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Original poster

Newson Health and the menopause industry

386 replies

ArabellaScott · 30/09/2024 07:34

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8e5y4e83lo

Keeping an eye on this. Newson makes an awful lot of money out of HRT.

Dr Louise Newson looking at the camera - she has a jaw-length bob with a long fringe, which is a red/gold colour. She is wearing a patterned silk blouse and is wearing pink lipstick. She is wearing earphones as the shot was taken from a Zoom call. Behi...

Louise Newson: TV menopause doctor concerns probed by watchdog

Doctors and patients question the prescribing of high HRT doses by Dr Louise Newson and her clinics.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8e5y4e83lo

OP posts:
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23
Azaleah · 05/10/2024 16:27

AreYouMeOrWhat · 05/10/2024 13:31

A surprisingly "poor me" interview with Newson on the Daily Mail site:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-13926699/menopause-expert-Panorama-accused-Dr-Louise-Newson-overprescribing-HRT-dead-asylum.html

I think all parties would be better served if everyone involved put their considerable energies into more research into the best and safest remedies for menopausal symptoms, given that a lack of evidence or studies seems to be part of the problem.

The problem is that robust biological research is expensive and governments are not wiling to expend resources on that, so the giant pharmaceutical companies step in and even if they support genuine research the ones that get published won't go against their own products, right?

Azaleah · 05/10/2024 15:55

ArabellaScott · 05/10/2024 15:35

'After reviewing those papers I knew giving people HRT would make them feel better.
'It's not just that, it's all the health benefits – helping to reduce heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and dementia because it reduces inflammation. I remember thinking it was really transformative for women's health.'

This is not how a doctor or public educator should frame things. It's not cautious or neutral enough. It's far too sweeping and it sounds to me like she is still trying to sell a product, rather than listen to and advise and support women.

Show quote history

Not to mention that it's utterly arrogant to say that "after reviewing those papers I knew..." as if she was a scientist trained and educated in Biology to be able to review and know anything about physiology, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Original poster
ArabellaScott · 05/10/2024 15:35

AreYouMeOrWhat · 05/10/2024 13:31

A surprisingly "poor me" interview with Newson on the Daily Mail site:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-13926699/menopause-expert-Panorama-accused-Dr-Louise-Newson-overprescribing-HRT-dead-asylum.html

I think all parties would be better served if everyone involved put their considerable energies into more research into the best and safest remedies for menopausal symptoms, given that a lack of evidence or studies seems to be part of the problem.

'After reviewing those papers I knew giving people HRT would make them feel better.
'It's not just that, it's all the health benefits – helping to reduce heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and dementia because it reduces inflammation. I remember thinking it was really transformative for women's health.'

This is not how a doctor or public educator should frame things. It's not cautious or neutral enough. It's far too sweeping and it sounds to me like she is still trying to sell a product, rather than listen to and advise and support women.

OP posts:
Original poster
ArabellaScott · 05/10/2024 15:27

ApocalipstickNow · 05/10/2024 15:07

I will volunteer to come off HRT and try this, I don’t mind being a guinea pig here.

I’ll even forgo the alcohol if that helps.

Edited
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Excellent. I'll have the booze you don't want.

Bagsy I'm not in the control group. To be a proper longitudinal study we'll need to participate for a good long time, too.

OP posts:
ApocalipstickNow · 05/10/2024 15:07

ArabellaScott · 05/10/2024 08:20

Yes. IMO there's nothing HRT can fix that wouldn't be easily sorted by early retirement, free childcare, a driver, a PA, butler, gardener, therapist, opiate dealer, unlimited alcohol, private island, kittens, a lovely house, chef, and personal trainer team.

I will volunteer to come off HRT and try this, I don’t mind being a guinea pig here.

I’ll even forgo the alcohol if that helps.

Azaleah · 05/10/2024 13:51

@Angrymum22 I'm sorry to hear about your sis. It does put things into perspective. I don't know why I bother discussing menopause tbh. I suppose I just want to help, but in the end each woman is a different universe and all I can say is "Know thyself", no one can know one better than oneself, but it takes a lot of hard work, time and patience, and sometimes we don't have that. If a person is willing to do something that could cause them harm it's up to them. A doctor has a duty of care though. They should know better or change careers.

Azaleah · 05/10/2024 13:36

borntobequiet · 05/10/2024 08:28

Does this sound like the definition of a medication?

She’s pointing out that the formulation of the medication has changed for the better, not trying to define anything. Your point is unclear.

She should have said that transdermal HRT is SAFER than oral HRT. That doesn't mean that hormones are SAFE, like she said. And that's exactly the point: she is talking to women who might not have the necessary background to understand the difference. This is a marketing tactic to get people interested. Her team has marketeers who are not scientists and also legal advisors who can twist the narrative so she can keep saying these things. The BMS has decided that she is not doing her job properly. And I agree.

AreYouMeOrWhat · 05/10/2024 13:31

A surprisingly "poor me" interview with Newson on the Daily Mail site:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-13926699/menopause-expert-Panorama-accused-Dr-Louise-Newson-overprescribing-HRT-dead-asylum.html

I think all parties would be better served if everyone involved put their considerable energies into more research into the best and safest remedies for menopausal symptoms, given that a lack of evidence or studies seems to be part of the problem.

Menopause expert accused by BBC asks: do they want to see me dead?

Dr Louise Newson has spent the best part of a decade empowering British women to have greater understanding, choice and control over their treatment during ­menopause.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-13926699/menopause-expert-Panorama-accused-Dr-Louise-Newson-overprescribing-HRT-dead-asylum.html

WarriorN · 05/10/2024 12:28

Well, nowt a sunny beach disco can't solve imho (which I've just been to)

MrsJoanDanvers · 05/10/2024 09:58

ArabellaScott · 05/10/2024 08:20

Yes. IMO there's nothing HRT can fix that wouldn't be easily sorted by early retirement, free childcare, a driver, a PA, butler, gardener, therapist, opiate dealer, unlimited alcohol, private island, kittens, a lovely house, chef, and personal trainer team.

And yet those women still bang on about HRT!

borntobequiet · 05/10/2024 08:59

That’s the Skegness diet

Oops, silly me!

Whyherewego · 05/10/2024 08:54

Newson clinic have written to all patients to explain the dosing thing.
Interestingly they said that manufacturers recommended dose is based in very small cohort studies and didn't take into account absorption rates for gels etc. I have also heard elsewhere from respected medical professionals the issues around absorption rates varying (not in HRT context).
Full disclosure I have used newson clinic in the past (now prescribed by GP) and I did find them helpful and I don't take over standard dosage!

AstonScrapingsNameChange · 05/10/2024 08:51

WarriorN · 05/10/2024 08:17

bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-13-23

Scarborough Fair diet

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme?

ApocalipstickNow · 05/10/2024 08:49

borntobequiet · 05/10/2024 08:29

Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s bracing.

Show quote history

That’s the Skegness diet

borntobequiet · 05/10/2024 08:29

GoldLameDarling · 05/10/2024 05:16

What's the Scarborough diet?

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Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s bracing.

borntobequiet · 05/10/2024 08:28

Does this sound like the definition of a medication?

She’s pointing out that the formulation of the medication has changed for the better, not trying to define anything. Your point is unclear.

WarriorN · 05/10/2024 08:25

Yep 😄

https://saveourbones.com/scarborough-fair-study-reconfirms-the-save-our-bones-program-diets-rich-in-fruits-vegetables-and-herbs-reduce-bone-turnover-helping-to-prevent-and-reverse-osteoporosis-and-osteopenia/

Foods included in the diet.

Matches with the whole "30 plants a week thing" if you're throwing a bunch of herbs into everything.

I am also very sorry to hear about your sister angrymum.

Original poster
ArabellaScott · 05/10/2024 08:20

Yes. IMO there's nothing HRT can fix that wouldn't be easily sorted by early retirement, free childcare, a driver, a PA, butler, gardener, therapist, opiate dealer, unlimited alcohol, private island, kittens, a lovely house, chef, and personal trainer team.

OP posts:
WarriorN · 05/10/2024 08:17

bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-13-23

Scarborough Fair diet

WarriorN · 05/10/2024 08:15

A lot of GPs don't seem to understand that peri is where a lot of the problems occur.

Completely agree. And in my experience stress makes the ups and downs worse.

Original poster
ArabellaScott · 05/10/2024 06:08

I'm very sorry to hear about your sister, Angrymum.

OP posts:
GoldLameDarling · 05/10/2024 05:29

KnottedTwine · 30/09/2024 22:57

I completely believe she’s a GP. with that attitude of “well if you really want it I’ll reluctantly prescribe but here’s a long list of all the reasons you shouldn’t” she couldn’t be anything else.

Sounds like my GP

GoldLameDarling · 05/10/2024 05:28

Blanketyre · 30/09/2024 22:52

Mindy Peltz fasting advice makes me laugh. The list starts with the totally doable 16.8 then is just...eat less...eat even less...eat barely anything...eat fuck all.

Yup

GoldLameDarling · 05/10/2024 05:20

Exactly!
It's an opt-in topic for GPs to choose to learn about.
Yet 50% of the population will be affected in some way and very likely seek medical advice due to the changes their bodies are going through.
It's insane.

Exactly this! 💯

GoldLameDarling · 05/10/2024 05:16

WarriorN · 30/09/2024 20:55

I think one of the things that is problematic with the messaging in the last few years, which I was fully on board with, is that it's possible to stave off dementia and bone density issues with exercise alone. And even build bone density.

It's just so very hard to find out how in my experience. It was the cancer exercise books that taught me the bits and bobs I needed. Then other strength advocates

It was also on mn where I read about the Scarborough diet for bone density (various herbs fruit and veg that have been shown to help.)

What's the Scarborough diet?