The Dr Louise Newson Podcast

Dr Louise Newson
  • 4.9 (135)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Weekly

Dr Louise Newson is an award-winning physician, respected women’s hormone specialist, educator, and author committed to increasing awareness and knowledge of perimenopause, menopause, and lifelong hormone health. Each week, Louise dives into the newest research, treatments and hot topic issues, providing accessible, evidence-based information to empower your future health. Joined by fellow experts and special guests, with answers to your burning questions, Louise explores how hormones impact every aspect of our lives. Described as the “medic who kickstarted the menopause revolution”, Louise aims to empower a generation of women to have a greater understanding, choice and control over their treatment, bodies, minds and future health through their hormones. She is the creator of the award-winning free balance app, a Sunday Times bestselling author and the founder of the Newson Health clinic. With over three decades of clinical experience, Louise is a member of the Royal College of Physicians, a Fellow of the Royal College of GPs, a Visiting Fellow at Cambridge, a regular contributor to academic journals including the Lancet and the British Journal of General Practice, and has been awarded an honorary Doctorate of Health from Bradford University. DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr Louise Newson or the Newson Health Group.

  1. 7h ago

    97 – PMDD, ADHD & autism: addiction as a coping mechanism

    Natalie Sykes spent years using heroin and crack cocaine to self-medicate undiagnosed PMDD, autism and ADHD, and now finally understands why. Natalie, founder of the PMDD & Neurodivergence Alliance, tells Dr Louise Newson how PMDD's crushing hormonal mood swings collided with undiagnosed autism and ADHD to leave her, in her words, "allergic to my own body." Misdiagnosed as bipolar for decades, she turned to substances that numbed what nobody could explain. While using heroin, her PMDD symptoms disappeared completely. Louise explains that progesterone, estradiol and testosterone act directly on the brain's opioid and dopamine receptors, so when women are chronically short of these hormones, the body looks for relief elsewhere. They discuss why neurodivergent women are especially vulnerable to this pattern and why harm reduction has to be part of the conversation. Natalie shares her three take-home tips for anyone who suspects PMDD, ADHD or autism might be behind their struggle to cope. If you've experienced hormonal changes at any stage of life - from menstruation through to menopause - and have experience of addictive behaviours, coping strategies or gambling, you can help shape future support by taking part in this research survey: https://newson.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1YtaHkftP8GrSbc Follow Natalie @pmddneurodivergencealliance Let’s connect👉 Been dismissed or misdiagnosed? Book a consultation at Newson Health clinic: https://www.newsonhealth.co.uk/consultations👉 More from Dr Louise Newson: https://linkin.bio/drlouisenewson👉 Follow Natalie's work with the PMDD & Neurodivergence Alliance: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CzUafKyFt/?mibextid=wwXIfr

    97 – PMDD, ADHD & autism: addiction as a coping mechanism

  2. 5d ago

    96 – How India is waking up to hormone health Sanjith Shetty

    In India, one woman asked her gynaecologist about HRT and was told: "over my dead body." Dr Louise Newson travels to India to meet Sanjith Shetty, founder of the menopause community Miror and one of the country's most vocal male allies for women's hormone health. Sanjith built Miror after studying hundreds of femtech companies and finding that menopause, a phase every woman goes through, had almost no support compared to maternal and menstrual health. His community has since grown to thousands of Indian women openly discussing HRT, and he is now pushing corporates and government to take hormone health seriously. Louise and Sanjith discuss why so many doctors in Indiaremain frightened of prescribing HRT, what it costs women's careers and confidence and the early signs that attitudes among doctors, employers and government are starting to shift. They close with three things Sanjith wants to see happen in the next five years to improve hormone health for women across India. Let’s connect 👉 To access hormoneinformation in India, download the Balance app: https://bit.ly/4yZty5A 👉 For global clinicianeducation, explore Newson Education: https://bit.ly/4g5V0ps 👉 More from Dr LouiseNewson: https://linkin.bio/drlouisenewson

    96 – How India is waking up to hormone health Sanjith Shetty

  3. Aug 25

    95 – Rosie Moss: is it grief or hormones?

