All blogs
- Adolescence
- Am I Perimenopausal?
- Complex cases
- Do I Have PMDD? (Recognition & Diagnosis)
- How Menopause Affects Your Life
- How PMDD Affects Your Life
- Lifestyle & self-management
- Lifestyle & self-management menopause
- Medical treatments
- Medical treatments menopause
- Menopause
- PMDD
- Therapeutic approaches
- Treatment & Management
- Treatment & Management Menopause
- Understanding Menopause (The Science Explained)
- Understanding PMDD (The Science Explained Simply)
- Women's Health
Progesterone-only HRT in perimenopause: what you need to know
Progesterone-only HRT is increasingly requested by women in perimenopause, often because sleep, anxiety and night sweats feel unmanageable and they’re wary of oestrogen or synthetic progestogens. But progesterone-only isn’t a standard NHS pathway — largely because guidance is oestrogen-led and progesterone’s established role is womb protection. The emerging evidence (including perimenopause-specific trial data) suggests progesterone can help some women, but it isn’t a complete solution for many perimenopause symptoms. Here’s how to make an evidence-based, personalised decision.
Gel, patch or spray? Understanding transdermal HRT and why one size doesn’t fit all
Gel, patch or spray? If your HRT isn’t working the way you hoped, the issue may not be the dose but how your body absorbs it. Learn how transdermal HRT works and why personalised care matters.
The Impact of Stress on Female Hormones
Stress can affect every part of the female hormone system, from ovulation and cycle regularity to sleep, mood and long-term wellbeing. In this blog, Dr Georgina Standen explains how acute and chronic stress influence oestrogen, progesterone and cortisol, the symptoms that can follow, and the most effective lifestyle, medical and complementary approaches to restoring balance.
SSRIs, SNRIs and Mirtazapine: Choosing the Right Antidepressant for Hormone-Sensitive Mood Disorders
A major Lancet study published in 2025 has highlighted how antidepressants differ in their physical effects — from weight and blood pressure to heart rate and sleep. For women managing hormone-linked mood disorders such as PMDD, postnatal depression, or perimenopausal anxiety, understanding these differences can help guide safer, more personalised treatment choices.
Methylation, the MTHFR Gene, and PMDD: What’s the Connection?
Could your genes and folate metabolism influence your premenstrual mood? New research suggests that the MTHFR gene — which affects how we process folate and regulate brain chemistry — may play a role in PMS and PMDD. Dr Georgina Standen explains what methylation is, what the latest studies show, and how to support healthy folate levels through diet and supplements.
When IBS Meets Hormones: How Menstruation, PMS & Menopause Impact Your Gut—and Why Personalised Care Matters
Many women notice their IBS worsens around their period, during PMS, or in perimenopause — yet few are told that hormones directly influence gut sensitivity and motility. In this article, we explore the science behind hormone-related IBS and explain how personalised, cycle-aware treatment can transform symptoms.
Hormones and Sleep During the Menopause
Hormones play a powerful role in how well we sleep — from cycle-related changes to the dramatic shifts of perimenopause and menopause. In this blog, Dr Georgina Standen explains how oestrogen, progesterone, cortisol and melatonin interact with the brain’s sleep systems, why insomnia becomes more common in midlife, and which treatments and lifestyle strategies truly make a difference.
Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) and PMS: Can Nature Support Your Hormonal Health?
Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry) is one of the most researched herbal options for PMS and PMDD, helping to balance prolactin and support the natural rhythm of oestrogen and progesterone. In this article, Dr Georgina Standen explains how Vitex works, what the latest evidence shows, who it’s suitable for, and how to use it safely—alone or alongside conventional treatments—to support mood, cycle regularity and premenstrual wellbeing.
How to Naturally Maintain Your Testosterone Levels Through Midlife
Testosterone doesn’t fall off a cliff at menopause — it declines gradually. Learn how nutrition, movement, sleep and stress balance can help preserve your natural levels and energy through midlife.
The Future of PMDD Treatment: tDCS, Brain Stimulation & the Nettle Device
A new class of treatment is emerging for PMDD that doesn’t involve hormones or standard antidepressants: non-invasive brain stimulation. This blog explains how tDCS works, why it’s being explored for PMDD, what the UK trial of the Nettle device is aiming to show, and what this could mean for women in the UK.
Antidepressants vs Hormone Treatment for PMS and PMDD: Breaking the Stigma
Many women accept hormone treatments for PMS and PMDD but hesitate to use antidepressants—even though SSRIs are proven effective. Learn why stigma persists, how this leads to under-treatment in PME, and what evidence-based options exist.
Understanding Testosterone vs Oestrogen in Midlife: What This New Study Reveals
A new 2025 study has redefined how we understand women’s hormones at midlife. While oestrogen falls sharply around menopause, testosterone declines slowly — influencing energy, libido and wellbeing. Discover what this means for treatment and natural hormone balance.
When Your Health Fluctuates with Your Cycle: Understanding Premenstrual Exacerbation
Many women notice their health feels different in the days before their period. For some, existing conditions like migraines, asthma, or depression become more intense—a phenomenon known as premenstrual exacerbation (PME). Unlike PMS or PMDD, PME doesn’t cause new symptoms, but it amplifies what’s already there. Understanding PME can help you take control of your health and manage symptoms more effectively.
HRT and Heart Health: Rethinking the ‘Window of Opportunity’ Theory
For years, women were told there was a limited “window of opportunity” to start HRT safely for heart health. New evidence shows this isn’t true. Modern studies reveal that the timing of HRT matters far less than the type, route, and overall cardiovascular profile. Dr Georgina Standen explains why HRT remains safe and beneficial well beyond ten years after menopause when used appropriately.
Progesterone Sensitivity: When Your Hormones Own the Mood
Some women react strongly to progesterone, triggering mood swings, anxiety, or skin changes. Learn which progestins are best tolerated, with evidence-based advice from Dr Georgina Standen at Sirona Health.
Mast Cells, Histamine and Female Hormones: Why Some Women React Differently
If your skin flares up, your gut feels reactive, or you find yourself flushed, itchy, or anxious around your period or during perimenopause, you’re not imagining it. There’s growing evidence that female hormones can directly influence immune cells called mast cells, changing how much histamine your body releases. These hormone–immune interactions may explain why some women experience cyclical symptoms that cross several systems — skin, digestion, mood, and energy — yet have never been fully explained by hormones alone.
What Is “Reproductive Depression”?
Many women notice that their mood changes around times of hormonal fluctuation — before a period, after having a baby, or during the perimenopause. For some, these changes are mild; for others, they can be life-altering. This pattern is increasingly recognised as a distinct form of depression known as reproductive depression. Here, I explain what that means, why hormones can influence the brain so profoundly, and how this understanding is helping us shape more effective, personalised treatments.
The Future of PMDD Treatment: Neuroactive Steroids
New research is changing how we understand and treat PMDD. Instead of suppressing hormones, emerging treatments known as neuroactive steroids work by calming the brain’s response to hormonal change. Here, Dr Georgina Standen explains how brexanolone and zuranolone work, what current evidence shows, and what this could mean for women in the UK.
The Best Birth Control Pills for PMS and PMDD (and Which to Avoid)
Can the pill help PMS or PMDD? For many women, yes — but the type, dose, and how you take it all matter. Dr Georgina Standen explains which contraceptive pills may improve premenstrual symptoms, which can make them worse, and how to choose the right approach for you.
