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
Short answer is YES you have options! 😊 Here is the answer from the British Menopause Society:
“If HRT is to be used in women over 60 years of age, lower doses should be started, preferably with a transdermal route of estradiol administration. Evidence from the Cochrane data-analysis as well as that from the long-term follow-up data of the WHI showed no increase in cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality or all-cause mortality in women who initiated HRT more than 10 years after the menopause”.
Of course, individualised share discussion and assessment is crucial.
https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bms-whcs-2020-recommendations-on-hormone-replacement-therapy-in-menopausal-women/
#hrt #womenover60 #menopause #menopausehelp #hormonereplacementtherapy
Is it ADHD, menopause, or both? For many of my patients, ADHD and menopause are not separate; these two worlds collide in a way that can feel completely overwhelming.
This paper “Pharmacological Management of ADHD in Women Across Perimenopause, Menopause and Post-Menopause” just got published in Drugs & Ageing and it’s an important piece of research.
The review by Wynchank et al. highlights that the drop in oestrogen during perimenopause and menopause can significantly worsen ADHD symptoms. Oestrogen is closely linked to dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for focus and motivation. When oestrogen levels fluctuate and fall, ADHD symptoms often flare up, making even simple tasks feel impossible.
There is no “one size fits all”. Your treatment needs to be as unique as your hormone profile. The researchers suggest for many:
💊COMBINATION THERAPY:
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can help stabilise the oestrogen drop, while ADHD medications may address the core executive function challenges.
📝 REGULAR MONITORING: Because hormones change rapidly during perimenopause, your medication dosage might need regular tweaking to stay effective.
🧡 BIOLOGICAL SHIFT: midlife diagnosisor management of ADHD can feel challenging during menopause. You are not imagining it and this is a complex biological shift.
👩⚕️ MY ADVICE:
1. Track Your Cycle/Symptoms: Notice if your focus dips at certain times of the month or your symptoms increase.
2. Advocate for Yourself: Bring this research to your GP or specialist. Ask the questions.
3. Be Kind to Yourself: keep your lifestyle neat as you can.
This is a important conversation to get going. In 1996 I did a BSc in Behavioural Sciences and my research focused on the impact of child ADHD diagnosis on maternal mental health. How things full circle. This is so important to understand into midlife and menopause.
Have you noticed your ADHD changing with your hormones? 👇
Tag, like and share.
#ADHD #menopause #perimenopause #womenshealth #neurodiversity
They say music is what feelings sound like. 🎶
Few songs carry the weight of nostalgia quite like @robbiewilliams “Angels.” Watching the original co-writer & composer @guyachambers perform it at @westdeancollege was magical. I felt I had to share it!
This melody defined my medical school years and continues to add more meaning as I change. No matter where it is played, it brings people together! For me it floods back the blur of late-night study sessions, the adrenaline of being out, lifelong friendships, loss and grief. It’s incredible how four minutes of music can bridge the gap between the student I was then and the person I am now.
What chapter of your life does this song belong to? 👇
#musicnostalgia #memories #angels #medicalschoollife #midlifenostalgia
As a GP and coil fitter, I see firsthand how vital it is for patients to feel truly heard and to truly understand what is happening with their bodies.
Informed choice should be more than a buzzword; it’s the cornerstone of everything.
I am so incredibly happy to share that the Mirena patient leaflet is now available in 10 languages!
🌍
🤝True Informed Choice:You cannot give informed consent if you don’t fully grasp the benefits and risks. Having this data in a patient’s native tongue ensures they are the pilot of their own intrauterine journey.
🤲Breaking Barriers:Language should never be an obstacle to high-quality reproductive care. By being “inclusive”, we move away from a “one size fits all” approach and toward a service that respects cultural and linguistic diversity. 🫶Building Equity:Truly this means meeting people where they are. These translations help bridge the gap for many of my patients who have previously felt sidelined by the healthcare system.
📚 Swipe to see the list and some examples!
👍My mission as an educator is to strip away the jargon and the barriers. Whether you’re a fellow clinician or a patient, these resources are here to ensure that the “gold standard” of care is accessible to everyone, regardless of the language they speak at home. They are accessible to all and during counselling, patients can be sent a link. Hopefully more languages to come in future. Like, share and tag!
