Dr. Louise Newson

And thirdly, these are medical doctors. They should be trained in how hormones affect the brain as well. So I and we see it a lot. There's a lot of women who, you know, it depends on who you get referred to. But so many are under psychiatrists and they're not being asked about their hormones.

And thirdly, these are medical doctors. They should be trained in how hormones affect the brain as well. So I and we see it a lot. There's a lot of women who, you know, it depends on who you get referred to. But so many are under psychiatrists and they're not being asked about their hormones.

And I just think it's completely wrong because in medicine you want to treat the underlying cause if you can.

And I just think it's completely wrong because in medicine you want to treat the underlying cause if you can.

Yeah, so often if I think symptoms are related to hormones, then I'll always give the hormones back to physiological response. But looking at nutrition, exercise, everything else as well. But I don't know how many menopausal women you've spoken to, but often if you say to them, just go and do a bit more exercise.

Yeah, so often if I think symptoms are related to hormones, then I'll always give the hormones back to physiological response. But looking at nutrition, exercise, everything else as well. But I don't know how many menopausal women you've spoken to, but often if you say to them, just go and do a bit more exercise.

just go and sleep a bit better just go and eat better they'll probably bite your head off and I would have done eight years ago when I was perimenopausal because you just feel shattered you feel exhausted so often when the hormones are rebalanced then you can look at everything else and you know I'm absolutely not here on the podcast to say just have hormones and you'll be fine because it's not like that but having hormones can absolutely make a big difference so all we do we're very fortunate we have the right hormones now which are exactly the same

just go and sleep a bit better just go and eat better they'll probably bite your head off and I would have done eight years ago when I was perimenopausal because you just feel shattered you feel exhausted so often when the hormones are rebalanced then you can look at everything else and you know I'm absolutely not here on the podcast to say just have hormones and you'll be fine because it's not like that but having hormones can absolutely make a big difference so all we do we're very fortunate we have the right hormones now which are exactly the same

and physiologically in the body. So some people might be thinking of hormones, thinking about contraception, and those are very, very different because they've been chemically altered. And that's really important to know the difference because when we give hormones, we give... we're just replacing exactly the same, giving like for like.

and physiologically in the body. So some people might be thinking of hormones, thinking about contraception, and those are very, very different because they've been chemically altered. And that's really important to know the difference because when we give hormones, we give... we're just replacing exactly the same, giving like for like.

And that makes a huge difference on the brain, actually, because, as I've said, these hormones are neurotransmitters, so chemicals, as you know, that give a message from one area of the brain to another. But they also work with other neurotransmitters in the brain in a positive way.

And that makes a huge difference on the brain, actually, because, as I've said, these hormones are neurotransmitters, so chemicals, as you know, that give a message from one area of the brain to another. But they also work with other neurotransmitters in the brain in a positive way.

Whereas if you have synthetic hormones, as in contraception, then they can block the action of the natural hormones and also negatively affect other neurotransmitters as well. So having the right dose and type is really important. And we're very fortunate because in the NHS as well, we can prescribe the hormones individually. So each person can have... the right dose and type for them.

Whereas if you have synthetic hormones, as in contraception, then they can block the action of the natural hormones and also negatively affect other neurotransmitters as well. So having the right dose and type is really important. And we're very fortunate because in the NHS as well, we can prescribe the hormones individually. So each person can have... the right dose and type for them.

And sometimes if people have PMS, premenstrual syndrome, or PMDD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, we might just give hormones for those few days because there's a big drop, especially of progesterone, but also of estrogen before periods.

And sometimes if people have PMS, premenstrual syndrome, or PMDD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, we might just give hormones for those few days because there's a big drop, especially of progesterone, but also of estrogen before periods.

So sometimes just giving a few days of hormones, natural hormones, to top up and replace that big drop can make a massive difference the way people work and function.

So sometimes just giving a few days of hormones, natural hormones, to top up and replace that big drop can make a massive difference the way people work and function.

Yeah, absolutely. But I think actually doctors have been kept more in the dark than women. You know, I mean, women have been just denied so much good medicine for such a long time. And the problem is there's lots of other drugs that can do all sorts of things to people, including women. But basic physiology has been there for decades.

Yeah, absolutely. But I think actually doctors have been kept more in the dark than women. You know, I mean, women have been just denied so much good medicine for such a long time. And the problem is there's lots of other drugs that can do all sorts of things to people, including women. But basic physiology has been there for decades.