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
Seen a lot of early menopause this week especially in my NHS Menopause session. It’s good some woman are seeking help and/or being referred. I wish they were counselled before operations are done, more than often they are not. Awareness is key.
EARLY MENOPAUSE is defined as menopause between the ages 40- 44 years and affects 12% of women globally.
SURGERY IS INCLUDED IN A RISK FACTOR FOR EARLY MENOPAUSE:
Bilateral oophorectomy (both ovaries removed) in premenopausal individuals
will induce surgical menopause.
Unilateral oophorectomy (one ovary removed) is also associated with a younger age at menopause, on average 1.8 years younger compared with people with intact ovaries.
Hysterectomy (womb only removed) is associated with menopause 1.9 years earlier than in women who do not have this procedure. So having your ovaries left does not delay menopause.
This should be discussed with women pre surgery so counselling and planning can take place. Sadly, this is seldom the case. Of course there can be many reasons for surgery and benefits may outweigh risks depending on the individual.
The authors suggest, early menopause should be considered on the spectrum between premature ovarian sufficiency and menopause at the average age.
The mechanisms underlying
spontaneous early menopause and premature ovarian insufficiency are poorly understood. This paper highlights the need for more attention for early menopause and more research.
#earlymenopause #preopcounselling #poi #menopause #ovarysurgery #gynaecology #counselling #awareness #surgicalmenopause
Seen a lot of early menopause this week especially in my NHS Menopause session. It’s good some woman are seeking help and/or being referred. I wish they were counselled before operations are done, more than often they are not. Awareness is key.
EARLY MENOPAUSE is defined as menopause between the ages 40- 44 years and affects 12% of women globally.
SURGERY IS INCLUDED IN A RISK FACTOR FOR EARLY MENOPAUSE:
Bilateral oophorectomy (both ovaries removed) in premenopausal individuals
will induce surgical menopause.
Unilateral oophorectomy (one ovary removed) is also associated with a younger age at menopause, on average 1.8 years younger compared with people with intact ovaries.
Hysterectomy (womb only removed) is associated with menopause 1.9 years earlier than in women who do not have this procedure. So having your ovaries left does not delay menopause.
This should be discussed with women pre surgery so counselling and planning can take place. Sadly, this is seldom the case. Of course there can be many reasons for surgery and benefits may outweigh risks depending on the individual.
The authors suggest, early menopause should be considered on the spectrum between premature ovarian sufficiency and menopause at the average age.
The mechanisms underlying
spontaneous early menopause and premature ovarian insufficiency are poorly understood. This paper highlights the need for more attention for early menopause and more research.
#earlymenopause #preopcounselling #poi #menopause #ovarysurgery #gynaecology #counselling #awareness #surgicalmenopause
#feedback is always a fantastic motivator to continue working as hard and well as I can. I spend a lot of time educating and in clinic and hence get pushed to come on socials. Priorities! My aim is evidence based practice, with continuity and lifestyle holistic care. #wednesdaymotivation #doingmybest #patientfocused #womenshealth #generalpractitioner #privategp #nhsgp
#feedback is always a fantastic motivator to continue working as hard and well as I can. I spend a lot of time educating and in clinic and hence get pushed to come on socials. Priorities! My aim is evidence based practice, with continuity and lifestyle holistic care. #wednesdaymotivation #doingmybest #patientfocused #womenshealth #generalpractitioner #privategp #nhsgp
Have you had an Intrauterine Coil fitted?
Were you counselled for your anaesthetic options?
Or were you put off with concerns? Including pain?
If not, for some reassurance, training is now including anaesthetic options and things are changing to acknowledge the evidence we have that fitting is moderately/severely painful for 6 out of 10 women.
Many women use coils for contraception and/or endometrial protection. It is very reliable and effective.
As a Faculty Of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare Trainer and Coil fitter, I have always been an advocate for anaesthetic discussion and choice.
I’m at the Trainers Conference this morning and happy to see this being training and practice recommendation. Anaesthetic can be pain relief before attending, spray, cream or an injection into the cervix.
This varies with individual clinics and depends on lots of factors. The procedure can be uncomfortable and there should be choice of anaesthetic. If it cannot be provided, the Faculty says a referral elsewhere should be an option.
