Can't ignore hormones Dr Sue Varma @menopause

Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

The hormones progesterone, estradiol and testosterone are all made in our brains. These hormones play important roles in how we think, feel and cope, yet they're so often left out of mental health care and completely ignored. On this week's podcast, psychiatrist Dr Sue Varma and I discuss why hormones need to be part of any proper mental health assessment, before reaching for a psychiatric label and the wrong treatment.

We also talk about the stigma around seeking help and share some practical tools accessing the right treatment and care.

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$Osteoperosis Paula Keats In this week’s podcast, Paula Keats who has been taking hormone treatments for 33 years shares how, despite several falls in recent years, she hasn’t broken any bones. It leads to an important discussion about osteoporosis, a condition that affects one in two menopausal women and can have a huge impact on mobility, independence and quality of life as women age. Too often, women are told to take calcium or vitamin D after a fracture has happened and no one thinks about hormone treatments. Yet hormone treatments are licensed to prevent osteoporosis and play a vital role in maintaining bone strength during menopause so should be considered for women who have had a fracture. Listen to the full conversation to hear more about hormones, bone health and ageing well 🎙️ E73 S3$

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