WELCOME
Dr Radhika Vohra GP with 20+ years experience Based in Surrey
Specialises in:
General Practice, Women’s Health, Menopause, Adolescent Health, Contraception, Coils, and Implants
Qualifications and Accreditations:
MbChB, BMedSci, MRCGP Dist (2005), DFFP FRT, DCH
Qualified at University of Birmingham UK, GMC registered, Diplomate of Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Health, Member of British Menopause Society, Associate Member of International Menopause Society.
Speaker and Educator
Over 15 years experience
Mum of two teenagers
Realistic understanding of juggling life!
INTRODUCTION
Providing online access to Primary Care information including women's health.
Find out more about Dr Radhika Vohra and her work.
Dr Radhika Vohra is an evidence based prescriber, specialising in practising holistic medicine.
Lifestyle Medicine
Her approach is based on individual holistic care for the patient.
Evidence Based Prescriber
An advocate for good medical practice guidelines
Such a honour to be asked to give the lunchtime symposium at @cosrh_uk Annual Conference. I spoke about Cultural Inequalities on a systemic and individual level in Contraception. There are challenges of funding cuts, fragmented patient pathways, access issues and biases. Alongside this we have increasing numbers of terminations with abortions at the highest recorded level since introduction of the Abortion Act, increasing use of non hormonal and natural methods and a change in how society wants to access information with social media use and misinformation. To make contraception equally accessible we have to be alert, holistic and patient centred. Resources such a language translated materials were shared with evidence of biases in ethnic and lower socioeconomic groups.
All this is 35 minutes to a room of experts and passionate clinicians in the field was nerve wrecking!? Really grateful for some incredible feedback from current and ex President of @cosrh_uk . I feel motivated to keep doing the work to raise awareness and educate 🧡 #womenshealthmatters #sexualhealth #reproductivehealth #contraception #womenshealth #portfoliogp #educator
#understandingmenopause talk @rsmprepschool today as part of increasing awareness as Medical Trustee to @themenocharity . Brilliant to hear how informative they found why menopause #matters, what #lifestyle changes can help and the role #hormonetherapy can have in short term and long term health.
📝 Approx 75% of teaching staff are female, roughly 57% fall into the 40–60 year bracket and ~2% work beyond 60. 📝 1 in 4 women consider leaving; 1 in 10 actually leave due to menopause.
We have to prepare earlier to look after our teaching staff so they can look after our coming generations.
We talked about how hard #midlife can feel in terms of #selfcare and even with awareness, often with timing restrictions, health #access issues and social #stigma, seeking help can be often difficult. Wouldn’t it be great to see more events like this? Glad to have had this opportunity to #giveback today.
#thankyouteachers
#menopauseinworkplace #menopause #womenshealth #midlife #teachers #school #makemenopausematter
#menopause UnderstandingMenopause talk today representing @themenocharity at @akdn Women’s Health Event.
For many of us, it’s the invisible 🫥 symptoms of menopause that are most debilitating. I shared my journey with #perimenopause #anxiety . Have you felt this? I hear you. Join the dots, complete a symptom tracker, write your questions and seek support.
@themenocharity we #inform , #educate and #represent to combat shame and taboo in menopause. It was a pleasure to be welcomed into the Aga Khan Ismaili Community at Jamatkhana Hounslow and thank you @hoodadoc and ashifatrivedi for organising and inviting me.
#menopause #womenshealth #perimenopause #hrt #hormonehealth #womenshealthmatters #bonehealth #midlife #menopauseawareness #menopausesupport #theismailiuk
Brilliant interactions today with a national group of primary care healthcare practitioners regarding the management of complex Menopause including diabetes. Did you know that the NICE Diabetes guidelines does not mention Menopause and the NICE Menopause guidelines do not mention Type 1 diabetes?
There is an enormous gap in guiding and supporting those with diabetes when experiencing menopause. But we know this is incredibly important due to the fact that fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone alter the cellular response to insulin which leads to unexpected spikes and falls in the blood sugar and makes diabetic control tricky. Alongside this, you get slowing of the metabolism, central fat red distribution and weight gain which increases insulin resistance.
My plea to the health professionals today is to recognise diabetes and Menopause are interconnected. One affects the control of the other.
As a patient you can track your cycle and symptoms and seek help. As a healthcare professional it’s important to recognise there’s limited evidence to work with but do offer a symptom Tracker and education particularly at diabetic reviews and it’s important to recognise that evidence supports hormonal replacement therapy should not be avoided in women with diabetes. Using HRT reduces the incident of diabetes after menopause, improves blood sugar (HbA1c levels) and increases insulin sensitivity.
