
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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.
Episodes
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4 days ago
4 days ago
In this week’s episode, Dr Louise Newson talks to Professor Mike Kirby, president of the British Society for Sexual Medicine and author of more than 450 clinical papers and 32 books. He was previously director of the Hertfordshire Primary Care Research Network, visiting professor to the Faculty of Health and Human Sciences at the University of Hertfordshire, and was attending physician to the Prostate Centre, London, where he dealt with complex medical problems until 2020.
Dr Newson and Professor Kirby discuss the importance of hormone health for both men and women, including testosterone. They also explore the benefits of phosphodiesterase inhibitors – which include Viagra – in treating not only erectile dysfunction, but their potential to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, urinary symptoms, dementia, and even cancer.
Professor Kirby is one of the speakers at the upcoming Newson Conference: The Hormone Blueprint, which will be held in London on 21 March. An event for healthcare professionals, the conference will delve into the far-reaching impact of hormones on the body. For more information and to book your place, click here.
Click here to find out more about Newson Health.

Tuesday Feb 11, 2025
295 - Natural progesterone: what mental health benefits can it bring?
Tuesday Feb 11, 2025
Tuesday Feb 11, 2025
Content advisory: this episode includes themes of mental health and suicide
In this week’s podcast, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Rachel Jones to delve into the critical role hormones, particularly progesterone, play in women's mental health. They discuss the importance of understanding hormonal changes throughout a woman's life, the differences between natural and synthetic hormones, and the need for individualised treatment plans.
The conversation emphasises the significance of balancing hormones and considering lifestyle factors that impact mental health. Dr Louise and Dr Rachel share insights on how natural progesterone can help with mental health symptoms, including mood and anxiety, and encourage women not to give up on finding the right hormonal balance for them.
Click here to find out more about Newson Health.
Find out more about Dr Rachel on Instagram @the_hormone_clinic
Contact the Samaritans for 24-hour, confidential support by calling 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.
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Tuesday Feb 04, 2025
294 - Alcohol addiction and menopause: Rachel's story
Tuesday Feb 04, 2025
Tuesday Feb 04, 2025
Content advisory: this episode includes themes of mental health and suicide
In this episode, Dr Louise Newson speaks with Rachel Birch, a doctor who shares her personal journey of menopause, mental health and alcohol addiction. Rachel discusses the lack of training on menopause in medical education, her experiences with anxiety and depression, how she found herself using alcohol as a coping mechanism and how she is navigating her recovery. Rachel emphasises the importance of self-advocacy, community support, and self-love in recovery. The conversation also highlights the need for better awareness and understanding of menopause and its impact on mental health.
Rachel also shares the following advice if you find yourself struggling with addiction:
- Listen to your body and trust your instinct
- Be your own advocate – you know your body best
- Prevention is better than cure: be alert to drinking habits
- Don't suffer alone, reach out for help.
Click here to find out more about Newson Health
Contact the Samaritans for 24-hour, confidential support by calling 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.

Tuesday Jan 28, 2025
293 - Navigating menopause in my 30s after ovarian cancer: Suzie’s story
Tuesday Jan 28, 2025
Tuesday Jan 28, 2025
Joining Dr Louise Newson on this week’s podcast is Suzie Aries, who shares her story of menopause following treatment for a rare and aggressive ovarian cancer in her 20s.
Suzie talks about her cancer diagnosis and treatment, including raising £250,000 to fund treatment not available on the NHS. She also shares the realities of menopause at a young age, how HRT has helped her menopause symptoms, and why she takes HRT for her future health.
Finally, Suzie offers advice for women on how to advocate for themselves during healthcare consultations, and why being knowledgeable, confident and curious is key.
You can follow Suzie on Instagram @suzieclair11 and find out more about her story via her Facebook page Suzie Aries: kicking cancer's butt.

Tuesday Jan 21, 2025
292 - Thee Third Act: laughter, friendship and menopause
Tuesday Jan 21, 2025
Tuesday Jan 21, 2025
Joining Dr Louise Newson on this week’s podcast are Jane Hajduk and Shari Dolan, the real-life friends behind Thee Third Act, a YouTube comedy series about women’s third act: menopause.
Thee Third Act follows Jane and Shari’s characters, Josephine and Lauren, in their search for answers during menopause. From life coaches to hormone replacement therapy, they strive to conquer or at least ease hot flushes, sleepless nights, and astronomical mood swings.
Jane and Shari discuss their own menopause experiences, their off-screen friendship, and why sisterhood, laughter and honesty are key when navigating menopause.
Catch with Thee Third Act on YouTube here – the second season premieres on 27 January
Click here to find out more about Newson Health

Tuesday Jan 14, 2025
291 - ‘I’m 76 and thriving on HRT’
Tuesday Jan 14, 2025
Tuesday Jan 14, 2025
In this week's episode of the podcast, Dr Louise Newson talks to Paula, a 76-year-old woman who reached out to share her experience of being on HRT for over 30 years.
Paula explains how she was prescribed HRT after a hysterectomy when she was 44, following a complicated gynaecological history, which included an ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cysts, fibroids and endometriosis.
She had been taking HRT for a decade when the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study was released. Paula explains how she researched the study, then weighed up her personal risk and benefits in discussion with her doctor and made the decision to carry on taking HRT. Paula was happy to stay on HRT and credits it with helping her to feel better in her 70s than she did in her 30s.
Click here to find out more about Newson Health

Tuesday Jan 07, 2025
Tuesday Jan 07, 2025
Joining Dr Louise on this week’s podcast is Matt Roberts, one of Britain’s foremost fitness experts and personal training pioneer. Matt opened Europe’s first exclusively personal training gym in 1996, is a bestselling author and is responsible for honing some of the most famous physiques in fashion, sport, film, music and politics.
In this episode, Matt and Dr Louise discuss the importance of strength training, cardio and mobility exercise for health span, as well as some of the key barriers to exercise during perimenopause and menopause – and how to overcome them.
Finally, Matt offers advice on getting into good habits during menopause, whether you are already active or haven’t exercised for a while.
Find out more about Matt at www.mattroberts.co.uk and follow him on Instagram @mattroberts_lifestyle
Click here for more about Newson Health.
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Tuesday Dec 31, 2024
289 - Liz Earle: why self-care isn’t selfish
Tuesday Dec 31, 2024
Tuesday Dec 31, 2024
On this week’s podcast Dr Louise Newson is joined by her friend Liz Earle MBE, writer, TV presenter, award-winning entrepreneur and best-selling author of A Better Second Half: Dial Back Your Age to Live a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life.
Liz is synonymous with wellbeing, and as we head into 2025, she talks about why most New Year’s resolutions fail because they are unachievable. Instead, Dr Louise and Liz together offer practical tips on making some small but meaningful changes to improve health and wellbeing in midlife and beyond, including nutrition, exercise, mental health and hormones.
They also talk about the importance of prioritising yourself – and why self-care is anything but selfish.
For more about Liz, visit www.lizearlewellbeing.com
You can follow Liz on Instagram @lizearleme
Click here for more about Newson Health.

Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Joining Dr Louise Newson on the podcast this week is A&E consultant Professor Rob Galloway, who talks about his career to date and pressures facing the health service.
He also shares the nutrition and exercise changes he’s made in his own life that have improved his physical and mental health, as well as his top tips on living healthier for longer.
You can follow Professor Galloway on X @DrRobgalloway
Click here for more about Newson Health.
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Tuesday Dec 17, 2024
287 - ADHD and perimenopause: Sumi's story
Tuesday Dec 17, 2024
Tuesday Dec 17, 2024
On this week’s episode, Dr Sumi Rampling, a GP and Menopause Specialist who works alongside Dr Louise at Newson Health, shares her personal story of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Diagnosed in early adulthood, Dr Sumi talks openly about the challenges of her ADHD diagnosis, as well as the impact that hormone changes, including perimenopause, can have on women with ADHD.
She talks about the determination her condition has given her, and also offers advice for women navigating hormone changes and ADHD.
Download balance’s ADHD and menopause booklet here.
Click here for more about Newson Health.