Link to download the leaflets - https://www.mirena.co.uk/resources?utm_content=Visit_here&utm_campaign=PP-MIR-GB-0169_Mirena_Multilingual_leaflets_NL&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_source=SFMC
#healthequity #Mirena #coilfitting #informedchoice #womenshealth
I’m sharing this post as I got several messages about #migraines and #hrt . Please take #individualised care as migraines can fluctuate so much for each person. Shout out the fabulous @migrainedoc and @national_migraine_centre for the incredible work they do. I often direct patients to their literature, website and service as they are incredible. If you’re affected, please take a look and share! #wednesdaywisdom #perimenopause
There has been much talk about the impact of hormonal changed during the menopause on mental health. This is real and a very much needed discussion. I was sent this message this morning from a colleague who had seen a patient who had struggled mentally and physically for eight years. She was frustrated as this women has educated herself, sought help and reached out. This is not uncommon and grossly unacceptable.
Women of colour struggle to get help with menopause due to stigma, lack of awareness and biases. This is an example of medical bias where this patient should not have been told to just eat more soya. She should have been offered choice and she has struggled. I see this so often 😔 and today I share.
Actually at 50, which is the average age of menopause for 51% of the population, doing a symptom tracker and sharing evidence space medicine would have probably made her very suitable for HRT and may have helped her immensely. She could have done the soya as well?! We hear and see so much brushing off of women’s needs when seeking medical help - I have been there too.
Can you relate?
Empowering individuals to revisit the advice they may have been given the past and to look forward with what we know now is the reason I do my role with @themenocharity , menopause clinic and education. We all need to work together to improve things:
1 - getting facts based information out
2 - empowering marginalised groups
3 - auditing previous decisions and managements in line with practice change
4 - instigating change now as it’s never too late to incorporate lifestyle advice but also consider treatment for the right patients.
5 - LISTEN!
Shared with consent.
#menopause #womenofcolour #medicalbias #womenshealth
Today I went to #hysteroscopy clinic to learn and observe with a wonderful Gynaecologist leading a daily service. There is so much negativity about this that it can be frightening and hence I wanted to share what I saw.
Primarily they are seeing #postmenopausebleeding which is common. It can just happen but the risk factors include polycystic ovaries, diabetes, obesity and using hormone therapy.
What I really took away from this is:
•choice was offered 👍
•anaesthetic as cervical block and entonox was offered 💉
•findings were shared and clinical plans were formed with informed decision making 💬
•if biopsies or polyps were removed - this was explained 🩸
•a nurse was there to provide a hand 🤝
•women were given privacy and time to recover with a drink and biscuit 🍪
•written results were shared with leaflets for what may happen next 📝
There can be many reasons for needing a hysteroscopy, such as fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis or endometrial change. It really is a test that can make a diagnosis, offer treatment and reassurance.
I appreciate not every service is like this and it can be a lottery. However, this was an exceptional clinic and service and well done to the team. I learnt a lot and i seriously recommend more health care professionals sitting in specialist hysteroscopy clinics to learn more so we can counsel, reassure and explain the process.
Experiences can differ so much, don’t you agree? 👇 #gynaecologyclinic #hysteroscopyprocedure #menopause
Fabulous to celebrate, educate and inspire with the invited guests by Mr Speaker for Women’s History Month at his Apartment in Parliament. We met incredible charities, celebrities, sports personalities and figures. I was with members of the Clinical Advisory Panel @themenocharity . Thank you to @drrachelhines @bushraeffendi @drsarahjarvis .
Incredible to connect with inspiring rich and diverse stories and histories. We left feeling empowered and hopeful. Right now that’s a must.
#menopause #womenshealth #womenshistorymonth #letsnotforget #internationalwomensday
The 6 S’s of #lifestylemedicine are crucial for #midlife hormone support as although #hrt can help to truly thrive, we need to look at the foundation.
I like to use the 6 S’s as a simple checklist to support our hormone health and long-term wellbeing:
🍽️ SUSTENANCE – It isn’t just about what we eat, but how we eat. Focus on nourishing, anti-inflammatory whole foods that steady our blood sugar and fuel our energy.
😴 SLEEP – Both quality and quantity are non-negotiable. Our bodies repair and our hormones recalibrate while we rest. Prioritise your wind-down routine!
🧘 STRESS – Midlife can be a juggle. Whether it’s mindfulness, meditation, or simple breathwork, finding small pockets of calm helps lower cortisol and support our endocrine system.
💪 STRENGTH – We lose muscle mass as oestrogen levels drop. You don’t need a fancy gym—squats while the kettle boils or lifting hand weights at home makes a huge difference for bone density and metabolism.
👯 SOCIAL CONNECTION – We are social beings! Meaningful catchups and community support are proven to lower stress and boost our “feel-good” hormones. Reach out to a friend today.
☀️ SUNLIGHT – Our circadian rhythm and Vitamin D levels depend on it. Aim for a little morning light to set your mood and your internal clock for the day ahead.
Remember, lifestyle medicine works alongside medical treatment to help us feel our best. I’m doing this and finding small, consistent changes lead to big results. What would you like to know more about?
#menopause #lifestylemedicine
Pushing myself outside my comfort zone again today by recording educational material for healthcare professionals on inequalities and contraception services.
Despite having a wide array of contraception options, the challenges of access, commissioning, myths and changes are leading to results that have been unprecedented. Stories range from patients struggling for months to have a coil to myths that contraception will lead to infertility.
2022 had the highest number of abortions (251,377) since the abortion act was introduced in 1968 and this was an increase of 17% on the previous year.
There is lots of data to show that those accessing termination services have self report using fewer effective methods of contraception and increased fertility awareness based methods. Furthermore the crude abortion rate for those under 18 was declining since 2012 and it rose in 2022 the rate for those 35 or over steadily increased since 2012.
Contraception choice and reproductive empowerment is something that is so valuable: today’s about recognising the healthcare inequalities as well as the inequalities patient’s face. Being unable to access longer acting methods due to a lack of training or services is not acceptable and something the women’s health strategy aimed to address but sadly the situation is getting worse.
My hope is today provides health care professionals with data, material and a call to action that ‘if we don’t do it, Tik Tok will’
#contraception #inequalities #womenshealth #sexualhealth #contraceptionchoices
My eldest turns 18 this weekend! Eighteen years ago, I held him for the first time, and my world shifted. But as a doctor in women’s health, my world is also filled with the stories of women: their resilience, their struggles for autonomy, and the systemic biases they face every day.
People often ask how being a women’s health advocate shapes how I raise a son. The answer is simple: I want him to be the antidote to the biases I see in my clinic.
My message to my son at 18: In a world that might tell you to be ‘tough’ instead of ‘tender’, I hope you choose empathy. In a world where women are still fighting for 100% of their rights, I hope you are the first to stand beside them.
Being a man in 2026 isn’t about power; it’s about the courage to be vulnerable and the strength to ensure others are heard. Happy Birthday. I am so proud of the man you’ve become. 🩺💙
📸 Moonwalkers at Lightroom
#18th #womenshealth #raisingboys #genderequality #motherhood
Really grateful for “Autistic Menopause”giving crucial insights for supporting autistic individuals going through menopause. It’s a powerful reminder that healthcare and support systems need to be more inclusive and sensory-aware.
I come across many patients and family members who feel misunderstood - does this resonate?
Navigating menopause can be uniquely challenging for the neurodivergent community. Here are the key takeaways for professionals and allies:
Heightened Symptoms: Autistic individuals often experience more severe menopausal symptoms and may see an increase in sensory sensitivities or a regression in communication skills during this time.
Communication is Key: Don’t rely on “reading between the lines.” Be concrete, clear, and explicit. Give extra time for processing and provide information that can be reviewed later.
Believe Their Words: Neurodivergent people may express distress differently. They might sound “unemotional” or say they are “fine” when they aren’t. If they express a need for help, take it seriously—they may have reached a breaking point.
The Power of Affirmation: Move away from seeing autism as a “disorder.” A trauma-informed, neuro-affirming approach makes patients feel safe and accepted.
The Undiagnosed Generation: Many older adults are navigating menopause without knowing they are autistic or have ADHD. I see this a lot and the process can be complicated and we need to be mindful that complex mental health histories may actually be undiagnosed neurodivergence.
Bottom line: Careful listening and adaptive communication aren’t just ‘nice’ they are essential for equitable care. Please look and recommend the book 👆
#autisticinmidlife #neurodivergent
#latediagnosedautism
#ADHDandmenopause #autisticwomen
Dr Radhika Vohra supports: