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Treatment & Management

Medical treatments

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Pharmacogenomics and Antidepressants
Pharmacogenomics and Antidepressants

Struggling with antidepressants? Pharmacogenomic testing explores how your genes influence medication response—helping explain side effects, guide prescribing, and personalise treatment.

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When Medicine Meets Uncertainty: A More Honest Way to Care for Hormones and Mood
When Medicine Meets Uncertainty: A More Honest Way to Care for Hormones and Mood

In women’s hormonal health, the most honest answer is not always certainty. This blog explores why embracing complexity leads to better, more personalised care for PMDD and hormone-related mood symptoms.

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Understanding the biology: why GnRH works in PMDD
Understanding the biology: why GnRH works in PMDD

GnRH analogues are one of the most effective treatments for severe PMDD. This guide explains how they work, the difference between agonists and antagonists, and what the latest evidence shows.

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SSRIs, SNRIs and Mirtazapine: Choosing the Right Antidepressant for Hormone-Sensitive Mood Disorders
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.

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Antidepressants vs Hormone Treatment for PMS and PMDD: Breaking the Stigma
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.

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The Future of PMDD Treatment: Neuroactive Steroids
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.

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The Best Birth Control Pills for PMS and PMDD (and Which to Avoid)
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.

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Medication Options for PMS and PMDD
Medication Options for PMS and PMDD

Struggling with PMS or PMDD? Dr Georgina Standen explores all the effective treatments — from SSRIs and SNRIs to HRT, contraceptive pills, GnRH analogues, and more — with a focus on personalised, evidence-based care.

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Slynd®: The New Generation Progesterone-Only Pill Now Available in the UK
Slynd®: The New Generation Progesterone-Only Pill Now Available in the UK

Slynd® (drospirenone 4 mg) is reshaping progesterone-only contraception in the UK: predictable dosing, improved tolerability, and effective protection for adults and adolescents

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Zoely & PMDD: Could This Pill Help Ease Your Symptoms?
Zoely & PMDD: Could This Pill Help Ease Your Symptoms?

Discover how Zoely — a contraceptive pill containing nomegestrol acetate and bioidentical estradiol — may help ease PMDD symptoms. Learn the science, benefits, and how it compares with other pills, so you can make an informed decision about your treatment.

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Therapeutic approaches

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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for PMDD: Is There a Role?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for PMDD: Is There a Role?

ACT is gaining attention as a potential therapy for PMDD, but what does the evidence actually say? This article explores whether it can help and where it fits in treatment.

Nocebo, Somatisation, and Physiological Sensitivity
Nocebo, Somatisation, and Physiological Sensitivity

Why do some symptoms feel overwhelming despite normal tests? This evidence-based guide explores the nocebo effect, somatisation, and physiological sensitivity—helping you understand your body in a more compassionate, scientific way.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) in PMDD: can skills change the cycle?
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) in PMDD: can skills change the cycle?

PMDD is not just about hormones, it is about how the brain responds to them. This blog explores how DBT can help women manage emotional intensity and regain a sense of control.

Self-Compassion and Hormonal Mental Health: The Missing Piece in Women’s Wellbeing
Self-Compassion and Hormonal Mental Health: The Missing Piece in Women’s Wellbeing

Hormones influence your mood—but how you respond to yourself matters just as much. Learn how self-compassion can transform PMS, PMDD and perimenopausal mental health.

Lifestyle & self-management

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PMDD and the Gut Microbiome: What’s Evidence, What’s Hype, and What Actually Helps
PMDD and the Gut Microbiome: What’s Evidence, What’s Hype, and What Actually Helps

The gut–brain axis is one of the most talked-about areas in women’s health. But what does the evidence actually say about PMDD and the microbiome? This article separates science from hype and offers practical, evidence-informed guidance.

PMS and Nutrition: What Actually Helps (and What Doesn’t)
PMS and Nutrition: What Actually Helps (and What Doesn’t)

Can nutrition really improve PMS symptoms? This evidence-based guide explores what works, what doesn’t, and how to support your body through your cycle.

Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) and PMS: Can Nature Support Your Hormonal Health?
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.

Natural and Lifestyle Treatments for PMS and PMDD
Natural and Lifestyle Treatments for PMS and PMDD

Lifestyle and natural treatments can significantly reduce PMS and PMDD symptoms. From exercise and diet to supplements, herbs, and CBT, explore evidence-based strategies that support hormonal balance.

The 5 Pillars of Wellbeing in PMDD: A Whole-Body Approach to Hormone Sensitivity
The 5 Pillars of Wellbeing in PMDD: A Whole-Body Approach to Hormone Sensitivity

PMDD is more than hormones. Learn how five key pillars of wellbeing can help stabilise mood, reduce symptoms, and support long-term recovery.

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