Midlife Renaissance: Reclaiming the Conversation about Our Bodies and Menopause with Dr. Louise Newson

Mar 26, 2025

In a captivating conversation, Dr. Louise Newson, a leading expert in perimenopause and menopause, shares her insights on the often-misunderstood journey of women's health during this phase. She challenges misconceptions surrounding menopause symptoms, advocating for open conversations that empower women to voice their health concerns. Dr. Newson discusses the importance of hormone replacement therapy, the necessity for systemic changes in healthcare, and how women's understanding of menopause is ahead of many healthcare providers. This enlightening dialogue inspires women to reclaim their narrative.

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INSIGHT

Menopause Definition

Menopause is officially defined as one year after a woman's last period.
It's not just a transition, it's a permanent hormonal shift lasting the rest of a woman's life.

INSIGHT

Hormonal Changes

Hormone levels (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) decrease with age, impacting every cell in our bodies.
This reduction starts during perimenopause, often a decade before periods stop, and continues throughout menopause.

INSIGHT

Misconception: Menopause as Reproductive Issue

Menopause has been wrongly reduced to reproductive health, neglecting its impact on overall health.
Hormonal changes increase the risk of osteoporosis, dementia, and heart disease.

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Description:

Today, Jen and Amy have an intimate conversation with preeminent perimenopausal and menopausal specialist and women’s health advocate, Dr. Louise Newson, who has been described as the “medic who kickstarted the menopause revolution” for her commitment to increasing awareness and knowledge about hormones, perimenopause and menopause through her books, podcast, and educational videos on social media.

In this candid and enlightening conversation, we discuss:

The biggest misconceptions women have about menopause including understanding the array of symptoms that can be attributed to it
How the conversations our mothers and grandmothers had (or didn’t have) about menopause are evolving
The discussions we should be having with our doctors about our health and symptoms but aren’t, either due to shame or lack of information
Important steps we can take now to minimize our menopausal symptoms later
Treatment options to alleviate our perimenopause/menopause symptoms once they begin, including hormone replacement therapy
And, why it’s imperative for policymakers, insurers, employers, and doctors of all specialties to be part this conversation

Thought-provoking Quotes:

What’s going wrong or right in this [menopause/perimenopause] conversation is that women are understanding this faster than their healthcare professionals are. – Dr. Louise Newson
I’ve been taking hormones now for 9 years but the dose of estrogen I need, I cannot get from my NHS GP and I am white, I’m middle-class, I’m middle-class, and English-speaking. If I’m struggling, what does that mean for the majority of people globally? They're not having a voice and they’re struggling. – Dr. Louise Newson
Menopause lasts forever (i.e. until the day we die). It's not just something to get you through until the next job interview, or the next phase of your life, or the next relationship. It is forever. You have to make sure the [treatment] choice you make is right for you. – Dr. Louise Newson
Hormones are good but they’re not going to help me as much as if I look after myself. – Dr. Louise Newson

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause by Dr. Louise Newson- https://amzn.to/3Rf4LFQ

Newson Health Menopause and Wellbeing Centre - https://www.newsonhealth.co.uk/book-an-appointment/

Balance App - https://www.balance-menopause.com/balance-app/

The Dr. Louise Newson Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/7dCctfyI9bODGDaFnjfKhg?si=b382cda4537246d5&nd=1&dlsi=b4764565942d4037

Guest’s Links:

Website - https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/menopause_doctor/

Twitter - https://x.com/drlouisenewson

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@menopause_doctor

Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/7dCctfyI9bODGDaFnjfKhg?si=b382cda4537246d5&nd=1&dlsi=b4764565942d4037

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