The Dr Louise Newson Podcast

032 - Taking HRT Forever - Ann Newson & Dr Louise Newson

In this week's podcast, Dr Louise Newson has an open discussion with her mother, Ann Newson, about her personal views regarding taking HRT. Over 30 years ago, Ann was experiencing symptoms of severe fatigue which were negatively affecting her ability at work, prompting her GP to give her a prescription for HRT. Ann was then told that she was going through “The Change” but had no idea what that meant! The menopause was never spoken about at that time and she was given no information about it. However, taking HRT gave Ann her life back and her energy levels vastly improved. Fast forward to today and Ann is delighted to have learnt so much about the menopause from her daughter, Louise. In this episode, Ann also explains how many of her friends have developed breast cancer over the years despite none of them taking HRT. She strongly feels that women should be given a choice regarding hormone therapy and how she plans to stay on her HRT forever! 

Ann Newson's Three Take Home Tips:

1. Carry on! If you're happy with your HRT then you don't have to stop taking it
2. If you are feeling low, don't think that you're not menopausal just because you aren't experiencing hot flushes and night sweats.
3. Don't be frightened of HRT, it can be life-changing!

031 - Pelvic Floor Health - Jane Simpson & Dr Louise Newson

This week, Dr Newson is joined by Jane Simpson, a continence nurse specialist who works from The London Clinic in Harley Street. 

In this episode, Jane and Dr Newson discuss all aspects of pelvic floor health relating to the menopause, including stress incontinence, an overactive bladder (key in the door syndrome!), vaginal dryness/atrophy, pelvic organ prolapse, constipation and the bowels and last but not least the pelvic floor and how menopause can affect our sex lives. 

You can find Jane at www.thepelvicfloorbible.com and on Instagram @jane_thepelvicfloorbible.

Jane's Three Take Home Tips for pelvic Floor Health:

1. Make sure you are exercising the correct muscles
2. Once you're sure that you are, make sure you do it regularly
3. If you are unsure or think there could be a problem, then please seek help!

 

030 - Early Menopause and POI - Dr Sarah Ball and Dr Louise Newson

In this week's podcast, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Dr Sarah Ball, a GP with a special interest in the menopause. Together, they talk all about early menopause and Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) which affects women under 45 years. In the UK, around one in 100 women under 40 experience an early menopause yet many of these women are not diagnosed nor do they receive evidence-based advice and treatment. It is essential that these women receive replacement hormones at least until the age of 51 (the average age of the menopause) unless there are medical contra-indications to taking hormones. Dr Newson and Dr Ball discuss the health risks of untreated early menopause and POI and also the different ways in which women can receive individualised help and treatment. 

Dr Sarah Ball's Three Take Home Tips:

1. Early menopause is a different experience - it is essential to replace your hormones
2. Your fertility still does need to be considered
3. Don't feel isolated! Find some support, there are others out there experiencing the same thing.

Click here to watch Dr Louise Newson discuss early menopause and POI.

029 - Life after Breast Cancer - Kirsty Lang and Dr Louise Newson

In this week's podcast, Dr Louise Newson is speaking to journalist Kirsty Lang about her experience with Breast Cancer and how life has been since her recovery. Together, they discuss the treatment that Kirsty received and the side-effects that she experienced from some of the medication, particularly those that blocked the effects of estrogen in her body. Kirsty talks openly about her menopausal symptoms relating to vaginal dryness and reduced libido and Dr Newson explains the effective treatment options available for these symptoms. They also talk about the differences between information given to men who have prostate cancer and women who have breast cancer. Men are usually given far more information than women, especially regarding the sexual problems that can arise during cancer treatment, and clearly this needs to change. 

Click here to listen to Kirsty Lang talk about breast cancer in Liz Earle's weekly podcast.

Kirsty's Three Take Home Tips for dealing with menopause after cancer:

1. Try local vaginal oestrogen for vaginal dryness
2. If you are struggling massively, go to your GP/surgeon/oncologist and don't be afraid to ask for help
3. Don't feel like you have to struggle just because you've survived breast cancer. It's not true, there is help out there for you!

028 - Menopause and Friendship - Kate Parr & Dr Louise Newson

In this week's podcast, Dr Louise Newson is talking with one of her closest friends, Kate Parr, about her reasons for setting up Newson Health Menopause and Wellbeing Centre. Kate encouraged Dr Newson to start educating women about the perimenopause and menopause by hosting a lunch in her house a few years ago, to which many of their friends were invited. Both ladies were really surprised with how eager women were to learn about menopause and how little they knew about something that they will all experience. This inspired Louise to continue to educate and empower women with the right knowledge, so that they can make evidence-based decisions regarding their future health during their menopause. In this episode, Louise and Kate also discuss why talking about menopause to our friends and families is so important. 

Kate Parr's Three Take Home Tips:

1. Be informed! Find out everything you can about the menopause, from reliable sources.
2. Talk to your girlfriends and support each other.
3. Mothers - talk to your sons and daughters about how you are feeling. Educate them so that, in the future, they know what to expect and know that it's okay to talk about it.

