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In this episode, Dr Louise Newson and Dr Rebecca Lewis discuss the role of hormone education in modern clinical practice and why so many women are still affected by gaps in training.
Drawing on their years of running a large menopause clinic and developing educational resources for healthcare professionals, they reflect on what clinicians are taught, what’s missing and how that affects diagnosis, prescribing and long-term health.
They explain how their original training programme, Confidence in Menopause, was created to give clinicians practical, case-based teaching at a time when menopause education was minimal. They’ve now taken time to update the programme, now called Confidence in Hormones, so it’s expanded beyond menopause to include PMS, PMDD, POI and other hormone-related conditions.
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Dr Louise Newson is an award-winning physician, respected women's hormone specialist, educator, and author committed to increasing awareness and knowledge of perimenopause, menopause, and lifelong hormone health. Each week, Louise dives into the newest research, treatments and hot topic issues, providing accessible, evidence-based information to empower your future health. Joined by fellow experts and special guests, with answers to your burning questions, Louise explores how hormones impact every aspect of our lives.
Described as the "medic who kickstarted the menopause revolution", Louise aims to empower a generation of women to have a greater understanding, choice and control over their treatment, bodies, minds and future health through their hormones. She is the creator of the award-winning free balance app, a Sunday Times bestselling author and the founder of the Newson Health clinic. With over three decades of clinical experience, Louise is a member of the Royal College of Physicians, a Fellow of the Royal College of GPs, a Visiting Fellow at Cambridge, a regular contributor to academic journals including the Lancet and the British Journal of General Practice, and has been awarded an honorary Doctorate of Health from Bradford University.

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Petra Coveney, Founder of Menopause Yoga – the UK’s first specialist style of yoga to support women going through the menopause.
Petra, who is a member of the British Menopause Society (BMS) for health practitioners and a senior yoga teacher and trainer, developed Menopause Yoga to meet the physical and emotional needs of women going through menopause. In May she is launching the first online Teacher Training course, which includes Dr Louise Newson as a Guest Speaker. Dr Newson’s book on the menopause is a core course reading text.
In this podcast, Dr Newson and Petra discuss:
Petra Coveney’s three take home tips:
You can find out more on her website: www.menopause-yoga.com
Instagram: @Menopause_Yoga

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson is joined (virtually!) by Lorraine Candy – co-founder of the podcast series Postcards from Midlife. Lorraine and Dr Newson chat about the stigma surrounding the word menopause and how we need to work together in order to break that down and really empower women so they can receive the correct help and treatment. They also discuss menopausal symptoms such as anxiety and fatigue and how they can have a massive, negative impact on women’s lives if left untreated.
Dr Newson and Lorraine also talk about how important it is for women to receive the right dose and type of HRT. Many women wrongly think that HRT is a single treatment, whereas in fact, there are different hormones available and also different doses. The importance of exercise, nutrition and wellbeing is also discussed. Lorraine also talks very openly about her own experience and how she struggled for several years before receiving the right help.
Follow Lorraine on Instagram:
@sundaytimeslorraine
@postcardsfrommidlife
Lorraine Candy’s three take home tips:

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Kate Irvine and together they discuss Kate’s online perimenopause and menopause survey, The Big M.
Kate began her survey as a way to find out how women really feel about the perimenopause and menopause, including which aspects of the Big M women find the most difficult, whether they felt they could discuss it with anyone and whether they had any help getting through it. Kate hopes to be able to use the information given to help other women in the future. Kate also intends to compile the detailed responses into a book which helps women to feel better about what they are going through, she and Dr Newson discuss how the idea for the book came about, and how Kate hopes it will work.
During this podcast, Dr Newson and Kate touch on several different topics which the survey highlighted, such as realising you are perimenopausal, how helpful GPs can be (or otherwise), women leaving the workforce because of their symptoms, the over-prescribing of antidepressants and symptoms such as vaginal atrophy. Ultimately they agreed that talking is vital and makes you feel better, and Kate hopes that (if published!) reading her book will be like having a chat with friends about a common issue.
The survey is still open for responses, or if you just want to email her about any aspect of your menopause experience you can reach her at: kate@thebigm.net
Kate Irvine’s Three Take Home Tips:


In this week’s podcast, Dr Newson is joined by Emma Ellice-Flint, a clinical nutritionist and former chef.
In light of the outbreak of Coronavirus, Emma chats to Dr Newson about the different things we can do to help support our immunity and keep our bodies healthy. Emma describes the certain foods, drinks and nutrients that are beneficial for our overall health as well as those that can strengthen our immune systems.
Emma Ellice-Flint’s three take home tips for staying healthy:
Website: www.emmasnutrition.com
Instagram: @emmas_nutrition
Facebook: @emmasnutrition

Avrum Bluming was a clinical professor of medical oncology at the University of Southern California and spent four years as a senior investigator for the National Cancer Institute. For more than two decades he has been studying the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy administered to women with a history of breast cancer. He is also the co-author of the book Oestrogen Matters.
In this podcast, Dr Newson talks to Avrum about the numerous health benefits of oestrogen in women, including reducing future risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and dementia. It is a very sobering thought that as many women die from osteoporosis as breast cancer, yet so many women are denied oestrogen in HRT for the wrong reasons. Avrum’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer many years ago and he talks about treatments for breast cancer which can lead to an early menopause.

In this week’s podcast, Dr Newson is joined by Lauren Redfern, a researcher who has been exploring the experiences of women using testosterone as part of their HRT treatment. Lauren has been spending time at Newson Health Menopause and Wellbeing Centre over the past year observing many different aspects of women’s care; from the moment they make contact with the team right through to their consultation. She is interested in hearing stories from women first hand about their treatment journey and is particularly interested in the gendered aspects of hormonal care. Lauren hopes that her work will provide insight into the realities facing women negotiating menopausal care in the UK today; something that she feels is currently vastly underrepresented in both social and public health research.
If you would like to know more about Lauren’s research you can visit her website www.laurenredfernwrites.com or follow her on Instagram @laurenredfernwrites where she posts about everything from the history of hormones to updates on her research.
Lauren’s top three facts about testosterone and menopause care:

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by yoga teacher, Claudia Brown. Claudia is an Om Yoga magazine columnist and runs classes, workshops and retreats in the West Midlands. She also works with professional footballers, teaching yoga at Doncaster Rovers Football Club! Together, Dr Newson and Claudia discuss ageing well and the menopause, demystifying meditation, how yoga is more than physical postures and why everyone should give it a try.
Claudia’s top three tips for beginning your yoga journey:
Twitter – yogabyclaudia

In this week’s podcast, Dr Newson talks openly and candidly to Samantha Evans about sexual problems and the menopause. Sam Evans is a sexual health and pleasure expert, with a nursing background. She is also co-owner of the company www.jodivine.com
Together, Sam and Dr Newson discuss the various ways in which libido and sexual difficulties can arise during the menopause. There are various treatments depending on the underlying cause and these are explored in detail in this episode. Too many women are not experiencing the right help and advice to improve their sexual relationships with their partner and clearly this needs to change.
Samantha Evans’ top three tips for sexual wellbeing during the menopause:

In this week’s podcast, Dr Newson is speaking with consultant dermatologist, Dr Sajjad Rajpar all about hair. Hair changes can be very common during the perimenopause and menopause. Dr Rajpar eloquently explains how our hormones are important with respect to hair growth and also hair texture. They discuss in detail reasons why women experience hair loss and the importance of having a holistic consultation to explore reasons why hair changes. Dr Rajpar talks about the different treatment options and provides some simple advice which will help us all regarding our hair.
Dr Rajpar’s three take home tips to help reduce hair loss:

Dr Nighat Arif is a GP with a specialist interest in women’s health, based in Buckinghamshire. In this week’s podcast, Dr Arif talks openly with Dr Newson about her work educating and empowering women from different ethnic groups about the menopause. Many women from ethnic minorities think the menopause is a condition that only affects Caucasian women or it is a western phenomenon. However, it is well known that many women are experiencing symptoms such as pains in their bodies, 'head to toe pain', low mood and anxiety which are being misdiagnosed and inappropriately managed as these symptoms are not being linked to the menopause. Although language is often a barrier to consultations with a healthcare professional, there are also many cultural differences that need to be explored. Many women’s health issues, including the menopause, are kept “under the veil” and not spoken about. In this episode, Dr Newson and Dr Arif also talk about other taboo subjects such as vaginal dryness, painful intercourse and how that affects marital relationships in a conservative community.
Dr Arif offers three take home tips in Punjabi to help break down barriers and empower women from South Asian Communities to not accept their menopausal symptoms and suffer in silence.
Dr Arif’s three top tips:

In this week’s podcast, Dr Newson is joined by Professor David Reid, Consultant Rheumatologist and Osteoporosis Specialist at the University of Aberdeen. Professor Reid is also the Senior Medical Adviser and Fundraising Ambassador for the Royal Osteoporosis Bone Research Academy.
Bone density reduces as our hormone levels lower, as a result of the perimenopause and menopause. Around one in three menopausal women will have a osteoporotic hip fracture so it is essential we are all thinking about ways of improving bone density and reducing future risk of developing osteoporosis. In this episode, Dr Newson and Professor Reid talk about what osteoporosis is, how to diagnose it and also ways of increasing our bone density.
Professor David Reid’s three top tips for bone health:

In this week’s podcast, Dr Louise Newson has an open discussion with her mother, Ann Newson, about her personal views regarding taking HRT. Over 30 years ago, Ann was experiencing symptoms of severe fatigue which were negatively affecting her ability at work, prompting her GP to give her a prescription for HRT. Ann was then told that she was going through 'the change' but had no idea what that meant! The menopause was never spoken about at that time and she was given no information about it. However, taking HRT gave Ann her life back and her energy levels vastly improved. Fast forward to today and Ann is delighted to have learnt so much about the menopause from her daughter, Louise. In this episode, Ann also explains how many of her friends have developed breast cancer over the years despite none of them taking HRT. She strongly feels that women should be given a choice regarding hormone therapy and how she plans to stay on her HRT forever!
Ann Newson’s three take home tips:

This week, Dr Newson is joined by Jane Simpson, a continence nurse specialist who works from The London Clinic in Harley Street.
In this episode, Jane and Dr Newson discuss all aspects of pelvic floor health relating to the menopause, including stress incontinence, an overactive bladder (key in the door syndrome!), vaginal dryness/atrophy, pelvic organ prolapse, constipation and the bowels and last but not least the pelvic floor and how menopause can affect our sex lives.
You can find Jane at www.thepelvicfloorbible.com and on Instagram @jane_thepelvicfloorbible.
Jane’s three take home tips for pelvic floor health:

In this week's podcast, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Dr Sarah Ball, a GP with a special interest in the menopause. Together, they talk all about early menopause and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) which affects women under 45 years. In the UK, around one in 100 women under 40 experience an early menopause yet many of these women are not diagnosed nor do they receive evidence-based advice and treatment. It is essential that these women receive replacement hormones at least until the age of 51 (the average age of the menopause) unless there are medical contra-indications to taking hormones. Dr Newson and Dr Ball discuss the health risks of untreated early menopause and POI and also the different ways in which women can receive individualised help and treatment.
Dr Sarah Ball's three take home tips:

In this week’s podcast, Dr Louise Newson is speaking to journalist Kirsty Lang about her experience with breast cancer and how life has been since her recovery. Together, they discuss the treatment that Kirsty received and the side effects that she experienced from some of the medication, particularly those that blocked the effects of oestrogen in her body. Kirsty talks openly about her menopausal symptoms relating to vaginal dryness and reduced libido and Dr Newson explains the effective treatment options available for these symptoms. They also talk about the differences between information given to men who have prostate cancer and women who have breast cancer. Men are usually given far more information than women, especially regarding the sexual problems that can arise during cancer treatment, and clearly this needs to change.
Click here to listen to Kirsty Lang talk about breast cancer in Liz Earle’s weekly podcast.
Kirsty’s three take home tips for dealing with menopause after cancer:

In this week’s podcast, Dr Louise Newson is talking with one of her closest friends, Kate Parr, about her reasons for setting up Newson Health. Kate encouraged Dr Newson to start educating women about the perimenopause and menopause by hosting a lunch in her house a few years ago, to which many of their friends were invited. Both were really surprised with how eager women were to learn about menopause and how little they knew about something that they will all experience. This inspired Louise to continue to educate and empower women with the right knowledge, so that they can make evidence-based decisions regarding their future health during their menopause. In this episode, Louise and Kate also discuss why talking about menopause to our friends and families is so important.
Kate Parr’s three take home tips:

In this week’s podcast, Dr Louise Newson is talking to leading consultant dermatologist Dr Sajjad Rajpar. Together, they discuss all about the skin and how it can change during the perimenopause and menopause. The low hormone levels that occur during the perimenopause and menopause often have a negative effect on the collagen in the skin, which can lead to changes in appearance and elasticity. As well as this, skin concerns such as dryness and acne are a common occurrence during this time of our lives. Dr Newson and Dr Rajpar also discuss HRT and the effectiveness of giving oestrogen through the skin as a patch or gel.
Dr Rajpar’s three take home tips for healthy skin:

In this week’s episode, Dr Louise Newson chats to her good friend, Dr Rebecca Lewis, who is also a clinical director at Newson Health Menopause and Wellbeing Centre. Together they discuss surgical menopause. Surgical menopause can often be very different to a natural menopause because it happens very suddenly. Women who have their ovaries removed during an operation are plunged into the menopause straight away. In addition, women who have a hysterectomy without their ovaries being removed still have a higher risk of an early menopause. Dr Newson and Dr Lewis discuss the most effective ways of treating surgical menopause.
Dr Lewis’ three take home tips:

In this week’s episode, Dr Newson chats to Katie Taylor. From the age of 43 Katie suffered for four years with debilitating perimenopausal symptoms, which had been misdiagnosed as depression by her doctor. It was only when her father, a breast cancer professor, suggested that he thought her symptoms were more likely to be hormonal, did she finally get the right diagnosis from her gynaecologist. Within a month of being on the right treatment (HRT) and off the antidepressants, she felt like her old self again.
It was her anger and frustration at having wasted so many years of precious life, that led her to set up an online virtual coffee shop: The Latte Lounge (Top Tips For Women Over 40), to share her experience with others. Katie and Dr Newson discuss how commonly women are misdiagnosed and then are not receiving the right treatment for their symptoms.
Katie Taylor’s three take home tips:

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson chats to Yvonne Bruton, a chief inspector at West Midlands Police who currently heads up the Violence Reduction Unit. Yvonne is also the chair of her Women in Policing association. Dr Newson and Yvonne have worked closely in the past and shared a journey over the last few years: Dr Newson has shared her passion and expertise and Yvonne has shared the problems that are experienced, not only by women in the workplace, but also by trying to design organisational responses to these within a challenging working environment! Policing is about improving people’s lives and protecting them from harm – but they need to look after the workforce to enable them to get out there and do that. Dr Newson has helped support and champion the work that West Midlands Police have been doing with menopause in the workplace and in this podcast they discuss Yvonne’s inspirational work and how other organisation’s can follow their lead.
Yvonne’s three take home tips for menopause support at work:

In this podcast, Dr Newson is speaking with Nicola Mulkeen, a very experienced and knowledgeable pelvic floor physiotherapist. Together they discuss what exactly the pelvic floor muscles are and what they do in our bodies. Nicola talks about the importance of regular pelvic floor exercises and how to perform them. Dr Newson also asks Nicola about different types of urinary incontinence and how women experiencing symptoms should be receiving the right help and treatment.
Nicola Mulkeen’s three take home tips for pelvic floor health:

Partners of menopausal women are often neglected. In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson talks to Leigh, a partner of one of her patients who vividly describes how worried he was when he saw the changes in his wife and had no idea what was going on. They discuss potential ways of improving education to men and partners. It is really important that partners are involved and understand potential symptoms. Partners can often have a pivotal role in diagnosing the perimenopause and menopause and can help seek the right advice and treatment.
Leigh Goulding’s three take home tips for partners:

