Meet Dr. Louise Newson: The Woman Breaking ALL those Menopause Myths
Dr. Louise Newson, often regarded as the go-to expert on menopause in the UK, is known for her relentless advocacy for women's health. Ahead of her highly anticipated Hormones & Menopause: The Great Debate tour, we had the chance to speak with Dr. Newson about the tour, which starts this Friday, her motivations, and what women can expect when they go to the show. Having followed her work, from podcasts to appearances with Davina McCall and Chris Evans, it was a privilege to meet this menopause celebrity and delve deeper into her groundbreaking mission.
This tour is a bit of a new venture. What inspired you to take the conversation around menopause on the road?
Actually, it wasn’t my idea! But it made perfect sense to me. I spend so much time imparting my knowledge through various mediums, and this tour is a new platform to reach even more people. I’ve also been delving into the history of menopause and hormones—what’s happened and why. I’ve been shocked and outraged by what I’ve discovered, and I want to share that with others.
It’s refreshing to see this conversation entering the mainstream. I’m 49, and among my friends, the menopause has become a big topic. Many have had horrible experiences at their GP, often being given antidepressants instead of the right hormonal treatment.
Yes, that’s sadly too common. Women have been neglected when it comes to hormone health, and many doctors are misinformed too. My hope is that this tour will help change that—educating women so they can make informed decisions about their health.
The tour is coming to Scotland, which is great! Was it important to you to reach all corners of the UK?
Definitely. It’s important to reach as many people as possible because the neglect and misinformation about menopause don’t respect geography—women everywhere are struggling to get the right care.
What can people expect from the tour?
I’ll be discussing hormones—what they are, what they do, and the history behind why women’s health has been so misunderstood. I’ll also unpick some of the persistent myths around menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
What are the most damaging myths that still need to be debunked?
The biggest myth is what menopause actually is, which I will be unpicking in the tour because too many people focus, incorrectly on the womb, periods and fertility but menopause affects the whole body. The other big myth that needs debunking is about HRT. So many women and doctors are scared of it for the wrong reasons and we need to change that conversation. I just want to give people all the information they need so that they can make their own choices. Choices that are right for them, their partner or their friend.
Why do you think there’s such resistance to HRT?
It comes down to misinformation and a lack of training. You’d think we would move on from the British Medical Journal article that caused all this misinformation around HRT. It’s not even relevant because it is not the type of HRT we even prescribe today. However, many doctors are still scared of hormone therapy just as much as women are, which leads to wrong treatments like antidepressants.
Mental health often gets overlooked when we talk about menopause. How can women better manage the emotional challenges that come with it?
The most important thing is to consider hormones first. Changing and low hormones can cause symptoms like anxiety and depression. Replacing what’s missing can vastly improve mental health.
In your experience, is there a standout story that highlights the importance of hormone treatment?
Yes, it’s always the mental health component. I’ve seen women who’ve been sectioned or had electroconvulsive therapy, lithium, and antipsychotics prescribed but never had their hormones checked. I had a patient early on who had written a suicide note when I first met her. Thankfully, after starting HRT, her life was transformed. Sadly, there are so many stories like this. New figures just out show the highest suicide rates for women in their late forties and early fifties so this is most important to me - looking at the mental health component with hormone therapy in mind.
Is there an ideal age to start preparing for menopause?
It varies. Some women are menopausal in their teens due to conditions affecting their ovaries. Everyone needs to be aware of it for themselves and others.
What role can men play in supporting the women in their lives through menopause?
Men need to gain knowledge too. I hope a few will come to the tour! They can support women by learning and supporting them to get the right treatment. The workplace is also a critical area where we need to see more support. There is a lot of talking about it, and talking about it is good, but the next step is support and treatments.
And what’s next for menopause awareness and treatment?
Ideally, every woman who wants to take hormones should have easy access to them, with the right dose and type tailored to them. Unfortunately, that’s still not the case.
You’ve created such an impact—if you Google ‘menopause expert,’ you’re at the top of the list. That must feel like a lot of pressure. Do you ever get overwhelmed?
It can be a lot! But I’ve worked hard to make information free and accessible to as many people as possible through my Balance app, website, podcasts, and Instagram.
What do you hope to achieve with this tour?
I hope that women will walk away feeling empowered and invigorated. I also hope they feel a little bit cross—there’s a lot to be angry about when you learn how badly women’s health has been handled. But most of all, I want to continue building a community of women who can support themselves and each other.