Talking to my daughter: understanding hormones, contraception, PMS & the gaps in sex ed

"I remember saying to you, do people actually go to work like this? Do they just carry on with normal life? Surely you take two days off and just lie in bed. I just couldn’t comprehend that this was normal, and that women are expected to just live like this." This week, Dr. Louise Newson is joined by her daughter, Sophie Anderson, a student at King’s College London, for an honest and insightful conversation about contraception, hormones, and the significant gaps in sex education. Sophie shares both her own experiences and those of her peers, highlighting how many young women use birth control not just to prevent pregnancy but also to manage symptoms of PMS, heavy periods, and acne. Dr Newson discusses the lack of education around the differences between natural and synthetic hormones, explaining how this knowledge gap leaves many young people feeling frustrated and unsupported. Together, they examine how PMS is so widely normalised that many young women come to expect low moods, fatigue, and pain as simply part of life. This candid mother-daughter conversation calls for a more personalised and informed approach to hormonal health. If sex education only teaches how to avoid pregnancy but fails to explain how hormones actually work, are we truly preparing young people to make informed choices? 00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - Contraception among young women 03:30 - Hormonal education 08:25 - Natural vs synthetic hormones 13:20 - Mental health and contraception 14:48 - Types of oestrogen 20:29 - Education on social media 23:19 - Understanding risks 28:00 - Quality of life 31:12 - Take home tips We hope you're loving the new series! Share your thoughts with us on the feedback form here and if you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to leave a 5-star ⭐️ rating on your podcast platform. DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr Louise Newson or the Newson Health Group. Email dlnpodcast@borkowski.co.uk for any media enquiries. LET'S CONNECT Website 👉 www.drlouisenewson.co.uk Instagram 👉 www.instagram.com/drlouisenewsonpodcast LinkedIn 👉 https://uk.linkedin.com/in/drlouisenewson Spotify 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/7dCctfyI9bODGDaFnjfKhg Apple 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-dr-louise-newson-podcast/id1459614845 LEARN MORE Sign up to my Menopause Masterclass 👉 https://newson-health.teachable.com/p/dr-louise-newson-menopause-masterclass Sign up for my Confidence in Menopause Course 👉 https://newson-health.teachable.com/p/confidence-in-the-menopause Sign up to my Upcoming Webinar 👉 https://newsonwebinars.com/agenda/