Dr. Louise Newson

When hormones were discovered in the turn of the 1900s, so 1930s, there was such a move to try and market them and think about bleeding and periods. that any good research was just forgotten. And then women, as you probably know, weren't included in any studies of any drugs because we're too complicated because we've got our hormones. But actually, isn't that so important that we study them?

When hormones were discovered in the turn of the 1900s, so 1930s, there was such a move to try and market them and think about bleeding and periods. that any good research was just forgotten. And then women, as you probably know, weren't included in any studies of any drugs because we're too complicated because we've got our hormones. But actually, isn't that so important that we study them?

So that's been very frustrating. And then women have known, like for a long time, even when the contraceptive pill came out in the 60s, a lot of women were saying, I don't feel right. I can't think clearly. I feel very low in my mood. I feel more anxious. And doctors would say, no, no, no, you're not going to get pregnant. You must take this.

So that's been very frustrating. And then women have known, like for a long time, even when the contraceptive pill came out in the 60s, a lot of women were saying, I don't feel right. I can't think clearly. I feel very low in my mood. I feel more anxious. And doctors would say, no, no, no, you're not going to get pregnant. You must take this.

And then they looked and changed the dose and various things. But it's still happening now that women are being given medication without knowing, not knowing how the hormones work. But also just, I think because... When people talk about oestrogen and progesterone, it's about periods.

And then they looked and changed the dose and various things. But it's still happening now that women are being given medication without knowing, not knowing how the hormones work. But also just, I think because... When people talk about oestrogen and progesterone, it's about periods.

So then you're constantly just thinking about the womb, whereas thinking about these hormones that work in every single cell of our body, they affect the way that our cells function, is really important. And I think women understand more because... 95% of women have PMS, premenstrual syndrome, and it's been normalised for so long where you just, oh, don't go near her, she's hormonal.

So then you're constantly just thinking about the womb, whereas thinking about these hormones that work in every single cell of our body, they affect the way that our cells function, is really important. And I think women understand more because... 95% of women have PMS, premenstrual syndrome, and it's been normalised for so long where you just, oh, don't go near her, she's hormonal.

Oh, she'll be a bit irritable. She might be a bit forgetful just before her periods. Well, actually, let's think about what's happening. If those hormones are dropping, why aren't we giving them back? You wouldn't say to a man, oh, once a month for a few days, you're just going to feel a bit bad. Like, it's just unacceptable. But so much has been normalized, I think, and trivialized.

Oh, she'll be a bit irritable. She might be a bit forgetful just before her periods. Well, actually, let's think about what's happening. If those hormones are dropping, why aren't we giving them back? You wouldn't say to a man, oh, once a month for a few days, you're just going to feel a bit bad. Like, it's just unacceptable. But so much has been normalized, I think, and trivialized.

And it doesn't really help that the hormones are sometimes referred to as sex hormones. And they're not about sex. They're not even about gender because men have them too. But it's because there's been this misunderstanding. But the role on the brain is so crucial to understand.

And it doesn't really help that the hormones are sometimes referred to as sex hormones. And they're not about sex. They're not even about gender because men have them too. But it's because there's been this misunderstanding. But the role on the brain is so crucial to understand.

And, you know, psychiatrists, psychologists, anybody who deals with the brain should be knowing about the role of hormones in the brain.

And, you know, psychiatrists, psychologists, anybody who deals with the brain should be knowing about the role of hormones in the brain.

It's huge. I mean, I qualified in 1994, and that was the year that women were first... They recommended that women should be used in clinical studies. So if you think all my undergraduate knowledge is based on studies done on men... And that's a lot of the way that I've been prescribing for many years. And you just think this is absolutely madness.

It's huge. I mean, I qualified in 1994, and that was the year that women were first... They recommended that women should be used in clinical studies. So if you think all my undergraduate knowledge is based on studies done on men... And that's a lot of the way that I've been prescribing for many years. And you just think this is absolutely madness.

And then most of the studies on hormones have been done on the reproductive tract. And then you think, actually, this is ludicrous as well, because the hormones are so important. And even now... People are quite scared of hormones because they think, oh, HRT equals breast cancer, which it doesn't. This is older types of hormones. The ones we prescribe are literally just replacing.

And then most of the studies on hormones have been done on the reproductive tract. And then you think, actually, this is ludicrous as well, because the hormones are so important. And even now... People are quite scared of hormones because they think, oh, HRT equals breast cancer, which it doesn't. This is older types of hormones. The ones we prescribe are literally just replacing.

And a lot of people don't prescribe them, so they don't see the effects or they don't want to see the effects often as well. But women are really knowing and they're not stupid and they can often see this change throughout their cycle. And it's interesting, isn't it? If you think about ADHD, so many more women in their 40s are being diagnosed.

And a lot of people don't prescribe them, so they don't see the effects or they don't want to see the effects often as well. But women are really knowing and they're not stupid and they can often see this change throughout their cycle. And it's interesting, isn't it? If you think about ADHD, so many more women in their 40s are being diagnosed.