Women's health

Low sex drive is very common and many women suffer in silence. They might think it's stress, or just getting older, or something they should learn to accept. Sometimes those explanations are worth exploring. But sometimes there's a hormonal picture worth looking at, and testosterone can be part of the picture, particularly around and after menopause. This isn't a fringe idea. It's supported by NICE guidance, the British Menopause Society, and a growing body of clinical trial

If you are considering HRT, one of the first questions you will probably ask is whether you need blood tests beforehand. The answer depends on what the tests are for. Blood tests to diagnose  menopause or perimenopause are rarely needed. Blood tests to exclude other causes of your symptoms  are a different matter entirely. NICE guideline NG23 says most women aged 45 and over can be diagnosed with perimenopause or menopause on symptoms alone, without any laboratory tests at al

Between October and March in the UK, the sun sits too low in the sky for your skin to produce any meaningful vitamin D. That's roughly half the year where your body relies entirely on stored vitamin D and dietary intake to maintain adequate levels. And the evidence is clear that for most people, stored vitamin D and dietary sources aren't enough. The UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) reviewed the evidence in 2016 and concluded that a significant proportion

Most women I see in clinic who are perimenopausal have already spent months feeling "off" before they book an appointment. The fatigue, the broken sleep, the cycles that suddenly make no sense. And many have already been told their blood tests came back "normal." The reality is more complicated than that. Perimenopause changes your body in ways that don't always show up on a standard five-marker hormone panel. Understanding which tests are genuinely useful, and which have rea

You can be iron deficient with a normal blood count. Dr Coleman explains why ferritin matters, who's at risk, and when to test. Results in 2-3 working days.

If you've been told your symptoms are "just stress," if you've struggled to get a straight answer about your irregular periods, or if you've quietly wondered whether something deeper is going on with your body - you're not alone.