and advice about diet and nutrition, the wide-reaching benefits of gardening, exercise, mindfulness and mental wellbeing.  Ruth Gwynn, who co-designed Frances Tophill's Platinum Award winning and ‘Best In Show' Show Garden at last year's BBC Gardeners' World Live, has selected plants for the Newson Health Menopause Garden which will create a visually enriching yet calm atmosphere. There will be an area for relaxation, a yoga corner and also an area for outdoor cooking.Find out more at bbcgardenersworldlive.com

In this episode, Dr Louise is joined by Kat Keogh to talk about Dr Louise's new book, The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause. Packed with advice and information from leading experts, it is the definitive, accessible and evidence-based guide to help you navigate your perimenopause and menopause. It covers key facts about hormones, family histories, the complete guide to HRT, libidos, mental and physical health, how menopause affects careers and relationships and so much more. Kat, who works at Newson Health, shares her top three reasons to buy The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause:  It gives clear, practical advice on talking about the menopause with your children. If you're starting, at any age, to feel like your hormones are off balance, buy this book to find out everything you need to know about the role of hormones in your health and how to manage that. If you're struggling and alone with the perimenopause or menopause, turn to this book for reassurance, support, knowledge and to be empowered. Order your copy here

Dr Namugga Martha Monicah is one of four female urologists in Uganda. She recently completed the Fellowship of the College of Surgeons (FCS) exam at the College of Surgeons East and Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) exams, finishing top of her class. She was supported with a sponsorship from Newson Health. This episode of the podcast, released on the eve of International Women's Day which this year centres around equity for all, looks at women's health and access to care in Africa. Dr Monicah tells Dr Louise Newson about the barriers to women's health in Africa, the shame surrounding it and the international support making a difference. She also addresses the stigma around the menopause and the need to move past a ‘suffer in silence' approach. Guest's three tips: Anyone in the world who listens to the podcast, know that there is somewhere where menopause doesn't have to be taken on humbly and that something can be done to improve your quality of life. To the African girl child, know that despite all the challenges, the hurdles, you can still do it, you can still emerge victorious. In whatever small way, any individual can do something to improve the life of another. For more about Dr Namugga Martha Monciah, visit https://www.baus.org.uk/professionals/urolink/urolink_home.aspx.

GP and menopause specialist, Dr Sarah Ball, makes a record fifth appearance on the podcast this week to discuss her work exploring experiences of menopause care in women who have had breast cancer. The experts discuss findings from a recent survey carried out by Sarah and the Newson Health team to highlight how things have improved in recent years and identify some of the ongoing needs. You can read more about Sarah's survey and other recent menopause research carried out by Newson Health here. Follow Dr Sarah Ball on social media on Instagram and Twitter. View the breast cancer booklet here.

Clinical Director of Newson Health, Dr Rebecca Lewis, returns to the podcast this week for a special end of year episode with Dr Louise Newson. The business partners and friends reflect on some of the positives over the last 12 months and discuss the continued challenges in trying to help more women with their experience of perimenopause and menopause. Rebecca's three hopes for 2023: Testosterone needs to be licensed for women (and not just for low libido) Treatment for significant and severe menopausal symptoms in the workplace to help keep women in work Education about the perimenopause and menopause reaching out to other medical specialties so more healthcare professionals understand how it affects the patients they see.  Follow Rebecca on Instagram at @dr.rebecca.lewis

Newson Health has recently appointed a Medical Director to ultimately help more women improve their health. In this episode, Dr Magnus Harrison shares a whistlestop tour through his professional life so far as a Consultant in Emergency Medicine via New Zealand, Australia, and Manchester and his experiences in leadership at Stoke on Trent in the wake of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust's ‘adverse mortality' investigation. Via Harvard, USA and India, Magnus then oversaw the merger of Burton upon Trent and Derby NHS Trusts before the hardest time of his career to date – the COVID 19 pandemic where 8 staff members from his organisation lost their lives. Magnus discusses with Louise what he hopes to bring to the medical leadership and management of Newson Health and the key values that underpin his mission. Magnus's aims for his leadership at Newson Health: I will be humble and led by professional curiosity to learn how to help more women I aspire to be a compassionate leader, will listen to understand, empathise and ask how I can help Kindness is essential and should underpin all that we do.

Dr Anna Chiles is a GP and works in an NHS practice in Gloucestershire and at Newson Health as a menopause specialist. In this episode, the experts discuss the range of symptoms that can occur in the perimenopause and menopause and the impact of these on daily life, and they highlight what can be done for women when symptoms persist for many years. Anna's 3 tips for women who have struggled with symptoms for many years: It's never too late to start HRT and have that discussion with your health practitioner. If you choose to try it, you don't have to continue with it if you don't like it. You don't have to stop taking HRT when you reach a certain age It's so important to keep active, for your independence, your balance, joints, and muscle strength. This goes hand in hand with hormone replacement.

Increasingly, we are becoming more aware of the important relationship that exists between what we eat, and how we feel. Often described as our ‘second brain' the gut is known to house an extensive network of neurons that, just like our actual brains, have a profound impact on our mental state. With research now suggesting that gut bacteria could manufacture about 95 percent of the body's supply of serotonin, it has never been more important to take a look at what we cook. Joining host Lauren Redfern to discuss the connection between the foods we eat, and our subsequent mood, is Newson Health Nutritionist Emma Ellice-Flint. Through their discussion, Lauren and Emma help to shed light on how mood and food are connected, exploring how an understanding of this is particularly important during the perimenopause and menopause when emotional stability can prove challenging. Emma outlines how the addition of certain foods (particularly fermented foods such as yogurt, kimchi, and tempeh) can prove particularly helpful in stabilising our gut microbiome, and in turn, our mood! Emma Ellice-Flint is a Nutritionist and former chef. She currently works at Newson Health, consulting with clients on nutritional advice, weight management and gastrointestinal health related issues. You can learn more about the Emma's work by visiting her website: https://emmasnutrition.com. You can follow Emma on Instagram @emmas_nutrition and find her on Facebook: @emmasnutrition.

The role of the allied health care professional in a person's journey through perimenopausal and menopausal treatment can prove essential. On this episode of the Newson Health Menopause Society podcast, host Lauren Redfern talks to in house Newson Health Pharmacist and Menopause Specialist Hayley Berry. Together, Lauren and Hayley pick apart the important position of the pharmacist and how it relates to a person's menopausal journey. The episode explores the ways in which pharmacists and other allied health care professionals can upskill themselves in order to feel confident consulting on the perimenopause and menopause. It provides advice on how to access appropriate resources, tools, and education, including when to feel assured signposting to another service. Recognising the very important part played by the allied healthcare professional beyond the clinic, Hayley helps to demystify the process of learning, and provides valuable insight into how best to empower patients. Hayley is an experienced prescribing pharmacist with a background in community pharmacy and now works in both general practice and education and training. She has a keen interest in women's health including contraception, sexual health and the menopause and is currently working remotely in conjunction with the team at Newson Health. You can find Hayley on Twitter @hayleyberry8

In this episode of the NHMS podcast, host Lauren Redfern is joined by Menopause Specialist Dr Sarah Ball to discuss the ways in which the perimenopause and menopause may be missed in patients with other long-standing health conditions. Drawing upon her own experience as a GP, Sarah outlines how a commitment to asking simple and straightforward questions can prove important in helping to distinguish between the re-emergence of an existing condition, and the onset of perimenopause and menopause. Using a number of interesting examples, this episode urges clinicians to keep menopause on their minds, even in instances where it seems an unlikely culprit. Dr Sarah Ball is a GP and Menopause Specialist currently consulting as part of the Newson Health team. Dr Ball has extensive experience in working with perimenopausal and menopausal patients. She finds the process of empowering women to understand their menopause journey and access appropriate care and treatment highly rewarding. You can follow Dr Sarah Ball on Instagram @drsarahmollyball and find her on Twitter @sarahball14

Sarah Davies is an experienced business coach and trainer who previously spent over 15 years in senior international corporate roles and as a head-hunter for senior executives. Sarah supported her sister, Dr Louise Newson, as business manager, six years ago when Newson Health menopause clinic was launched. Seeing how devastating the consequences of the menopause affect personal and professional lives, Sarah set up Talking Menopause to educate and support men and women across all levels on the impact of menopause at work.  In this episode, Louise and Sarah look back on starting their respective journeys into menopause care and support services, and discuss the real-life impact of the perimenopause and menopause in the workplace. Sarah shares some of the outcomes of her workshops and webinars and describes how Talking Menopause stimulates cultural change within organisations. Sarah's advice to workplaces: Everyone should be aware of the peri/menopause and respond to it as a normal process for their employees and their partners. Consider the practical side; where is the safe space for women to escape to? What are the practical solutions for women suffering at work? And to women at work: Don't suffer in silence, talk to a friendly colleague, download the balance app and go and see your healthcare professional if you're not getting the right level of support. There's a lot of help out there. You can learn more about Sarah's work at www.talkingmenopause.co.uk

In the first episode of the Newson Health Menopause Society podcast we are introduced to the host, PhD researcher Lauren Redfern, who shares a little of her own background and how she became interested in the perimenopause and menopause. Lauren welcomes her first guest of the podcast, the founder of the Society, Dr Louise Newson, to explain why she has launched the Society and what she hopes it achieves for women's health across the world. Through their conversation, Dr Louise Newson reflects on her recent years specialising in menopause care and how she has helped countless women through providing free evidence-based information on her websites and social media and the balance menopause support app. Louise shares her passion for continually piecing together the menopause jigsaw of knowledge, through research and education and believes the issue must be addressed by multiple healthcare disciplines and through shared decision making with the person going through it. Louise's hope is that by professionals coming together across the world, through sharing knowledge and connecting the research dots, that Newson Health Menopause Society will change women's health for good. For more information about the Newson Health Menopause Society, visit www.nhmenopausesociety.org

Dr Rebecca Lewis, Clinical Director at Newson Health, returns to the podcast for the first episode of 2022 to discuss the perimenopause with Dr Louise Newson. The experts explain what the term means, what's happening to your hormones during this phase, and how it can be diagnosed. Rebecca offers practical advice on how to speak to your healthcare professional to convey the range of related perimenopausal symptoms and raise the issue of hormones. Find out what your increased health risks are when your hormones change and what you can do to mitigate these risks. The perimenopause is discussed as an opportunity to take stock and consider introducing some small changes to your lifestyle that will improve both your physical and mental health. Rebecca's 3 top tips if you think you might be perimenopausal: Take control and think about balancing your hormones and protecting your future health Get a diagnosis earlier rather than later, download the free balance menopause support app and start tracking your periods and symptoms Consider HRT to help your symptoms and feel better, and then you can look at making changes to your lifestyle that will benefit your future health and wellbeing.

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson explains about an exciting new appointment for Newson Health and introduces Alistair Darby as the new CEO. Coming from a hospitality background, Alistair explains what led him to apply for the role of CEO of a menopause healthcare company, and he shares how his awareness of menopause increased after he witnessed the devastating impact on his wife 5 years ago. Alastair and Louise discuss the problem of the menopause in the workplace and the resulting gap of female talent at the top. They talk through their joint mission to normalise getting treatment for the perimenopause and menopause and speculate on what a difference this would make to relationships, the workplace, healthcare and society. Through his role, Alistair hopes to: Get men to wake up and smell the (menopause infused) coffee! This is a huge gender inequality issue. Work together to scale up what we do and give more women access to treatment and HRT than is currently the case. This will have a transformative effect on many more lives. Help women to feel fitter, and more energetic as they grow older, so they can continue to make an amazing contribution – for them, their families, society and the economy.

Today I'm focussing on the menopause, something that affects all women, and indirectly men, but as yet doesn't have the recognition and knowledge that it deserves. To talk about all things menopause, I'm delighted to welcome Dr Louise Newson, menopause specialist and GP. On this episode hear us talk about: what is the menopause risks and benefits of HRT treating the menopause naturally risk of long term disease after the menopause Louise's role in shaping the future of menopause care Louise is such a busy lady, it's difficult to know where to start. In summary, she is an advisor to the NHS and on the Clinical Steering Committee for NHSEI's Menopause Improvement Programme and has also set up a not for profit company focused on research and education called Newson Health Research and education. Louise has authored the Haynes Menopause Manual, and also topped the times best seller list with her new book preparing for the perimenopause and menopause. She is the director of Newson Health Ltd (www.newsonhealth.co.uk) She runs a menopause and wellbeing centre in Stratford-upon-Avon which is the largest menopause clinic in the world. She has developed the menopause information website www.menopausedoctor.co.uk and the free menopause app “balance” – www.balance-app.com. Louise is the founder and a trustee for The Menopause Charity – www.themenopausecharity.orgwhich will support and empower women with evidence-based knowledge in many different ways. She has recently launched the Confidence in the Menopause educational programme - www.fourteenfish.com/menopause/welcomeand is involved in research with colleagues in Warwick, Oxford and Liverpool Universities and London School of Tropical Medicine. Louise has contributed to menopause related articles in different newspapers and magazines and been on numerous radio and TV programmes. She also hosts a weekly podcast for women (entitled Newson Health). If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be delighted if you would give me a 5* rating and leave a review, so other people can find us too. Thank you!⁠

Menopause is often misdiagnosed so education is paramount. If we can know what to look out for, we will be far more equipped when we go to see the GP for help and support. This week we talk to menopause specialist Sharon Hartmann from the Newson Clinic. She works both in the NHS and the private sector so she has a window on both experiences. The effects of menopause start in our early 40s, sometimes even sooner and often they are misdiagnosed as depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, even alzheimers – you'll hear all about that across the next few episodes. If you haven't yet heard the other episodes about navigating and understanding the symptoms, they are numbers 72 78 and 79. In this episode, Sharon Hartmann was keen to talk not just about menopause, but how to talk to your GP about HRT and we cover masses – from migraines to endemitriosis, depression to pelvic floors, to how to apply HRT, the 5 year myth, the WHI Study, testosterone, the mirena coil and libido …here's a few break points: 17:00 symptoms, both physical and psychological 19:00 pelvic floor and bladder, vaginal atrophy 28:00 body identitcal HRT 33:00 HRT and whether or not to come off (short answer, no) 38:00 what to do when your GP says no 42:00 5 year myth 46:00 Is it ever too late to start? 50:00 testosterone 51:00 libido and anxiety 54:00 bad sleep and sleep hygiene 57:00 mirena coil We talk about the Newson Health clinic where you can get heaps of advice and help as being a great place to start and click here for the NICE guidelines to help you with approaching your GP. The Balance app is the other resource helpful for navigating and tracking your symptoms. Please share these episodes with friends and family, it's so important to keep the conversation going. Thank you for listening, if you'd like to follow me on social media, you can see all my links via my website  COPYRIGHT PIPA GORDON 2021

Dr Zoe Hodson returns to the podcast this week to talk to Dr Louise Newson about the hormone testosterone. Zoe is a GP and senior doctor at Newson Health, and together they discuss the impact of low testosterone on your daily life, why it can be difficult to get hold of, and gender inequalities in healthcare provision when it comes to this particular hormone. Zoe is on a personal mission to ask every local health commissioning group if their clinicians can prescribe testosterone and, if not, why not? Change is happening slowly within primary care and Zoe and Louise are committed to continue to push for testosterone to be regarded as an integral part of menopause care at a free, local level for all. Zoe's 3 asks for change: We need to normalise testosterone in women, so please keep talking about it. If you take it already, tell people, and tell your healthcare professionals about the difference it makes to you. Keep alerting your GP practice to the ‘Confidence in Menopause' course on fourteenfish.com. It is now free for all healthcare professionals across the globe. If you're going to a menopause clinic and they haven't mentioned testosterone, ask them about it. Zoe would like to thank all her followers on social media for their wonderful support and encouragement to keep speaking up for women and trying to bring about change for good. You can follow Zoe on Instagram @manchestermenopausehive

Episode 3.1 - Dr Louise Newson - The Menopause Dr.The Aural Apothecaries are back for Series 3! In this episode it is our great pleasure to interview Dr Louise Newson - also known as the Menopause Doctor. As well as a GP and menopause specialist, Louise is also host of the popular podcast ‘My Menopause Doctor'. We chat to Louise about how the Menopause and the prescribing of HRT in general is an often neglected, misunderstood and underdiagnosed topic of healthcare - and the unnecessary suffering that happens as a result. Our micro-discussion focuses on the rights and wrongs of prescription charges and we find out who Gimmo met at the Greenman festival and what Steve woke up with in bed on his summer holidays. As with all our guests we ask Louise to pick her ‘Desert Island Drug', a career defining anthem and a book that has influenced her work. https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/ https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/aligning-the-upper-age-for-nhs-prescription-charge-exemptions-with-the-state-pension-ageTo get in touch follow us on Twitter @auralapothecary or email us at auralapothecarypod@gmail.com You can listen to the Aural Apothecary playlist here; https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3OsWj4w8sxsvuwR9zMXgn5?si=tiHXrQI7QsGtSQwPyz1KBg You can view the Aural Apothecary Library here; https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/31270100-paul-gimson?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=the-aural-apothecary BIO - Dr Louise Newson BSc(Hons) MBChB(Hons) MRCP FRCGPLouise is a GP and menopause specialist. She is an advisor to the NHS and on the Clinical Steering Committee for NHSEI's Menopause Improvement Programme. She is the director of Newson Health Ltd (www.newsonhealth.co.uk) She runs a menopause and wellbeing centre in Stratford-upon-Avon which is the largest menopause clinic in the world. She has developed the menopause information website www.menopausedoctor.co.uk and the free menopause app “balance” – www.balance-app.com. She has also authored the Haynes Menopause Manual. Louise is the founder and a trustee for The Menopause Charity – www.themenopausecharity.org which will support and empower women with evidence-based knowledge in many different ways. She has also set up a not-for-profit company – Newson Health Research and Education. She has recently launched the Confidence in the Menopause educational programme - www.fourteenfish.com/menopause/welcome and is involved in research with colleagues in Warwick, Oxford and Liverpool Universities and London School of Tropical Medicine. Louise has contributed to menopause related articles in different newspapers and magazines and been on numerous radio and TV programmes. She also hosts a weekly podcast for women (entitled Newson Health).

In this episode I'm joined by clinical nutritionist Emma Ellis Flint. I first came across Emma when she was talking about gut health at an event and I knew at that moment that I needed to get her on the podcast. She was so knowledgable, passionate and spoke so much sense and having listened to her for 20 minutes I felt inspired to research her further and make some instant changes to my own diet.During the episode we chat about why more and more research is showing just how vital the health of our gut is to the wellbeing of the rest of our body. Emma gives amazing tips and insights into how we can simply improve the way our gut functions and also gives some other really useful nutritional advice. There is also some great supplement guidance in there.Emma's speciality is Peri/Menopause nutrition and her book The Happy Hormone Cookbook is I think a must read for any woman over 40. You can also connect with her on Insta @Emmas_nutrition and if you'd like to see her in person, she works alongside Dr Louise Newson at the Newson Health, Menopause and Wellbeing Centre.I hope that you get a lot out of this episode whatever stage of life you're in.

This week we have a special edition of the Womenkind Collective podcast it's all about Menopause! Jinty and Lou talk to the amazing Dr Sarah Ball who answers all your questions on menopause, symptoms, HRT, and everything else we could fit into our hour with her. Do you know where your oestrogen receptors are in your body and why we need oestrogen? You will find all the answers in this podcast, Dr Sarah is fun and factual and we learned so much. There's no book collective this week but Jinty let's us know how she got on with her WI.   Dr Sarah Ball is a GP with a special interest in menopause (both personal and professional), she works alongside Dr Louise Newson at Newson Health and has helped so many women understand their menopause journey & gain them access to treatment. We learn that in peri-menopause our ovaries are up and down like toilet seat, so blood tests do not show a true representation of what a women's body is going through, we should instead look at our bodies especially our periods. We talk about risks and benefits of HRT, the different types, and who can take HRT. We find out that peri-menopause is actually the best time to replace our depleting hormones - there is a window of opportunity to take HRT that will massively help our bodies and brains. Dr Sarah kicks the myths out of the pitch with HRT and the study that caused the great debacle and caused so many women to walk away from treatment and suffer for years but the sex hormones we use today are the gold standard, body identical HRT made from wild yams. This really is a one-stop podcast for menopause!   Jinty's WI from one of the collective was to make sourdough with the starter, which she did, and it's delicious! We learn some fabulous facts on sourdough and the benefits of eating this type of bread.   The Book Collective is having a week off because we didn't want you to miss anything Dr Sarah had to say, but we will continue with ‘A year of Marvellous Ways' by Sarah Winman next week. So if you haven't already, then turn the pages and start this enchanting book.   Our 3 brilliant tips this week come from Today's guest, Menopause Specialist Dr Sarah Ball Find out more about The Balance app for menopause https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/balance-menopause-support/id1503345959 Menopause Doctor free resources https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/about Sour dough https://foodbodsourdough.com/about-my-recipe/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jinty-sheerin/message

This episode features a very open and honest account from GP and Newson Health doctor, Melanie Martins. Mel was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 34 and, after a further diagnosis and chemotherapy, found herself 'flung' into the menopause with very little warning or discussion with the health professionals caring for her at the time.    Dr Martins shares with Dr Louise Newson why she believes every woman's experience of breast cancer is unique to them and a 'one size fits all' approach must be avoided. She shares about her own quest for help with persistent and worsening genitourinary symptoms and the psychological process of navigating evidence and making a decision to take vaginal estrogen, when she had avoided contact with this hormone for years.    Dr Martin's 3 pieces of advice for women experiencing menopause after breast cancer are:  Read this booklet and listen to the podcasts on menopause doctor website: https://d2931px9t312xa.cloudfront.net/menopausedoctor/files/information/601/Been%20through%20breast%20cancer%20(with%20links).pdf   If you're troubled by vulval and vaginal symptoms, stop using soap or shower gel and use an emollient wash instead. You can buy this over the counter in any chemist. These symptoms tend to worsen over time, don't struggle on and get desperate, seek help for them. Vaginal estrogen is safe, it can be used in the long term, alongside HRT, or on it's own.    Find accurate information about menopause and treatments after breast cancer. And then make a decision that's right for you and you alone. You need to be at peace with that decision, and remember it's not set in stone forever. We can only make decisions based on the information we have and how we feel at the time, so don't look back with regret about what you did or didn't decide to do. 

Newson Health celebrates its 100th podcast episode with the Clinical Director of Newson Health, Dr Rebecca Lewis. When Dr Louise Newson began these podcasts with the aim of reaching more women, she didn’t envisage doing more than 10 episodes, let alone 100!    In this emotional episode, Dr Lewis and Dr Newson reflect on their joint menopause mission to help women globally with the perimenopause and menopause, as they talk about how their worlds have dramatically changed from being GPs within the NHS, to owning and running the largest menopause clinic in the world.    Their joint aims for the next decade:   1. See more women getting the right treatment for their menopause. Currently, only 14% of women in the UK take HRT despite it holding benefits for many more women. The Newson Health doctors would like to see 60 - 70% of women receive this safe and effective treatment.   2. Continue to raise the profile of perimenopause and menopause, not only medically but in society - especially in the workplace.   3. Raise the profile of menopause globally; many countries don't have a word for it let alone access to treatment.  

Davina McCall makes a welcomed return appearance to the Newson Health podcast to discuss what she has learnt from making Channel 4's taboo-smashing documentary, 'Sex, Myths and Menopause'. Dr Newson and Davina discuss a broad range of topics such as the role of estrogen in our bodies, types of HRT, the huge need for more research, and the gaps in menopause care across the country.  If you listen to this episode when first released, please note Davina's documentary airs on Channel 4 on Wednesday 12th May at 9pm.    Davina's 3 reasons to watch her documentary:  Someone you love, someone you know, or someone you work with will be going through what this programme is about. You may end up with a much greater understanding of that person  If you're pro-women, in any way, there are ways you can get out there and make a noise for positive change.  You will be informed about something that half the nation will go through. Everybody should know about it 

You have a low mood, feel exhausted, irritable and aren't sleeping well. It may be the demands of nursing work – but could it be the perimenopause or menopause?Menopause specialist and GP Louise Newson talks to Nursing Standard head of news and features Kat Keogh about how to identify these life changes and why they shouldn't cause women to quit their jobs.Dr Newson explains how to monitor the symptoms of the perimenopause and menopause and prepare for a medical consultation to seek treatment.She also talks about the benefits of hormone replacement therapy to alleviate symptoms and the role of diet, sleep and exercise – while understanding that motivation can be difficult amid the hormonal imbalance!She emphasises that it is possible to have a good menopause and stay in work with the right treatment and lifestyle.Dr Newson is the founder of the balance-app.com and My Menopause Doctor and in 2019 published her first book, Menopause Manual. She is the founder and director of Newson Health menopause and well-being centres in Stratford-upon-Avon.For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You have a low mood, feel exhausted, irritable and aren’t sleeping well. It may be the demands of nursing work – but could it be the perimenopause or menopause?Menopause specialist and GP Louise Newson talks to Nursing Standard head of news and features Kat Keogh about how to identify these life changes and why they shouldn’t cause women to quit their jobs.Dr Newson explains how to monitor the symptoms of the perimenopause and menopause and prepare for a medical consultation to seek treatment.She also talks about the benefits of hormone replacement therapy to alleviate symptoms and the role of diet, sleep and exercise – while understanding that motivation can be difficult amid the hormonal imbalance!She emphasises that it is possible to have a good menopause and stay in work with the right treatment and lifestyle.Dr Newson is the founder of the balance-app.com and My Menopause Doctor and in 2019 published her first book, Menopause Manual. She is the founder and director of Newson Health menopause and well-being centres in Stratford-upon-Avon.For more episodes of the Nursing Standard podcast, visit rcni.com/podcast See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode I have the privilege of speaking with Hayley Cockman who at just 14 years old was told she'd gone through an early menopause, she started her periods at 12 like most young ladies do; then a year later they stopped. Night sweats were an awfully impacting symptom for Hayley and she recalls waking through the night dripping with sweat and having to change her PJs. Having been left alone with just her and her amazing mum to deal with the fallout, Hayley wants to raise awareness and share her story. Follow Hayley or connect with her here https://Instagram.com/prematuremenopause14 The resource links we chat about are here Newson Health: https://www.newsonhealth.co.uk/ Daisy Network: https://www.daisynetwork.org/ THANK YOU as always for listening and please don't forget to subscribe and leave a review, it helps the podcast grow and reach more ladies around the world. With love and gratitude Adele xx

In today's episode i chat through some ‘must know' info around the MENOPAUSE and ask you to come grab a cuppa with me while we explore the free BALANCE app created by a menopause specialist called Louise Newson! Find out what Louise has to say about it here https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/resources/the-balance-app (please note I'm not sponsored by Newson Health and have not been paid or rewarded in any way to share this with you, I do so because I believe in it). As always ladies I'm here for any questions so never be shy - hit me up on my Instagram here https://Instagram.com/Adele.Johnston or drop me an email at Adele.johnston@me.com to chat. With love and gratitude, Adele x

Wellbeing and Career World Chatted with Dr Rebecca Lewis, A GP with special Interest in the Menoapause from Newson Health. Rebecca chats about her background, her motivation to focus on Menopause, What is Menopause, Signs and symptoms, Can Menopause be misdiagnosed or differ from other Diseases, Can Menopause affect work life, Longterm effects of Menopause, Treatments available and much more. Find out more Menopause Information and Resources Below https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/ Podcast: https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/podcasts The Balance App: https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/resources/the-balance-app The Menopause Manual: https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/resources/menopause-manual Disclaimer: This podcast and website represents the opinions of Wellbeing and Career World and our guests to the show and website.  The content here should not be taken as medical advice and is for informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions or Aviation/Aerospace Employer, Regulator, organisation for questions related to you. Views and opinions expressed in the podcast and website are our own and do not represent that of our places of work. While we make every effort to ensure that the information we are sharing is accurate, we welcome any comments, suggestions, or correction of errors. Privacy is of utmost importance to us. This website or podcast should not be used in any legal capacity.  No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast or website. In no way does listening, reading, emailing or interacting on social media with our content establish a, coaching session, employment interview, wellbeing advice, employment advice, doctor-patient relationship. Wellbeing and Career World is based in Dublin, Ireland. If you find any errors in any of the content of his podcasts or blogs, please send a message to wellbeingandcareerworld@gmail.com This podcast is owned by "Wellbeing and Career World” If at any time you want to play or stop the podcast, it is at your own discretion. The podcast may contain conversation or opinions you may find unsuitable or against your opinions or beliefs, if you feel you may be uncomfortable, stressed, anxious, worried, concerned, upset, insulted by any of the podcast, we recommend you do not listen to the podcast.       

In this episode I have the privilege of speaking with Dr Zoe Hodson - Lead doctor at the Newson Health Menopause & Well-being centre Manchester. We discuss WHAT the menopause is, MYTHS around HRT, TESTOSTERONE, SEX and organisms during menopause; alongside an array of helpful advice directly from Dr Zoe herself. Follow Zoe https://Instagram.com/manchestermenopausehive The app we discuss is called BALANCE - go download it and see for yourself why it's so helpful.