027 - Menopause and the Skin - Dr Sajjad Rajpar and Dr Louise Newson

In this week's podcast, Dr Louise Newson is talking to leading consultant dermatologist Dr Sajjad Rajpar. Together, they discuss all about the skin and how it can change during the perimenopause and menopause. The low hormone levels that occur during the perimenopause and menopause often have a negative effect on the collagen in the skin, which can lead to changes in appearance and elasticity. As well as this, skin concerns such as dryness and acne are a common occurrence during this time of our lives. Dr Newson and Dr Rajpar also discuss HRT and the effectiveness of giving oestrogen through the skin as a patch or gel.

More information about Dr Rajpar, including his serum, is available here: https://belgraviadermatology.co.uk/ 

Dr Rajpar's Three Take Home Tips for Healthy Skin:

1. Avoid soap and use gentle cleanser, moisturise twice daily.
2. Be sensible with the sun - wear factor 50.
3. Stop smoking! Nicotine can have a very negative effect on your skin.

026 - Surgical Menopause - Dr Rebecca Lewis & Dr Louise Newson

In this week's episode, Dr Louise Newson chats to her good friend, Dr Rebecca Lewis, who is also a clinical director at Newson Health Menopause and Wellbeing Centre. Together they discuss surgical menopause. Surgical menopause can often be very different to a natural menopause because it happens very suddenly. Women who have their ovaries removed during an operation are plunged into the menopause straight away. In addition, women who have a hysterectomy without their ovaries being removed still have a higher risk of an early menopause. Dr Newson and Dr Lewis discuss the most effective ways of treating surgical menopause.

Dr Lewis' Three Take Home Tips:

1. Think about menopause before your surgery - be aware of the symptoms you may experience.
2. Discuss HRT with your surgeon before surgery.
3. Have a solution and treatment plan in place before the operation.

025 - Missing my Perimenopause - Katie Taylor & Dr Louise Newson

In this week's episode, Dr Newson chats to Katie Taylor. From the age of 43 Katie suffered for four years with debilitating perimenopausal symptoms, which had been misdiagnosed as depression by her doctor.   It was only when her father, a breast cancer professor, suggested that he thought her symptoms were more likely to be hormonal, did she finally get the right diagnosis from her gynaecologist. Within a month of being on the right treatment (HRT) and off the antidepressants, she felt like her old self again.  

It was her anger and frustration at having wasted so many years of precious life, that led her to set up an online virtual coffee shop: The Latte Lounge (Top Tips For Women Over 40), to share her experience with others. Katie and Dr Newson discuss how commonly women are misdiagnosed and then are not receiving the right treatment for their symptoms. 

www.lattelounge.co  

Katie Taylor's Three Take Home Tips:

1. Print off this symptom checklist and the NICE menopause guidelines and go to your doctor feeling empowered and armed with information.
2. Know that HRT should be the first-line treatment, not just anti-depressants.
3. Remember you're not alone! Join the Latte Lounge or Menopause Support and talk to like-minded women.

024 - Menopause & West Midlands Police - Yvonne Bruton & Dr Louise Newson

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson chats to Yvonne Bruton, a chief inspector at West Midlands Police who currently heads up the Violence Reduction Unit. Yvonne is also the chair of her Women in Policing association. Dr Newson and Yvonne have worked closely in the past and shared a journey over the last few years; Dr Newson has shared her passion and expertise and Yvonne has shared the problems that are experienced, not only by women in the workplace, but also by trying to design organisational responses to these within a challenging working environment! Policing is about improving people’s lives and protecting them from harm – but they need to look after the workforce to enable them to get out there and do that. Dr Newson has helped support and champion the work that West Midlands Police have been doing with menopause in the workplace and in this podcast they discuss Yvonne's inspirational work and how other organisation's can follow their lead. 

Yvonne's Three Take Home Tips for Menopause Support at Work:

1. Find someone to talk to - that could be a colleague experiencing similar problems or a peer support group.
2. Find an organisational advocate within your workplace.
3. Don't be afraid to make noise! 

023 - Menopause & the Pelvic Floor - Nicola Mulkeen & Dr Louise Newson

In this podcast, Dr Newson is speaking with Nicola Mulkeen, a very experienced and knowledgeable pelvic floor physiotherapist. Together they discuss what exactly the pelvic floor muscles are and what they do in our bodies. Nicola talks about the importance of regular pelvic floor exercises and how to perform them. Dr Newson also asks Nicola about different types of urinary incontinence and how women experiencing symptoms should be receiving the right help and treatment.

Find out more about Nicola here: https://www.newsonhealth.co.uk/holistic-therapies/physiotherapy

Nicola Mulkeen's Three Take Home Tips for Pelvic Floor Health:

1. Don't suffer in silence - get a referral from your GP if you have any concerns.
2. Prevention is better than reacting to symptoms once they occur, so it's always a good time to start thinking about your pelvic floor health.
3. Don't be embarrassed to talk about bladder and bowel problems or sexual health.