#intrauterinedevice #intrauterinesystem #coil #contraception #endometrialprotection
#procedurepain #womenshealth #womenshealthmatters #fsrh #anaesthesia #painrelief
Have you had an Intrauterine Coil fitted?
Were you counselled for your anaesthetic options?
Or were you put off with concerns? Including pain?
If not, for some reassurance, training is now including anaesthetic options and things are changing to acknowledge the evidence we have that fitting is moderately/severely painful for 6 out of 10 women.
Many women use coils for contraception and/or endometrial protection. It is very reliable and effective.
As a Faculty Of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare Trainer and Coil fitter, I have always been an advocate for anaesthetic discussion and choice.
I’m at the Trainers Conference this morning and happy to see this being training and practice recommendation. Anaesthetic can be pain relief before attending, spray, cream or an injection into the cervix.
This varies with individual clinics and depends on lots of factors. The procedure can be uncomfortable and there should be choice of anaesthetic. If it cannot be provided, the Faculty says a referral elsewhere should be an option.
#intrauterinedevice #intrauterinesystem #coil #contraception #endometrialprotection
#procedurepain #womenshealth #womenshealthmatters #fsrh #anaesthesia #painrelief
The fabulous launch of this campaign to increase bone health and osteoporosis awareness following in from the article in the @guardian recently. It’s reaching out to workplaces and stakeholders via Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace #giveyourbonesabreak campaign.
Here’s what I’d like to share with you all:
🦴 Bone mineral density starts to drop in women’s 30s and plummets between perimenopause and menopause. The result is muscle and bone loss over years.
🦴 The symptoms range from joint pain, inflammation, loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia), thinning or bones (osteopenia), osteoporosis and fractures.
🦴 Over 70% of women experience these symptoms and approximately 25% are disabled by them. This results in much, including loss of independence, income, health and mental wellbeing.
🦴 1 in 2 women over 50 will have a fracture and often this is the result of bone thinning and osteoporosis
🦴 nutritional balance of calcium and supplements Vitamin D can crucial
🦴 HRT can increase bone density by upto 7% over two years
🦴 weight bearing exercise can increase density by 3% in a year. This is crucial to improve global health and reduce cardiovascular risk.
What changes can you make? Stuck about where to start?
If you’re doing this and found an account helpful please share below for others.
Do tag, share and follow.
The speakers at the event are a great place to a start.
@menoscandal
@feelgoodwithlavina @henpickednet @menopausefriendly @menopause_dietitian
Dr Bill Robertson-Smith
#giveyourbonesabreak #bonehealth #boneloss #ageingwell #independentageing
The fabulous launch of this campaign to increase bone health and osteoporosis awareness following in from the article in the @guardian recently. It’s reaching out to workplaces and stakeholders via Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace #giveyourbonesabreak campaign.
Here’s what I’d like to share with you all:
🦴 Bone mineral density starts to drop in women’s 30s and plummets between perimenopause and menopause. The result is muscle and bone loss over years.
🦴 The symptoms range from joint pain, inflammation, loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia), thinning or bones (osteopenia), osteoporosis and fractures.
🦴 Over 70% of women experience these symptoms and approximately 25% are disabled by them. This results in much, including loss of independence, income, health and mental wellbeing.
🦴 1 in 2 women over 50 will have a fracture and often this is the result of bone thinning and osteoporosis
🦴 nutritional balance of calcium and supplements Vitamin D can crucial
🦴 HRT can increase bone density by upto 7% over two years
🦴 weight bearing exercise can increase density by 3% in a year. This is crucial to improve global health and reduce cardiovascular risk.
What changes can you make? Stuck about where to start?
If you’re doing this and found an account helpful please share below for others.
Do tag, share and follow.
The speakers at the event are a great place to a start.
@menoscandal
@feelgoodwithlavina @henpickednet @menopausefriendly @menopause_dietitian
Dr Bill Robertson-Smith
#giveyourbonesabreak #bonehealth #boneloss #ageingwell #independentageing
What a week for guidelines, leaders and updates - thank you to the British Menopause Society for reassuring us about safe individualised care for women.
If you are on a licensed dose + taking progesterone to protect your endometrial lining +
it is controlling your symptoms
= you do not need to panic/change/stop HRT.
The new NICE guidance is a update on the 2015 and emphasises HRT is first line for symptomatic women who want to or can take it and we desperately need to find more research for accurate evidence in many areas. It’s an utter shame, like many outcomes this week, that we are in this situation.
A guideline is a tool to guide, it’s not replacing like for like evidence based practice. Plus, individualised safe care from a health professional is good medical practice. We need both 👊🏼
All of these are accessible to all online.
#guidelines #britishmenopausesociety
#nice #bms #goodleaders #policymatters #womenshealthrights #womenshealthmatters #menopause
What a week for guidelines, leaders and updates - thank you to the British Menopause Society for reassuring us about safe individualised care for women.
If you are on a licensed dose + taking progesterone to protect your endometrial lining +
it is controlling your symptoms
= you do not need to panic/change/stop HRT.
The new NICE guidance is a update on the 2015 and emphasises HRT is first line for symptomatic women who want to or can take it and we desperately need to find more research for accurate evidence in many areas. It’s an utter shame, like many outcomes this week, that we are in this situation.
A guideline is a tool to guide, it’s not replacing like for like evidence based practice. Plus, individualised safe care from a health professional is good medical practice. We need both 👊🏼
All of these are accessible to all online.
#guidelines #britishmenopausesociety
#nice #bms #goodleaders #policymatters #womenshealthrights #womenshealthmatters #menopause
Thank you to @clairecohen1 @thetimes and @bbcradio4 for this wonderful series on #menopausematters . Do listen.
#primaryovarianinsufficiency is missed, under treated and has serious consequences for short term and long term health including loss of fertility, bone health, cardiovascular risk and cognitive health. This is complex and requires individual care and often the cause of #poi cannot be found.
Many health care professionals do not feel inadequately trained/equipped and specialised clinic waits are years. It’s a sad vicious cycle.
We need more research, awareness, understanding and care as this is a medical condition and not ‘natural menopause’ hence it should be actively treated.
Too many suffer in silence with lack of care or embarrassment and taboo. Especially, women of colour where there can be so many other complex misunderstandings.
Please seek help if this is affecting you and continue to until you get it.
For more information I’ll tag those I recall:
@thedaisynetwork @themenocharity @menopausematters @menopause_doctor @balancemenopause @harleystreetemporium @janemhdg @prematuremenopause14 @menoscandal
#prematureovarianinsufficiency #oestrogendeficiency #lackofhormone #poi #menopause #menopauseawareness
Thank you to @clairecohen1 @thetimes and @bbcradio4 for this wonderful series on #menopausematters . Do listen.
#primaryovarianinsufficiency is missed, under treated and has serious consequences for short term and long term health including loss of fertility, bone health, cardiovascular risk and cognitive health. This is complex and requires individual care and often the cause of #poi cannot be found.
Many health care professionals do not feel inadequately trained/equipped and specialised clinic waits are years. It’s a sad vicious cycle.
We need more research, awareness, understanding and care as this is a medical condition and not ‘natural menopause’ hence it should be actively treated.
Too many suffer in silence with lack of care or embarrassment and taboo. Especially, women of colour where there can be so many other complex misunderstandings.
Please seek help if this is affecting you and continue to until you get it.
For more information I’ll tag those I recall:
@thedaisynetwork @themenocharity @menopausematters @menopause_doctor @balancemenopause @harleystreetemporium @janemhdg @prematuremenopause14 @menoscandal
#prematureovarianinsufficiency #oestrogendeficiency #lackofhormone #poi #menopause #menopauseawareness
I’m so glad we are recognising and talking about musculoskeletal symptoms with hormone decline. This is common, causes inability and affects quality of life.
Women of colour often present with this and symptoms get misdiagnosed and menopause is missed.
I know I had body aches that made exercise and life hard - not so much now.
What about you? Would you like to know more?
For more details take a look at this pivotal paper by @drvondawright :
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39077777/
#musculoskeletalsyndromeofmenopause #jointpain #lossofbonedensity #bonehealth #skeletalhealth #osteoporosis #osteopenia #jointache #bodyache #proactivehealth #womenofcolour
I’m so glad we are recognising and talking about musculoskeletal symptoms with hormone decline. This is common, causes inability and affects quality of life.
Women of colour often present with this and symptoms get misdiagnosed and menopause is missed.
I know I had body aches that made exercise and life hard - not so much now.
What about you? Would you like to know more?
For more details take a look at this pivotal paper by @drvondawright :
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39077777/
#musculoskeletalsyndromeofmenopause #jointpain #lossofbonedensity #bonehealth #skeletalhealth #osteoporosis #osteopenia #jointache #bodyache #proactivehealth #womenofcolour
Happy Diwali 🪔 to you all! Sharing a bit of me today.
Are you familiar with Diwali?
🪔 It is the Hindu New Year and Festival of Light. It symbolises the victory of ‘good’ over ‘bad’, of ‘light’ over ‘darkness’, of ‘positivity’ over ‘negativity’…
This year I’m so glad to see there is so much more about it everywhere, even my work had a delicious Diwali lunch organised by Management (scroll) 😊 . Food is a big part of the celebration but so is prayers, dressing up, gifts, colours, fireworks… it can be enormous yet incredibly simple.
Around 10 years ago there was so little about Diwali around me… I used to go into my kids primary school every year and do a show-and-tell with divas, clothes, jewellery whilst telling the story of Rama & Sita being exiled and the battle with Ravana (scroll). I did it to increase awareness and normalise Hindu culture for our family. It made the kids nervous initially but then slowly proud of their heritage and culture. This is what’s so important about awareness and positivity, it’s slowly grows and what used to feel unusual is normalised. Ten years on I’m still doing the same! We need a lot of light 🕯️ in the world and I’m glad to have my small role to play to bring it forward! #strongertogether
To me, all festivals are special and a reason to get to know a bit more about others around us. Our ‘diversity’ makes us so unique. The next week is special and it’s precious to get together with friends/family and be grateful for the lights and colour that we have.
Lots of Diwali ❤️ from me to you all xx
#diwali #healthiswealth #happydiwali #festivaloflights #diwali2024 #diversity #gratitude #festivals #diwalivibes #diwalicelebration #happydiwali
✨❤️
Happy Diwali 🪔 to you all! Sharing a bit of me today.
Are you familiar with Diwali?
🪔 It is the Hindu New Year and Festival of Light. It symbolises the victory of ‘good’ over ‘bad’, of ‘light’ over ‘darkness’, of ‘positivity’ over ‘negativity’…
This year I’m so glad to see there is so much more about it everywhere, even my work had a delicious Diwali lunch organised by Management (scroll) 😊 . Food is a big part of the celebration but so is prayers, dressing up, gifts, colours, fireworks… it can be enormous yet incredibly simple.
Around 10 years ago there was so little about Diwali around me… I used to go into my kids primary school every year and do a show-and-tell with divas, clothes, jewellery whilst telling the story of Rama & Sita being exiled and the battle with Ravana (scroll). I did it to increase awareness and normalise Hindu culture for our family. It made the kids nervous initially but then slowly proud of their heritage and culture. This is what’s so important about awareness and positivity, it’s slowly grows and what used to feel unusual is normalised. Ten years on I’m still doing the same! We need a lot of light 🕯️ in the world and I’m glad to have my small role to play to bring it forward! #strongertogether
To me, all festivals are special and a reason to get to know a bit more about others around us. Our ‘diversity’ makes us so unique. The next week is special and it’s precious to get together with friends/family and be grateful for the lights and colour that we have.
Lots of Diwali ❤️ from me to you all xx
#diwali #healthiswealth #happydiwali #festivaloflights #diwali2024 #diversity #gratitude #festivals #diwalivibes #diwalicelebration #happydiwali
✨❤️
66% of osteoporosis sufferers are women…
1 in 2 women over 50 in the UK will get a fracture due to osteoporosis…
So glad to have contributed to this incredibly informative article that is just crucially important. Brilliantly written 👏 by @menoscandal @muirka .
Too many women are not offered HRT and given alternative drugs when it comes to osteoporosis.
Bone health is fundamental if long term health is to be maintained and we need to be #proactive with effective ways to protect our bones, including:
muscle building,
weight bearing exercise,
vitamin D, magnesium, calcium rich foods and
using HRT (menopause hormonal therapy #hrt ).
Read the piece, link above 👆🏼 to see how lifestyle choices +\- HRT can help your bones!
#bethechangeyouwanttosee #osteoporosis #osteopenia #bonehealth
@drgabriellelyon @menoscandal @humolivia1 @midlife.reallife @drvondawright Dr Bill Robertson-Smith
66% of osteoporosis sufferers are women…
1 in 2 women over 50 in the UK will get a fracture due to osteoporosis…
So glad to have contributed to this incredibly informative article that is just crucially important. Brilliantly written 👏 by @menoscandal @muirka .
Too many women are not offered HRT and given alternative drugs when it comes to osteoporosis.
Bone health is fundamental if long term health is to be maintained and we need to be #proactive with effective ways to protect our bones, including:
muscle building,
weight bearing exercise,
vitamin D, magnesium, calcium rich foods and
using HRT (menopause hormonal therapy #hrt ).
Read the piece, link above 👆🏼 to see how lifestyle choices +\- HRT can help your bones!
#bethechangeyouwanttosee #osteoporosis #osteopenia #bonehealth
@drgabriellelyon @menoscandal @humolivia1 @midlife.reallife @drvondawright Dr Bill Robertson-Smith
I’m an enormous advocate of time away from screens and social media for #wellbeing, #reconnection with loved ones and #selfcare . The last 6 months has been personally and professionally intense and I’m grateful for the opportunities but it’s time for a #detox. The world can be totally overwhelming when you are on social media too much. I’m going to spend the week focusing on #me outside work and promise I’ll be back with more to share. Take care and keep #beingkind to yourself and those around you ❤️ #digitaldetox #timeawayfromsocialmedia #beingme #lifeoutsidework #worklifebalance #lookup #offmyphone #eyesoffphone #socialconnection #familytime #tryasocialdetox
I’m an enormous advocate of time away from screens and social media for #wellbeing, #reconnection with loved ones and #selfcare . The last 6 months has been personally and professionally intense and I’m grateful for the opportunities but it’s time for a #detox. The world can be totally overwhelming when you are on social media too much. I’m going to spend the week focusing on #me outside work and promise I’ll be back with more to share. Take care and keep #beingkind to yourself and those around you ❤️ #digitaldetox #timeawayfromsocialmedia #beingme #lifeoutsidework #worklifebalance #lookup #offmyphone #eyesoffphone #socialconnection #familytime #tryasocialdetox
🌍 World Menopause Day 2024
What a long way we have come with increased awareness, moving onto training availability and menopause hormonal therapy (HRT) to inequalities. There is still a long way to go but today I want to thank all those who work in this arena to improve care and lives. Especially to the clinicians whom I see changing services and practice. The researchers trying to get more evidence out. The voices speaking out about their powerful stories. And to those reaching out. I want to continue to provide my small contribution to the jigsaw 🧩 and support @themenocharity moving forward. Every day is a menopause day but today the world 🌎 joins to recognise its importance! #worldmenopauseday2024
#wmd #menopauseawareness
🌍 World Menopause Day 2024
What a long way we have come with increased awareness, moving onto training availability and menopause hormonal therapy (HRT) to inequalities. There is still a long way to go but today I want to thank all those who work in this arena to improve care and lives. Especially to the clinicians whom I see changing services and practice. The researchers trying to get more evidence out. The voices speaking out about their powerful stories. And to those reaching out. I want to continue to provide my small contribution to the jigsaw 🧩 and support @themenocharity moving forward. Every day is a menopause day but today the world 🌎 joins to recognise its importance! #worldmenopauseday2024
#wmd #menopauseawareness
We all face challenges in life. Back injuries on top of hypermobility are some of mine, and the experience taught me a critical lesson: changes that seem small and unimportant at first will compound into remarkable results if you’re willing to stick with them for years.
We all deal with setbacks but in the long run, the quality of our lives often depends on the quality of our habits.
What habit could you change or introduce for better health? For me it’s mindfulness next!
#eatingwell
#movingwell
#livingwell
#mentallywell
#whatissarcopenia #musclestrength #musclemass #ageingwell
#muscle #buildingmuscle
We all face challenges in life. Back injuries on top of hypermobility are some of mine, and the experience taught me a critical lesson: changes that seem small and unimportant at first will compound into remarkable results if you’re willing to stick with them for years.
We all deal with setbacks but in the long run, the quality of our lives often depends on the quality of our habits.
What habit could you change or introduce for better health? For me it’s mindfulness next!
#eatingwell
#movingwell
#livingwell
#mentallywell
#whatissarcopenia #musclestrength #musclemass #ageingwell
#muscle #buildingmuscle
Dr Radhika Vohra supports: