Dr. Louise Newson

Great question. Having three daughters, the youngest one's still very much a teenager, I sympathise. But this is what I was saying before, we can't be normalising it because it's really difficult for those children. And we've known for...

Great question. Having three daughters, the youngest one's still very much a teenager, I sympathise. But this is what I was saying before, we can't be normalising it because it's really difficult for those children. And we've known for...

Decades, even in 1961, there was an article in the British Medical Journal showing that girls who have PMS or PMDD fluctuations, their hormones achieve worse if they have exams just before their periods. And so we need to be helping girls understand what's going on with their hormones. but also thinking about how we can help them sometimes as well.

Decades, even in 1961, there was an article in the British Medical Journal showing that girls who have PMS or PMDD fluctuations, their hormones achieve worse if they have exams just before their periods. And so we need to be helping girls understand what's going on with their hormones. but also thinking about how we can help them sometimes as well.

It's harder when they're under 16 or under 18 because of just medically treating them because they've got lots going on in their bodies. But we see a lot of people who are 18, 19 years, and giving just usually just some progesterone, you know, that big graph that I said that drop off, giving a little bit can be transformational for these people.

It's harder when they're under 16 or under 18 because of just medically treating them because they've got lots going on in their bodies. But we see a lot of people who are 18, 19 years, and giving just usually just some progesterone, you know, that big graph that I said that drop off, giving a little bit can be transformational for these people.

And it's just so awful that there's so little research in how the hormones can have such an effect. Because adolescence is a bit like a flavor, a bit of a taster for perimenopause, you know, these hormonal shift changes. So talking about it, getting understanding is really important. But actually thinking about how hormones might just smooth out a little bit as well is something to consider.

And it's just so awful that there's so little research in how the hormones can have such an effect. Because adolescence is a bit like a flavor, a bit of a taster for perimenopause, you know, these hormonal shift changes. So talking about it, getting understanding is really important. But actually thinking about how hormones might just smooth out a little bit as well is something to consider.

The other thing is, I know it sounds really obvious, just thinking about nutrition, because all these inflammatory diets, processed food will have massive effect. The sugar cravings, you know, will have a big effect on our hormones as well. And it sounds really boring, doesn't it, to eat a really healthy diet?

The other thing is, I know it sounds really obvious, just thinking about nutrition, because all these inflammatory diets, processed food will have massive effect. The sugar cravings, you know, will have a big effect on our hormones as well. And it sounds really boring, doesn't it, to eat a really healthy diet?

Even snacking regularly can help with progesterone levels as well, but snacking on healthy things, not on unhealthy things. And it's so easy to eat badly, to drink the wrong things. But looking at nutrition, looking at any exercise as well, which I know is quite hard for teenagers to do, anything that's going to...

Even snacking regularly can help with progesterone levels as well, but snacking on healthy things, not on unhealthy things. And it's so easy to eat badly, to drink the wrong things. But looking at nutrition, looking at any exercise as well, which I know is quite hard for teenagers to do, anything that's going to...

help that think about that cortisol and that balance anything that's going to be calming going outside going for a walk I know certainly with a lot of people especially with my children as well it's so much better talking to someone that you're driving or you're walking because you're not looking at them

help that think about that cortisol and that balance anything that's going to be calming going outside going for a walk I know certainly with a lot of people especially with my children as well it's so much better talking to someone that you're driving or you're walking because you're not looking at them

And it's quite hard getting children to go out for a walk, but in the car it's sometimes easier. Because that actually can be quite isolating and scary for those teenagers as well. I've said how hard it can be for perimenopausal and menopausal women. But young girls, you know, they learn everything from TikTok and social media, don't they? And everyone looks perfect on social media.

And it's quite hard getting children to go out for a walk, but in the car it's sometimes easier. Because that actually can be quite isolating and scary for those teenagers as well. I've said how hard it can be for perimenopausal and menopausal women. But young girls, you know, they learn everything from TikTok and social media, don't they? And everyone looks perfect on social media.

They, of course, all their catastrophes and make it sound awful. So actually... talking about it is really really important but if you think you need to get help then making sure you see someone who understands how hormones can change and what can be done as well so interesting that you mentioned that there was an actual study that showed girls performed lesser in exams

They, of course, all their catastrophes and make it sound awful. So actually... talking about it is really really important but if you think you need to get help then making sure you see someone who understands how hormones can change and what can be done as well so interesting that you mentioned that there was an actual study that showed girls performed lesser in exams

So that's when that drop of progesterone, that drop of estradiol, the brain is just not working. You haven't got the same connectivity of the brain. You haven't got all those synapses firing in the right way. You've got probably less blood supply to the brain. Memory's not as good. Sleep might not be as good. Yeah, I mean, isn't it madness? That was 1961 that study came out.

So that's when that drop of progesterone, that drop of estradiol, the brain is just not working. You haven't got the same connectivity of the brain. You haven't got all those synapses firing in the right way. You've got probably less blood supply to the brain. Memory's not as good. Sleep might not be as good. Yeah, I mean, isn't it madness? That was 1961 that study came out.