We need to improve the quality of care for patients with diabetes when experiencing menopause.
#diabetes #menopause #womenshealth #complexmenopause
@davinamccall shared she has been diagnosed with #breastcancer . I am so sorry to hear this but her bravely sharing this is a red flag to all regarding the importance of:
#selfexamination
#breastscreening with #mammogram
#riskreducinglifestylechoices
#selfcare
CAPTION CORRECTION! Breast cancer affects 1 in 7 women!
I wish Davina a smooth treatment journey and the privacy to self care through this. She gives us a crucial opportunity to promote how important self examination, screening and seeking help is 🌟 #breastcancerawareness #breastcancersupport #selfcheck
#feedback is such a motivator to improvement and continuing to do what is evidence based medicine. This patients experience of a #coil fitting makes me glad to be a #trainer, offer a variety of #analgesia (coils should not be fitted without any pain relief being offered in this day and age) and look after my patients.
I hear of many who have terrible experiences with coil procedure, so please be empowered:
#choice
#painrelief
#aftercare
should be offered and can ask if not. I wish all could have a similar outcome.
#intrauterinecoil #contraception #coppercoil #progesteronecoil #coilfitting #sexualhealth #reproductivehealth
Today I had the opportunity of presenting to the Metabolic Bone Health team at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust to speak to them about how important hormone replacement therapy is for those with bone loss and risk factors such as #surgicalmenopause , #prematureovarianinsufficiency and #menopause . I shared our data on how few are on #hrt before fracture and even fewer are on it after fracture. This is data from 7 years of #fractureliasionservice .
From a tour of the department, to seeing a DEXA scan in action, ending with speaking to the radiographers and finishing with editting the reporting templates for DEXAs. It was a whirlwind of a day 😃
It’s staggering to think that despite the data that we have, there is no ring fenced funding for fracture liaison services and not all areas have them. This is a real disservice and needs to improve.
What we hope is that our work will be a starting point that for low to moderate risk female patients between the age of 45 to 60 the DEXA scan report will now highlight that hormone replacement therapy needs to be considered as an individualised first choice treatment once the risks and benefits have been balanced. This is currently not the case.
I’m excited to see how this work develops and we will continue to audit our outcomes. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if other trust followed suit and we could cascade this?
What’s been your experience of waiting for a DEXA scan appointment?
Are you aware if your area has a fracture liaison service available?
I think it’s without question that with an aging population and knowing the impact of mid age fracture has on independence and mobility that all areas should be funded to have the Services. Here we are building on this evidence @menoscandal @drbillbones
#bonehealth
#osteopenia #frax #osteoporosis #osteoporosisawareness #osteoporosisprevention #bones #musculoskeletalsyndromeofmenopause #menopause #menopauseboneloss
It was an honour to contribute my perspective as a GP & Trustee of @themenocharity to the vital NIHR Women GPs Thrive project.
General Practice is facing a major challenge. In the context of primary care, there is a colossal workload that often feels like we are firefighting on a daily basis. For women in particular, this is compounded by the pressures on them at home, hormonally and work. This makes it complex to achieve true equality and satisfaction.
“There is a colossal workload that feels like you’re firefighting on a daily basis.”
This is why the work led by @ruth_abrams_ @uniofsurrey and the whole team is so crucial. We must stop just managing the crisis and start investigating the conditions in which we can truly thrive.
I look forward to seeing the outcomes of this research, which aims to provide actionable, policy-oriented statements to improve the working lives of women in general practice.
Want to learn more or get involved?
* Read the full newsletter
* Join the launch webinar to discuss project findings (contact Victoria at [email protected])
Let’s work together to create a sustainable and equitable future for all GPs so we can continue to look after patients.
#WomenGPsThrive #NIHR #GeneralPractice #PrimaryCare #NHS #TheMenopauseCharity #WorkloadCrisis #HealthcareResearch #GPWellbeing
Do you find your joints ACHE more when it’s cold and damp?
You’re not imagining it! It is recognised! The chill and dampness really can make your joints stiff and sore. Here’s the science behind the weather-pain link and why movement is your best defense.
When the temperature drops and humidity rises, a few things happen:
1. Tissues expand:
The soft tissues and fluid around your joints can slightly expand, putting extra pressure on nerves, which translates to increased pain and stiffness.
2. Synovial fluid thickens:
The natural lubricating fluid in your joints (Synovial Fluid) becomes thicker and less effective in cold temperatures, making movement feel stiff and “grindy.”
3. The Hibernation Trap:
When it’s gloomy out, we naturally move less. Inactivity is the single biggest enemy of joint health, leading to weaker muscles, less lubrication, and more stiffness.
YOUR SOLUTION is the power of movement!
Your joints don’t like to be static, actually they thrive on motion! #motionislotion
Even when you’re sore, gentle exercise is a non-negotiable for relief and long-term joint health.
✅ Lubricates joints:
Movement pumps nutrient-rich synovial fluid throughout the joint, keeping the cartilage nourished and “oiled.”
✅ Strengthens support:
Strong muscles act like a natural brace, stabilising the joint and taking the stress off the bones.
✅ Fights inflammation:
Exercise improves circulation, which helps reduce swelling and inflammation.
We can #movesmarter in colder damper weather:
* Warm Up
* Layer Up
* Choose suitable impact
* Walking, yoga, swimming, dancing, Pilates, static cycling… are all options.
Don’t let the weather dictate your health. A little movement goes a long way! I’d love to hear any tips you have 👇🏼 or tag someone who this post could help 👇🏼
#jointhealth #bonehealth#movementforlife #coldweather #seasonalmovement #stayactive #exerciseforhealth #exerciseforsanity #wellness
Exciting news with a few more patch options for dose coming out! Limited information atm on when this will be available to dispense but nonetheless more choice particularly for those needing a dose between 25mcg and 50mcg and/or staying on #hrt longer as it’s good for them! What do you think? 👇🏼
#individualisedcare #menopause #perimenopause #hrt #patches . Pic from British Menopause Society Alert for members.
Did you know the way your body handles alcohol changes dramatically from your 20s to your 70s? I’ve certainly noticed a difference in what and how much I tolerate. Alcohol is the most widely misused substance and as we approach the festive season I thought this would be good to share 👇🏼
🍷 In Your 20s & 30s: Heavy drinking or bingeing can contribute to long-term health risks (like certain cancers) and may accelerate biological aging. Your body is still robust, but the cumulative damage starts here!
🍸 In Your 40s & 50s: Your metabolism slows down. Alcohol tolerance often decreases, meaning you can feel the effects more strongly. Hangovers may be more severe and recovery takes longer. Risks of conditions like fatty liver disease and effects on mental health and sleep become more pronounced. Add in the fluctuating hormones of #perimenopause and many of us will see change in tolerance with #menopause .
🥃 In Your 60s & 70s: Older adults are generally more sensitive to alcohol due to reduced body water and slower processing by the liver. Even small amounts can increase the risk of falls, fractures, and dangerous interactions with common medications. Alcoholism symptoms can also mimic signs of dementia, making diagnosis harder.
Depending on your experience, current age and health your risks are individual to you.
What we are learning more and more is that #moderation is key, and less is often best as you age. Swipe to see the weekly recommendations. Plus, caution with your alcohol free alternative as it maybe full of artificial sweeteners or sugar. It’s all about sensible balance and individualised care.
#alcoholandageing #alcohol #alcoholmoderation #healthyliving #lessismore #seasonalcelebrations #alcoholfreeliving #alcoholawareness
The emergency contraception pill will be available free from almost 10,000 pharmacies across England without needing to see their GP or get an appointment at a sexual health clinic. This is part of the NHS 10 year Health Plan and commitment to shift care into the heart of communities. It creates scope for access, affordability and potential appointments that can be used by others. However, like all initiatives it risks an element of missed vulnerability and how to gain further support if cause for concern.
Estimates from public health England say every £1 spent on contraception save the health service £11 so investment in sexual health is really important. Termination rates are at the highest since the Abortion Act was introduced.
Pharmacists are incredibly valuable to the health service and bring many skills. The ones I know, feel pushed with the workload that they are being given so it’s important they feel supported and safe.
In my opinion, there should be considered an addition rather than a replacement and has scope to serve well for those that need it.
The #morningafterpill has been free at pharmacies in Scotland, Wales and in the Republic of Ireland. So, England is playing catch-up!
Tag, share and comment 👇🏼 #womenshealth #morningafterpill #emergencycontraception #pharmacists #community #access #contraception #choice
Dr Radhika Vohra supports: