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. 9h ago

    103 – A fighter pilot's menopause: HRT, testosterone & guilt with Jo Salter

    Jo flew supersonic jets under extreme pressure for a living, but missed the menopause happening inside her own body. This week Dr Louise Newson is joined by Jo Salter, Britain's first female fast jet pilot, who spent years pushing through severe menopause symptoms without realising what they were, until she found herself mentally ticking off a symptom checklist in the middle of a conference. They talk about why testosterone is still so hard for women to access even on an NHS prescription, and the guidelines that leave many women denied any hormones at all after a surgical menopause. Louise also explains why breast cancer shouldn't automatically rule out HRT, the buried history of progesterone and postnatal depression, and shares a patient story that shows just how much hormones can transform a life. Jo closes with her three take-home tips for building the confidence to advocate for your own health. 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 👉Follow Jo: @josaltermbe

    103 – A fighter pilot's menopause: HRT, testosterone & guilt with Jo Salter

  2. 5d ago

    102 – GLP-1s, hormones & the truth about weight gain with Rose Stokes

    Rose Stokes, journalist and host of the Matter of Fat podcast, joins Dr Louise Newson to talk GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, the hormones behind weight gain and the shame around women's bodies. Rose has lived with obesity on and off for thirty years and is currently taking GLP-1 medication herself, after months of exercise and calorie counting made no difference to her weight post-pregnancy. She and Louise talk candidly about what these drugs can and can't do, and why "easy" is the last word Rose would use to describe taking them. Louise explains why women are so often told their weight is a food and exercise problem when the real cause can be hormonal. They also cover the research gaps around GLP-1s and women's hormones and why blame and shame make it harder to get the right help. Rose closes with her three take-home tips for anyone rethinking their relationship with weight. Let’s connect 👉 Track your symptoms and understand hormones, download the Balance app: https://bit.ly/4yZty5A 👉 More from Dr LouiseNewson: https://linkin.bio/drlouisenewson 👉 Follow Rose: Insta: @rosestokeshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-matter-of-fat/id6805913565 https://open.spotify.com/show/469s4SFr3DNivfx1dQVyXR?si=9065a05ed85b4723

    102 – GLP-1s, hormones & the truth about weight gain with Rose Stokes

  3. Sep 15

    101 – Luteal Uglies - what does this mean?

    Up to 80% of women with PMDD have suicidal thoughts. Online, it's being trivialised as the 'luteal uglies'. In this solo episode, Dr Louise Newson explains what'sactually happening in the second half of your menstrual cycle. She describes the sharp drop in progesterone that can trigger low mood, anxiety, irritability, brain fog, fatigue and more, and why calling it the 'lutealuglies’ does women a disservice. Louise traces how PMDD was made a psychiatric condition in the 1960s and 70s, sidelining the work of Dr Katharina Dalton, a GP whose research on natural progesterone was decades ahead of its time. She explains why hormonal contraception doesn't actually contain hormones, why low testosterone is so often mistaken for fibromyalgia or depression, and how a symptom questionnaire can help you track your own pattern across your cycle. Louise closes with three take-home tips on getting the right diagnosis and treatment and why sharing this episode matters. Let’s connect 👉 Track your symptoms andunderstand hormones, download the Balance app: https://bit.ly/4yZty5A 👉 More from Dr LouiseNewson: https://linkin.bio/drlouisenewson

    101 – Luteal Uglies - what does this mean?

  4. Sep 10

    100 – Sepsis, UTIs & quadruple amputation: Kim’s story

    Kim Smith went on a family holiday to Spain with a UTI and woke up nine weeks later having lost all four limbs to sepsis. Twice missed by Spanish doctors, Kim's kidney pain and uncontrollable shivering escalated so fast she doesn't remember being flown home. She tells Dr Louise Newson what actually happened, from the misdiagnosis to being told all four limbs would need amputating, and how she's rebuilt her life since as a quadruple amputee and sepsis awareness advocate. Louise and Kim discuss the sepsis warning signs so often missed, why kidney pain and sudden shivering are red flags, and how around 30% of sepsis cases start as a urine infection. They also cover why vaginal hormones significantly cut UTI frequency and severity and are safe for almost everyone, including women who've had breast cancer, yet are still rarely prescribed. Kim shares her three take-home tips on sepsis before the episode ends. Follow Kim: @kims2ndchance   Let’s connect 👉 Track your symptoms andunderstand hormones, download the Balance app: https://bit.ly/4yZty5A 👉 More from Dr LouiseNewson: https://linkin.bio/drlouisenewson

    100 – Sepsis, UTIs & quadruple amputation: Kim’s story

  5. Sep 8

    99 – Gut health, hormones & food noise with Dominique Ludwig

    Nutritionist Dominique Ludwig, author of No NonsenseNutrition, explains why your gut controls your hormones and hunger. Dominique trained at King's College and has spent 20 years in clinical practice, working with around 4,500m people before writing the book that turns her clinic advice, and the recipes behind it, into something anyone can use at home. Louise and Dominique talk through how your liver and gut clear out old hormones, why the wrong gut bacteria can impact your hormones and how the Contraceptive Pill can block your absorption of B12, zinc and folate. They also unpick why protein and fibre switch on the body's own satiety hormones (the same pathway GLP-1 medications work on) and why so many of Dominique's clients describe the disappearance of "food noise" as life-changing. Follow Dominique: @dominiqueludwig_nutrition Let’s connect 👉 Track your symptoms and understand hormones, download the Balance app: https://bit.ly/4yZty5A 👉 More from Dr LouiseNewson: https://linkin.bio/drlouisenewson

    99 – Gut health, hormones & food noise with Dominique Ludwig

  6. Sep 3

    98 – Why the type of hormone matters for health and fitness - Davey Maher

    Many women are told that all hormone treatments are essentially the same. But the reality is far more complex, and understanding the difference could have a significant impact on your health, fitness and wellbeing. In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by women’s health and fitness coach Davey Maher to discuss why bioidentical and synthetic hormones work differently in the body, how they influence inflammation, muscle, metabolism and long-term health, and why these differences are so often overlooked. Together, they explore why so many women struggle with weight gain and muscle loss during midlife, why strength training and nutrition become increasingly important as hormone levels change, and how taking the right hormones alongside healthy lifestyle habits can help women stay stronger, healthier and more active for longer. 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

    98 – Why the type of hormone matters for health and fitness - Davey Maher

  7. Sep 1

    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

  8. Aug 27

    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
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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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