Dr Louise Newson on how her tour aims to educate about menopause and hormones

Virgin Radio

27 Aug 2024, 11:11

GP and menopause specialist, Dr Louise Newson joined The Chris Evans Breakfast Show ahead of her 34-date UK tour, Hormones and Menopause – The Great Debate.

Her debut theatre tour will see Louise accompanied by comedian Anne Gildea, as she aims to educate and raise awareness about menopause and hormones, challenge misconceptions and advocate for better healthcare for women. 

Louise's knowledge allows women to make informed decisions about their health, whilst at the same time educating the rest of the family, including men. Saying that the tour is an opportunity to “dispel some myths” and “empower people,” the doctor told Chris: “It will be, like, two, two-and-a-half hours, with an interval and questions and answers as well. Then I'm going to do book signing after so people can have a little chat.”

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Dr. Newson’s book, The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause, was revised and updated in May. She explained: “We've updated. Lots of evidence that's been updated. We've got more patient stories. I've got a really important chapter about people who are disadvantaged. I've been trying to do quite a lot of work in prisons recently. Lots of people don't have a voice when it comes to hormonal changes, but looking at areas of inequality and that part is really important. There's quite a few people's stories through it, we've added more to that as well.” 

Louise was working as a GP where she recognised the misdiagnosis and neglect many women with menopause symptoms face. This motivated her to train as a menopause specialist. “Not everyone gets every symptom, but because our hormones affect every cell and every organ in our body, of course, it's going to affect us in different ways, and that's why it's difficult,” she said. “Because you can't just do a simple blood test to know, and that's why, if women have the knowledge, they can make the diagnosis and they can work out what treatment they want. 

“Suicide rate is seven times higher in this in the 40s. We're funding a PhD student at suicide prevention. And the stories I hear every day, that's what gets me up. You know, women that have ECT, lithium, a lot of them have ketamine infusions, yet no one thinks about hormones. Like, what are we doing?”

When Chris asked how much of a revolution this is in wellbeing, Louise replied: “I think it’s huge, but it's got the potential to really transform lives, reduce referrals to NHS. People that come to our clinic, before they come, 17 percent have been to their GP at least 10 times the last year, a year after, it's point-one percent, so if you just think of all the unnecessary appointments, unnecessary investigations, unnecessary treatments. We de-prescribe anti antidepressants, we de-prescribe painkillers once people are on hormones, and hormones are really cheap, as you know, and they're safe. So if it's thought about in the right way with the government, I'm on the government task force, there's a lot that we can do, and it's really gonna make people healthier and happier.” 

Louise founded the free award-winning ‘balance’ menopause support app and the balance-menopause website. She also hosts the Dr Louise Newson podcast, and her menopause education programme for healthcare professionals has been downloaded by over 30,000 clinicians globally.

She said: “I sort of live in this parallel world. Because what I don't want to do is think about all the good things I've done, because I'll slow down. So what I think about is all the things that I haven't done, and all the things I need to do, and I only need to look at my DMs every day, the stories I hear. And it's a global problem. It isn't a UK problem, so I don't want to be resting on my laurels.”

She added: “If I get to the stage where people who want to have hormones can have them easily, then that will be wonderful. I've been visiting prisons recently, and I've only met one woman who hasn't had a hormonal issue, but it's really hard for them to access.

Louise concluded: Nothing's too late. No one's too old, because these are natural hormones. We know even low doses can help bone strength. One in two women have osteoporosis. The oldest person I've started HRT on was 90. For her 90th birthday, she came to the clinic. Six weeks later, she phoned and said, ‘Can I start testosterone now?’”

UK Tour: Hormones and Menopause – The Great Debate begins Friday 27th Sept. Tickets are available from nlp-ltd.com/dr-louise-newson.

For more great interviews listen to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.