In this episode, Dr Newson chats to Saska Graville, co founder of MPowered Women a community of doctors, wellbeing experts and brilliant women, to power you through menopause. Despite a career in women’s magazines, including being the deputy editor of Red, Saska had no idea that anxiety and loss of confidence were classic perimenopause symptoms. Hot flushes were the extent of her knowledge, and she’d never had one. She blamed her anxiety and loss of confidence in her late 40s on a career change. MPowered Women ensures that no woman has to struggle and be uninformed about what the hell is going on with her physical and mental health, and what she can do about it. With no subject off limits, MPowered Women has her back.
Saska Graville’s three take home tips:

Kim Goulding is one of Dr Newson’s patients here at Newson Health. In today’s episode, Kim talks about her own experience with the menopause how she was offered antidepressants. She has always been the driving force behind her family and became socially withdrawn and very low in her mood. She had no idea initially what was happening to her and her life had really changed. She talks to Dr Newson about how she tried to receive the right treatment and her experience taking HRT.
Kim’s Three Take Home Tips:

Sheona Khan is a medical writer who has been working closely with Dr Newson for several months. In this weeks episode, Dr Newson and Sheona have an open discussion with about how much she has learnt regarding the perimenopause and how little she knew about it until recently. They discuss ways of improving knowledge for women about the perimenopause and the menopause and also the importance of women receiving evidence based and non-biased information. Sheona asks Dr Newson questions about changing hormones, making a diagnosis and HRT and Dr Newson explains why she feels that younger women should be equipped with the right information regarding their future hormone health.
Sheona Khan’s three take home tips about perimenopause:

Professor Geoffrey Hackett works as a consultant in Urology and Sexual Medicine. He is a prolific writer and educator about men’s health and has a particular interest in low testosterone in men. In this episode, Dr Newson and Professor Hackett talk about how having a low testosterone level can affect men, how common it is and how men can receive help and treatment. Around 20% of men in the UK have low testosterone at some time in their life but few of these men are being diagnosed and treated. This is due to lack of awareness by patients and doctors, especially as symptoms are vague and often subject to incorrect diagnosis. Erectile problems can be a sign of cardiovascular disease so it is really important that men have the appropriate tests and receive the best treatment to improve their future health.
Professor Geoffrey Hackett’s three take home tips:

Lucy Holtom is a yoga teacher. Lucy runs Living Your Yoga and her classes encourage attendees to take time to connect with their inner world through ancient Yogic practices. These practices include coordinating the breath with movement, attention to alignment, seeking focus and balance; and finding comfort in challenging the body to open and release the accumulation of tension from life’s day-to-day habits. In this episode, Lucy talks to Dr Newson all about how yoga can nourish, restore and release physical, mental and emotional constraints, whilst building inner strength and confidence.
Lucy’s three take home tips for yoga beginners:

Edward Joy has over 20 years’ experience as a complimentary healthcare practitioner, as an ethnobotanist Edward spends much of his time studying the components of plants in an aim to understand their nutritional benefits but he also adopts naturopathy into his practice.
Edward contributes regularly to articles for Only Natural and Holistic Therapist magazines. His informal lectures and herb walks are attended by health professionals in the UK and throughout Europe from Ireland to Italy.
For the past 12 years Edward has worked closely with the Naturopathic Supplements Company, Bionutri, where his work includes procurement and product development. Working with an ingredient is one thing, ensuring the ingredient has benefit is Edward’s particular point of interest.
In an informal conversation with Dr Louise Newson, Edward Joy discusses the way herbs influence our health, particularly when integrated into the diet.
Edward Joy’s three take home tips:

Diane Porterfield-Bourne is a Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years nursing experience. She runs www.bourne2care.co.uk and provides menopause education talks in the workplace and through organised events. She is committed to raising menopause awareness and feels very passionately about women’s health and how menopause can affect women physically and emotionally. In this episode, Diane talks to Dr Newson all about her work as well as the ways she works with menopausal women from different ethnic minorities.
Diane Porterfield-Bourne’s three take home tips:

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson talks with Diane Danzebrink, both very passionate campaigners on the subject of improving menopause education for women. The two experts discuss the current HRT shortages and media reports following the recent HRT scare and give women the real facts, talking about their grave concerns that women are going to be denied HRT by their doctors for the wrong reasons and how women need to be given the right information to challenge this.
Diane Danzebrink’s three take home tips:

In this episode, Dr Newson is joined by Liz Earle MBE and together they discuss the recent research that was published in the Lancet, concerning the link between HRT and breast cancer. They talk about what this research means to women and discuss other evidence regarding the benefits of taking HRT.
Liz Earle’s three take home tips about HRT:

In this episode Dr Newson and qualified nutritionist and chef Emma Ellice-Flint, talk about gut matters, microbiome research and what foods can make a difference to the gut and whole body health. Topics discussed include:
Read more about Emma on her website here and follow Emma on Instagram and Facebook. Read about Emma’s cookbooks here.
Emma’s three take home tips for gut health:

In this episode, Dr Newson is joined by former music industry PR guru Meg Mathews.
Together, they discuss Meg’s reasons for creating her website, MegsMenopause, and why she has worked so hard to improve menopause education for women. Meg talks very openly about her dreadful menopause experience and how she had no idea what was happening to her – as indeed so many women don’t. Thankfully she is so much better now, taking the right dose and type of HRT. Meg works tirelessly to educate women (and men) about the menopause and how it can affect their lives. In this podcast, Dr Newson and Meg discuss the different ways women can receive the right help and advice.
Meg’s three take home tips:

Migraines and worsening headaches can be a very common symptom of the perimenopause and menopause. In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson speaks with Dr Sarah Ball who explains why this can occur and ways of managing migraines for women who have changing hormone levels. Many women wrongly believe they cannot take HRT if they have a history of migraine, so this myth is discussed and the correct advice given. In addition to taking HRT, there are numerous lifestyle measures that can improve migraines which are also discussed.
Dr Sarah Ball’s three take home tips about menopause and migraines:

Diane Danzebrink is a psychotherapist, menopause expert, wellbeing consultant and also a great friend of Dr Newson. She is tirelessly campaigning for improved care and support for menopausal women having personally had a dreadful experience of the menopause after an operation to remove her ovaries to the extent she became suicidal. Diane always promised her husband that if she ever improved then she would campaign and fight so that other women do not suffer in the way she did.
In this episode, Dr Louise Newson and Diane discuss the #makemenopausematter campaign Diane has introduced, which now has an impressive 27,000 votes. The aims of this campaign are to improve menopause education amongst doctors and to raise awareness of the menopause within the workplace. The third aim of the campaign has been achieved – which is discussed in this podcast! Dr Newson and Diane also talk openly about the challenges they are experiencing in improving menopause care and education globally.
Diane’s three take home tips for getting the right menopause care:

Dr Newson talks with Meg Mathews and Athena Lamnisos, CEO of charity Eve Appeal, about best times to discuss menopause with women and children. Menopause being on the curriculum has had a mixed response, but as it can cause many different symptoms, which can go unrecognised for years, it’s essential we start the conversation early so children can recognise potential symptoms in themselves and others and become aware of the health risks of the menopause and optimise health.

Dr Louise Newson discusses changing hormones with Nurse Tracy Rutter, who has had an interesting and varied career as an army nurse and a school nurse. Tracy talks about changing hormones in adolescent girls and comparisons with changing hormone levels in perimenopausal and menopausal women, her own experience of surgical menopause, how balancing her hormones really improved the quality of her life and her experience of working in the Menopause and Wellbeing Centre.
Tracy’s three take home tips:

Menopause education is not mandatory for healthcare professionals. Dr Newson discusses the importance of menopause education with Practice Manager, Sarah Baker who previously worked in a private hospital and ran educational events for doctors on various subjects. Sarah describes how women’s health events were always popular and, in her experience, doctors have a real thirst for knowledge regarding the menopause and safe prescribing of HRT.
Sarah Baker’s three take home tips to help you on your menopause journey:

Symptoms of depression commonly occur during the perimenopause and menopause. Here, Dr Newson is joined by Dr Rebecca Lewis and together they discuss why symptoms can occur and ways of managing them with the right treatment. For many menopausal women, these symptoms are incorrectly diagnosed as depression: research shows around 70% of perimenopausal and menopausal women are inappropriately offered or given antidepressants. There is no evidence that antidepressants are beneficial for the low mood associated with changing hormone levels.
Dr Rebecca Lewis’ thee take home tips about menopause and depression:

In this episode, recorded in conjunction with the Primary Care Women’s Health Forum (PCWHF), Dr Newson talks with PCWHF Director, Karl Hamer about Newson Health and her passion and determination to improve education about the menopause.

In this first episode of a new podcast series recorded by Dr Louise Newson, founder and menopause specialist GP at Newson Health, Dr Newson discusses the symptoms and experiences of different patients with fellow GP and menopause expert, Dr Sarah Ball.
‘It really weighs heavy. It’s like putting on lots of different cloaks.’
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a topic many are talking about right now, and thankfully, we’ve moved beyond the outdated stereotype that it only affects young boys. And with so much noise on social media alongside lingering stereotypes, is all this attention truly helping people recognise their symptoms and get a diagnosis? And how does it feel to receive an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood – does it bring relief, clarity, present new challenges, or a combination of all three?
This week, Dr Louise Newson sits down with Jack Suddaby to explore his ADHD diagnosis journey, from a lightbulb moment during the COVID-19 lockdown to launching his podcast, Distracted. Jack opens up about the moment his symptoms pushed him to seek answers and how simple shifts in his daily routine have transformed his life in surprising ways.
Louise discusses the connection between ADHD and hormonal changes, from PMDD to menopause, and how these shifts can impact symptoms, especially as ADHD often presents differently in women.
Louise and Jack explore how menopause and ADHD, topics that are still under-recognised, are being talked about more openly, and how getting a diagnosis can truly change people’s lives by bringing understanding and clarity.
We’re delighted to have been nominated in the Listeners’ Choice category for the British Podcast Awards. There’s still time to vote - click here
Email dlnpodcast@borkowski.co.uk with suggestions for new guests!
Disclaimer
The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr Louise Newson or the Newson Health Group.
LET'S CONNECT
· Website: Dr Louise Newson
· Instagram: The Dr Louise Newson Podcast (@drlouisenewsonpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
· LinkedIn: Louise Newson | LinkedIn
· Spotify: The Dr Louise Newson Podcast | Podcast on Spotify
· YouTube: Dr Louise Newson - YouTube
RELATED RESOURCES
‘Without perimenopause, I might not have realised I have ADHD’
“The fire in the belly is coming from people’s want and need to help patients and to make a change”
This week, Dr Fionnuala Vernon, Medical Director of Blackwater Private Clinics and GP trainer in Ireland, joins Dr Louise Newson for a compelling conversation about breaking down barriers in healthcare and addressing the ways in which the system often fails women.
They discuss how global gaps in training for healthcare professionals can result in women’s health needs – particularly during menopause – being overlooked and highlight the critical role of education in equipping clinicians with the skills and confidence to ask the right questions and connect patients with the support they need.
Fionnuala also outlines recent developments in women’s healthcare in Ireland, such as the introduction of free hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
We’re delighted to have been nominated in the Listeners’ Choice category for the British Podcast Awards. There’s still time to vote - click here
Email dlnpodcast@borkowski.co.uk with suggestions for new guests!
Disclaimer
The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr Louise Newson or the Newson Health Group.
LET'S CONNECT
· Website: Dr Louise Newson
· Instagram: The Dr Louise Newson Podcast (@drlouisenewsonpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
· LinkedIn: Louise Newson | LinkedIn
· Spotify: The Dr Louise Newson Podcast | Podcast on Spotify
· YouTube: Dr Louise Newson - YouTube
RELATED RESOURCES
How to talk to your doctor about HRT – and get results
Find out more about Newson Education’s education programmes here
“I don’t understand why we’re not shouting this from the rooftops, a simple medicine, a natural hormone, that can reduce the risk of both diabetes and breast cancer. That’s incredibly important, isn’t it?”
This week, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Franck Mauvais-Jarvis, Professor of Medicine at Tulane University and an endocrinologist specialising in metabolism.
In this episode, they dive deep into the science behind estradiol’s crucial role in maintaining a healthy metabolism, reducing inflammation throughout the body, and supporting memory and cognition.
Professor Mauvais-Jarvis explains how improving mitochondrial function, often referred to as the “powerhouse of the cell,” boosts metabolism and helps prevent metabolic diseases such as diabetes. He also highlights the vital, often overlooked role of testosterone in women’s health.
Together they address common misconceptions stemming from the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study and set the record straight on the benefits of body-identical hormones.
Be sure to check out Professor Franck Mauvais-Jarvis’s book, Principles of Precision Hormone Therapy: Healthy Aging and Prevention of Chronic Disease, which presents cutting-edge scientific data and insights from leading experts, including Dr Louise Newson, on the vital role of hormone optimisation in healthy aging.
We hope you’re enjoying season 2! Share your thoughts with us on the feedback form here and if you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to leave a 5-star rating on your podcast platform.
We’re delighted to have been nominated in the Listeners’ Choice category for the British Podcast Awards. There’s still time to vote - click here
Email dlnpodcast@borkowski.co.uk with suggestions for new guests!
Disclaimer
The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr Louise Newson or the Newson Health Group.
LET'S CONNECT

The Irish Menopause was set up by Sallyanne Brady and Claire Peel – two ladies who suffered horrendously with their own menopause symptoms and met in an online support group. Ireland was lacking in knowledge, support and evidence based information, for women in particular, so they founded The Irish Menopause in April 2019 and the group now has 2700 members! Sallyanne and Claire chat to Dr Newson about the stories they hear day after day that are heartbreaking and unnecessary and how they are striving for change in Ireland.
Sallyanne’s three take home tips for women in Ireland:
Claire’s three take home tips on how women can help themselves:
Find The Irish Menopause on Instagram: @theirish_menopause

In this episode, Dr Newson has a lively discussion with Heather Hirsch, the Clinical Programme Director for the Menopause and Midlife Clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Heather was shocked to see, during her fellowship, that what was being taught about menopause principles and care was actually wrong and realised that menopause was the biggest gap in women’s healthcare across America.
The experts discuss the problem of unregulated compounded bioidentical hormones and the reasons why two thirds of American women use this type of non-approved hormone treatment, rather than FDA approved body identical HRT that is prescribed by doctors in the UK. They reflect on the shift away from using HRT over the last two decades, and the devastating consequences to women’s health because of this, and offer practical advice on how to educate other healthcare professionals to unlearn the pervasive myth that oestrogen is dangerous.
Heather’s three take away messages are:
IG @hormone.health.doc
Website: heatherhirschmd.com
YouTube: Health by Heather Hirsch
Podcast: Women’s Health by Heather Hirsch

Dr Louise Newson is an award-winning physician, respected women's hormone specialist, educator, and author committed to increasing awareness and knowledge of perimenopause, menopause, and lifelong hormone health. Each week, Louise dives into the newest research, treatments and hot topic issues, providing accessible, evidence-based information to empower your future health. Joined by fellow experts and special guests, with answers to your burning questions, Louise explores how hormones impact every aspect of our lives.
Described as the "medic who kickstarted the menopause revolution", Louise aims to empower a generation of women to have a greater understanding, choice and control over their treatment, bodies, minds and future health through their hormones. She is the creator of the award-winning free balance app, a Sunday Times bestselling author and the founder of the Newson Health clinic. With over three decades of clinical experience, Louise is a member of the Royal College of Physicians, a Fellow of the Royal College of GPs, a Visiting Fellow at Cambridge, a regular contributor to academic journals including the Lancet and the British Journal of General Practice, and has been awarded an honorary Doctorate of Health from Bradford University.