    Rosie Moss spent years being told her symptoms were simply grief, when actually there was undiagnosed PMDD also at play. Rosie hosts the podcast Widowed AF, and after her husband Ben died suddenly in a scuba diving accident in 2018, she was left to raise three young children while experiencing monthly crises that went far beyond ordinary grief, including periods of being unable to leave her bed for days at a time. Over the following years she was prescribed a succession of medications, from antidepressants to sedatives to an antipsychotic, none of which addressed what was actually happening to her hormones. Rosie describes being threatened with the police at A&E and being refused the estrogen dose that had finally brought her stability, while Dr Louise explains why physical symptoms such as joint pain and night sweats are often a sign that hormones are involved rather than grief alone, and why current guidelines still recommend antidepressants for PMDD despite limited evidence that they help. Rosie also shares the three take-home tips she would give anyone navigating grief. Follow Rosie and Widowed AF: @widowed_af Let’s connect 👉 Track your symptoms and understand hormones, download the Balance app: https://bit.ly/4yZty5A 👉 More from Dr Louise Newson: https://linkin.bio/drlouisenewson

    95 – Rosie Moss: is it grief or hormones?

  4. Aug 20

    94 – Fixing doctors' fear of hormone treatments including testosterone

    Dr Holly Carding, GP, Women’s Hormone Specialist and Education Lead at Newson Education, joins Louise to expose the hormone training gap that leaves doctors too scared to prescribe hormone treatments including progesterone, estradiol and testosterone. Holly had almost no training on hormones as a medical student and as a GP, became a menopause champion after returning from maternity leave and now leads global education for Newson Education, building the Confidence in Hormones course from scratch to close a training and education gap for all healthcare professionals globally - including for GPs, nurses, pharmacists, psychiatrists, cardiologists and all other doctors. They discuss the course's modules on testosterone prescribing, mental health, and individualising care for women with a history of breast cancer or clots, why "just a guideline" isn't enough for real patients, and the Hormones Uncovered conference returning as a two-day event in London, Hormones and Healthspan, in March. Holly leaves three take-home tips for any healthcare professional wanting to get to grips with hormone health. Let’s connect 👉 Find out more about the Hormones Uncovered conference: https://bit.ly/4wOmLtm 👉 Doctor, or know one who needs to hear this? Build confidence in hormone health with the Confidence in Hormones course at Newson Education: https://bit.ly/4g5V0ps 👉 More from Dr Louise Newson: https://linkin.bio/drlouisenewson

    94 – Fixing doctors' fear of hormone treatments including testosterone

  5. Aug 18

    93 – PMDD misdiagnosed for 10 Years: Anna's story

    Content advisory: This episode contains themes of mental health and suicide Anna, a nurse, was sectioned, hospitalised in psychiatric wards for months and overdosed more than once, all while being diagnosed with everything from treatment-resistant depression to a personality disorder. It took over a decade for anyone to link it to her hormones and to believe her. She tells Dr Louise Newson how her suicidal episodes tracked her menstrual cycle for ten years, yet doctors dismissed her and used her own theory about hormones as evidence she wasn't well. Even after a hysterectomy, a reaction to synthetic progestogen from a Mirena coil, and repeated admissions, it took a private gynaecologist to diagnose PMDD and start her on hormone treatments (HRT). Louise and Anna unpick why psychiatry so often overlooks hormones, the real difference between progesterone and synthetic progestogens and why removing the ovaries doesn't usually remove the problem. Plus three take-home tips for getting hormonal symptoms taken seriously. Let’s connect 👉 Track your moodsymptoms with the Balance app: https://bit.ly/4yZty5A 👉 More from Dr LouiseNewson: https://linkin.bio/drlouisenewson

    93 – PMDD misdiagnosed for 10 Years: Anna's story

  6. Aug 13

    92 – Hormones, mood and mental health myths Dr Sue Varma

    Psychiatrist Dr Sue Varma joins Dr Louise Newson to unpack why hormones are so often left out of mental health care and what gets missed as a result, from puberty to postpartum to perimenopause. Dr Varma is a board-certified psychiatrist and was the first medical director of the World Trade Center Mental Health Program, treating 9/11 survivors and first responders. Sue and Louise discuss why psychiatric training leaves out hormones' role in the brain - memory, mood, dementia risk - and why a proper medical work-up (thyroid, B12, vitamin D, hormones) should come before a psychiatric label. They talk about the stigma around seeking help, the risk of over-medicalising ordinary emotions and Sue's practical tools for difficult periods such as the "four M's" of mental health, the worry diary and her four-step framework - name it, tame it, claim it, reframe it. Sue closes with three take-home tips for anyone having a difficult time right now. Let’s connect 👉 Track your mood symptoms with the Balance app: https://bit.ly/4yZty5A 👉 More from Dr Louise Newson: https://linkin.bio/drlouisenewson 👉 Link to Dr Sue Varma's book : Practical Optimism https://a.co/d/ekTvcfq

    92 – Hormones, mood and mental health myths Dr Sue Varma

  7. Aug 11

    91 – Demi Brown: Endometriosis, fibroids & hormones

    Love Is Blind's Demi Santana Brown opens up aboutendometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids and the power of natural hormones. Before Love Is Blind UK, Demi was a professional footballer for Millwall, West Ham and Leyton Orient - playing through heavy, painful periods for years before doctors took her seriously. She joins Dr Louise Newsonto share what it's really like to be dismissed by doctors, why the contraceptive pill made her mental health worse and how an online hormone test told her she was "fine" when her testosterone was actuallydangerously low. Louise explains the real difference between synthetic and natural hormones, why testosterone and progesterone matter for endometriosis and how reducing inflammation can ease pain, heavy bleeding and fatigue. They also discuss medical misogyny, harmful advice like "just get pregnant," and Demi’s three take-home tips for anyone struggling with endometriosis. Let’s connect 👉 Follow Demi: @demisantanabrown 👉 Track your hormones properly with the Balance app: https://bit.ly/4yZty5A👉 More from Dr Louise Newson:https://linkin.bio/drlouisenewson

    91 – Demi Brown: Endometriosis, fibroids & hormones

  8. Aug 6

    90 – Hair loss, hormones and menopause: what’s really causing it? Archana Rao

    Hair loss can have a profound impact on confidence, yet many women are told it’s simply part of getting older or encouraged to spend hundreds of pounds on products that promise far more than they can deliver. This week, Dr Louise Newson is joined by consultant dermatologist and hair specialist Dr Archana Rao to explore the powerful relationship between hormones, menopause and hair health. Together they explain why changes in your hair are often a sign of what’s happening inside the body, why hormones matter far more than many people realise and why getting the right diagnosis is so important. They discuss the different types of hair loss women can experience during perimenopause and menopause, including frontal fibrosing alopecia, an increasingly common condition that can cause permanent hair loss if left untreated. Dr Rao explains the warning signs to look out for, why early diagnosis matters, and how treatment can help prevent further damage. Louise and Archana also talk about the role of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone in supporting healthy hair, why hair loss is rarely caused by one factor alone, and how looking beyond the scalp can help identify underlying hormonal or medical causes. LET'S CONNECT 👉 Subscribe on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@menopause_doctor?utm_source=DLNpodcast+&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=BAU+ 👉   Instagram https://www.instagram.com/menopause_doctor/?hl=en&utm_source=DLNpodcast+&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=BAU+ 👉 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlouisenewson/?utm_source=DLNpodcast+&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=BAU+ 👉   TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@drlouisenewson?utm_source=DLNpodcast+&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=BAU+ 👉 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7dCctfyI9bODGDaFnjfKhg?utm_source=DLNpodcast+&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=BAU+ LEARN MORE 👉 Download my balance app https://balance-app.com/?utm_source=DLNpodcast+&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=BAU+ 👉 Order my new book https://bio.to/ThePowerofHormones?utm_source=DLNpodcast+&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=BAU+ 👉  Speak to Newson Clinic https://www.newsonhealth.co.uk/?utm_source=louise_podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=clinic_cross_promotion 👉  Visit my website https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/?utm_source=DLNpodcast+&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=BAU+

    90 – Hair loss, hormones and menopause: what’s really causing it? Archana Rao
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4.9
out of 5
135 Ratings

About

Dr Louise Newson is an award-winning physician, respected women’s hormone specialist, educator, and author committed to increasing awareness and knowledge of perimenopause, menopause, and lifelong hormone health. Each week, Louise dives into the newest research, treatments and hot topic issues, providing accessible, evidence-based information to empower your future health. Joined by fellow experts and special guests, with answers to your burning questions, Louise explores how hormones impact every aspect of our lives. Described as the “medic who kickstarted the menopause revolution”, Louise aims to empower a generation of women to have a greater understanding, choice and control over their treatment, bodies, minds and future health through their hormones. She is the creator of the award-winning free balance app, a Sunday Times bestselling author and the founder of the Newson Health clinic. With over three decades of clinical experience, Louise is a member of the Royal College of Physicians, a Fellow of the Royal College of GPs, a Visiting Fellow at Cambridge, a regular contributor to academic journals including the Lancet and the British Journal of General Practice, and has been awarded an honorary Doctorate of Health from Bradford University. DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr Louise Newson or the Newson Health Group.

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