The Dr Louise Newson Podcast

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson is speaking with Sophie Strachan, director of Sophia Forum, Dr Nneka Nwokolo, honorary HIV clinician and menopause specialist, and Dr Jacqui Stevenson, researcher and advocate for Sophia Forum. Together, they talk about the charity Sophia Forum and their 'We Are Still Here' campaign which is calling for:  Opportunities to pass on experiences  Peer networks for older women  Holistic services and standards of care  Dr Jacqui Stevenson recently carried out research exploring women’s experiences of ageing with HIV in London. Many of these women were experiencing menopausal symptoms yet were often receiving inadequate advice and help. Understandably, many women were worried that their symptoms were related to their HIV or their treatment and a large number of women expressed frustration in not receiving the right support or treatment. The expert guests in this podcast discuss how important it is for women to receive education about potential symptoms of the menopause and also health risks related to their low hormones. Jacqui talks in more detail about her research and ways of potentially improving access to evidence-based information worldwide to women living with HIV.  Sophie Strachan, Dr Nneke Nwokolo & Dr Jacqui Stevenson's Three Take Home messages: Women living with HIV should expect the same care and menopause support as women without HIV. These women should not have any less expectations that they can have their symptoms managed. It's important that we break down the silence around issues like HIV and menopause and provide the space for women to demand the care, support and information that they deserve.  In the context of health professionals, don't be afraid in how to look after your patients living with HIV. We are asking you to get educated about this condition as we have had to and start having menopause conversations with your patients when they are in their 30s - not 50s! Find out more about Sophia Forum at: www.sophiaforum.net www.instagram.com/sophiaforum/ www.facebook.com/SophiaForum/   Click here for more information about the We Are Still Here campaign.

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson is speaking with Jon Hughes, a gynaecologist who specialises in fertility and endometriosis. Jon and Louise discuss the various reasons why women may have reduced fertility, including women who have an early menopause or Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI). Jon talks about his work and details the possible ways that fertility can be improved. Jon has recently joined the team here at Newson Health and is now offering individualised advice to women with fertility problems or potential fertility issues as a result of their early perimenopause and menopause.   Jon is the lead clinician for Worcestershire Fertility, which is part of Oxford Fertility. Oxford Fertility is part of TFP, with 37 fertility clinics across the UK and Europe.  Jon Hughes' Three Take Home Tips for young women with potential fertility issues: When trying to start a family, try and live as healthy a lifestyle as possible. Try to maintain a healthy weight, stop smoking and moderate any alcohol. Talk to your mum, aunties, grandmothers, and find out if there is any history of POI or early menopause in your family. If so, it may be helpful to start thinking and talking to your GP about your fertility. Keep an eye on the symptoms! If your periods are becoming irregular and you are planning on having a family, it may be worth getting everything checked out. Find out more about Jon's clinic at Newson Health here.

In episode 63 of the Newson Health podcast series, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Dr Stephanie Goodwin, a london-based GP, menopause specialist and specialist in Psychosexual medicine. Together, Dr Newson and Dr Goodwin discuss the possible consequences of cancer treatment on women’s sex lives. Often sex isn’t discussed at the outset of treatment and it isn’t until much later that women have the opportunity to get advice.  Dr Goodwin also speaks about vaginal changes during the menopause and the importance of intimacy and keeping channels of communication open with your partner if sex becomes difficult during this time. Vaginal dryness is a very common problem that is easy to treat so don't be afraid to seek out advice.   Dr Stephanie Goodwin's Three Take Home Tips: If you are having cancer treatment, ask for advice about the possible impact on your sex life at the start.  Find someone in the team who is comfortable discussing that with you. There are lots of resources available that can be helpful - Macmillan, Cancer Research UK, The Daisy Network (for younger women under 40) and The Institute of Psychosexual Medicine.   Don’t be afraid to ask if you need help! That’s not just for cancer patients but for any women having sexual difficulties.  If you don’t get help the first time, try someone else and keep asking.  www.drstephaniegoodwin.co.uk Find Dr Goodwin on Instagram: @drstephaniegoodwin

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson chats to Dr Philippa Kaye - GP, journalist and author. Dr Kaye has just released a new book titled 'The M Word: Everything You Need to Know About the Menopause' and she talks to Dr Newson all about it and explains why she decided to write a book about this area of a woman's life. Dr Newson and Dr Kaye discuss a number of women's health topics in this informative podcast, including safe sex, STD prevention and contraception around the time of the menopause and perimenopause - when you can stop, when you need protection and the different options available. Dr Newson also chats to Dr Kaye about the taboo surrounding women's health in general and why it's important that we change the narrative surrounding the menopause.  Dr Philippa Kaye's Three Take Home Tips about Contraception and Menopause:  You probably need it no matter how old you are! You will need contraception up until 55 depending on when your menopause was and then afterwards as a barrier against STDs. Some of that contraception can be used as part of HRT, such as the mirena coil. Even if you are going or have gone through an early menopause, you may still need contraception. If you have the right menopause treatment and your libido improves, that's great! But we need to make sure we stay safe. 'The M Word: Everything You Need to Know About the Menopause' by Dr Philippa Kaye is available on Amazon and waterstones.com, as well as in most bookstores. www.drphilippakaye.com Find Dr Kaye on Twitter: @drphilippakaye Instagram: @drphilippakaye

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Lindsey Lester who is a pharmacist with special interest in the menopause and founder of The Hormone Pharmacist.  Lindsey set up The Hormone Pharmacist, after much encouragement from Dr Newson, to provide affordable expert menopause advice, which enables women to make an informed choice about the treatment they would like. Lindsey offers a 45 minute consultation which covers the risks and benefits of the treatments available, as well as general health advice which ultimately saves the time of women and their GPs and ensures they receive the safest, evidence based options.  In this podcast, Lindsey and Dr Newson discuss the large number of women aged 40+ that are prescribed antidepressants and also older women receiving antibiotics repeatedly for urinary tract infections, both of which are often menopause related.  Lindsey is a member of The British Menopause Society and she talks to Dr Newson about why it's so important that women make sure the health professional they speak to has undertaken specific training in menopause. In many cases, even a GP or Gynaecologist might not have had enough training to give  the right information or treatment.  Lindsey Lester's Three Take Home Tips: Talk! Talk to everyone; friends, family, daughters, nieces. It can be so helpful if your healthcare professional has an interest in the menopause - check their credentials first. Don't suffer - there's no medal at the end! Find the right treatment for you, it doesn't have to be HRT just make sure you have all the evidence before you decide. Take charge of your own destiny and be informed! Lindsey is now offering consultations here at Newson Health, click here to find out more. Find Lindsey on Facebook: @thehormonepharmacistUK Instagram: @thehormonepharmacistUK

Dr Mark Coombe is the educational director of Fourteen Fish, a UK based company specialising in medical appraisals. They provide education for over 40,000 GPs and healthcare professionals in the UK. In this podcast, Mark and Dr Newson talk about a new menopause education programme they are developing together which has just been launched and is available for healthcare professionals. Dr Newson has created the content with three other GPs with a special interest in the menopause, Dr Rebecca Lewis, Dr Alice Duffy and Dr Sarah Ball. Frustratingly many healthcare professionals have little or no formal education in the menopause which results in women being given the wrong advice and treatment. Education for healthcare professionals needs to be done in an evidence-based and non-biased way. It is also important that healthcare professionals are monitored and assessed regularly for their education so this platform is ideal for launching the menopause education programme on.  Dr Mark Coombe's Three Take Home Tips About the Menopause Education Programme: This programme is evidence-based and current. The information is fresh and right up to date. It is online and so easily accessible. You can pick it up and put it down whenever suits you and can focus on specific modules. "We will be working towards helping you provide evidence in your appraisals so you can justify being looked upon as someone with a specialist interest in menopause and HRT." www.fourteenfish.com

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Dr Hannah Short, who is a GP and menopause specialist. She also has a particular interest in premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) which is very common yet not well managed.  Many women need individualised advice and treatment which is often a combination of lifestyle changes and taking hormones.  Hannah openly talks about her own experience of having a surgical menopause when she was younger. She talks to Dr Newson about ways of improving awareness of this condition so women do not have to suffer both physically and mentally as a result of inadequate support and treatment.   Dr Hannah Short's Three Take Home Tips: Track your symptoms by using apps or online downloadable trackers.  Use the internet to find useful resources. Firstly https://iapmd.org/ which is a US based site and http://www.pms.org.uk/ to read the UK guidelines.   You do not need to solve this alone, look for support. Be kind to yourself.  https://drhannahshort.co.uk/ Find Hannah on Instagram: @dr.hannah.short   Read this booklet from Dr Newson for more information about PMS and menopause.

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson chats to one of Britain's best loved TV presenters, Davina Mccall. Davina talks openly and honestly about her own menopause experience and how she had no idea that she might start to experience symptoms when she was just 44. Davina and Louise talk extensively about the perception of HRT in the media, how women are often needlessly scared and ashamed when they hear those three letters and why it's so important that this starts to change. It's essential that women have access to evidence-based menopause information - we all have the right to make informed choices about our own care and treatment.  Davina Mccall's Three Take Home Tips: Inform yourself! You have the right to choose the best treatment for you, but make sure you find out all the correct information beforehand. Find a supportive community and exercise. Whether it’s a weekly class or an online platform like Own Your Goals – exercise can be great for your mental health. Judgement is often a reflection of how we are feeling within ourselves. Every woman has a story and has the right to make their own choices without fear of judgement. Find Davina on Facebook: @DavinaMccall Twitter: @ThisIsDavina Instagram: @davinamccall www.thisisdavina.com   Click here to watch Dr Newson and Davina discuss 'All Things Menopause'

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: Join The Irish Menopause - it's evidence-based support and you might find something you relate to. Find a doctor - if your doctor doesn't listen or you're not happy with what they have said, go to the next doctor and keep trying! Reach out - share, talk to others. You're not going mad, it's not just you, it's every other woman. Claire's Three Take Home Tips on how women can help themselves: Talk to other people, go online and find support groups like The Irish Menopause. Look after yourself, don't feel guilty for taking time to yourself. Rest! Give Yoga a try! It can do wonders during this time of your life. Find The Irish Menopause on Instagram: @theirish_menopause Sign #TheIrishMenopauseMission petition online here.

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson is talking with Jane Oglesby, whom she first met at Manchester University when they were both medical students together. Dr Newson and Jane then reconnected a few years ago when she visited the Newson Health clinic as she had been really struggling with menopausal symptoms and was unable to receive the right help and treatment. Jane now works a trustee for The Oglesby Charitable Trust and she is passionate about tackling health inequalities, amongst other issues, and she is also a Director of both Focused Care and the Shared Health Foundation. Jane has kindly personally donated money to enable us to develop and produce a brand new menopause app called 'balance' which has just been launched. The aim of this app is to provide evidence based and non-biased information about the perimenopause and menopause to as many women as possible worldwide. Dr Newson and her team have been working hard for the past year with the most incredible team at Magnetic North in Manchester and is really excited to announce that it is now available to download.  Click here to find out more and download 'balance' today! Jane Oglesby's Three Favourite Things About 'balance': We have asked women what they want! The app has been designed with that as the main objective - it gives women what they have asked for. The app is a free resource full of information. We want it to stay accessible for all women. balance demonstrates a collaborative effort from a great group of women and I'm very proud of it!