Dr Louise Newson [00:00:03] Hello. I'm Dr Louise Newson, and welcome to my podcast. I'm a GP, menopause specialist and founder of the free balance app. My mission? To break the taboos around women's health and hormones, shining a light on the issues we've been too afraid to talk about, from contraception, sex and testosterone to menopause related addictions and beyond. We're covering it all. I'll also be joined by experts and inspiring guests, sharing insights and real stories, as well as answering your questions and tackling the topics that matter to you the most.  

Dr Louise Newson [00:00:42] So today I've got Charlotte Craig with me. Really excited. I've been stalking you a little bit on your TikTok, feeling a bit old actually, but I do like the dad jokes.  

Charlotte Craig [00:00:51] oh do ya, I'm glad you do. I'm glad you do.  

Dr Louise Newson [00:00:54] So, you are a content creator, but something that you know changed in your life that made you swing over to this direction. So, if I'd met you a few years ago, you wouldn't have any of this experience. So, it's great. So, let's just talk a little bit about what you do and how you got into doing what you're doing.  

Charlotte Craig [00:01:14] So, like you said three years ago, I would not be in this position right now, and that's down to some sad times in my life, but I feel quite privileged that I've got to this point. So basically, I was a secondary school teacher. I taught performing arts and English. Absolutely loved my job, and unfortunately, I had an accident, which meant that I could no longer teach and to keep myself positive and busy, I started posting content online, and it just grew. And the more I was open about my experiences and well, I was trying to make myself feel better, it started to make other people laugh and feel better, and then it just kind of grew from there. So, I've I'm very lucky in terms of going from such a dark time to where I am now, because if it wasn't for this, if it wasn't for the accident and what I went through, I wouldn't be in this position that we're in right now. So, I do feel, I feel lucky in a weird way.  

Dr Louise Newson [00:02:21] So, you had quite a traumatic, well, not quite, very traumatic accident that came out of the blue that's really changed your course of life, direction, everything, what happened?

Charlotte Craig [00:02:34] So, I went paddle boarding. It was just kind of, I went out with my sister, my boyfriend and her partner, and we just decided to go paddle boarding. It was a lovely day. It was the 11th, 11th of September, and we just decided to go paddle boarding. And we were told that we could jump off into the water and swim. And I'm from the Lake District, I was straight as soon as I found out I could get in that water, I was straight in it. So, I was jumping off, having a lovely day, and we were about to get out of the water, and I said, I'm just gonna jump in one more time. I jumped in and didn't realise that the water was shallow in that specific bit. It was just really uneasy unlevel, sorry, unlevel. That's not the right word, is it? But it wasn't level, jumped off and my shin and my femur just went into one and completely dislocated my, everything. Everything ruptured. I snapped my ACL, PCO, MCO, POL and Meniscus.  

Dr Louise Newson [00:03:19] So that's all the ligaments basically that support the knee joint.

Charlotte Craig [00:03:50] All of them, the only thing that was keeping my they thought they were going to have to amputate. But after having a scan, I don't know how and I I know how lucky I am. My blood vessel stayed intact, and that was the only thing that stayed intact. So since then, I've had four operations so far. So, this was two and a half years ago, four operations so far, and still recovering. I've had to learn. They said that I may never walk again, but I've proved them wrong twice, so I feel like I can do it a third time.

Dr Louise Newson [00:04:26] Amazing

Charlotte Craig [00:04:27] But I'm getting there slowly but surely.  

Dr Louise Newson [00:04:30] It’s going in the right direction. That's the most important thing isn’t it.

Charlotte Craig [00:04:33] Yes, yeah, definitely

Dr Louise Newson [00:04:36] And I think it's a lot, isn't it? In life, you've got to be thinking about any positives, because everyone I really feel has got or most people have got a backstory, something that's gone on. But I do think anything negative can actually make us stronger, make us more resilient, make us different, make us focus on the good things in life and the things that. Probably took for granted, like walking, I don't need to tell you, we take it for granted every time we get off the chair, every time we just get out of bed. You know, looking at what you went through in a hospital, you know, I did see your X ray, and it was awful.

Charlotte Craig [00:05:15] It makes me shudder, and it happened to me. No, you're so right. I definitely, it’s completely changed my outlook on life, and it's made me so appreciative of the small things in life. And I try through my content, I try to really send that message as much as I possibly can, because everybody, like you say, everybody's got a backstory, everybody's gone through something, something traumatic, be it something it doesn't have to be as big as a huge accident. It could be anything. You know, everybody's different, but it teaches you to, you know, apply that to other things in life, to other difficult things that you may go through. And yeah, like you say, just look at life at a different angle. You know, be appreciative of the fact that you can walk and make yourself a cup of coffee in the morning or enjoy the nature and stuff. So, it really, really has changed my outlook on life, I think.  

Dr Louise Newson [00:06:13] And one of the things that came through just again stalking you on TikTok was just like the closeness of like your mum and other people, and, I think often, and certainly I'm quite older than you, but you suddenly go through life thinking, oh, I haven't seen any friends. I'm just too focused on work. And then you realise, like, you don't need many friends, but you do need those ones, because when something awful happens, that's when you need people there. And it just like seeing how much care and love you had must have made such a difference.

Charlotte Craig [00:06:44] Oh, a huge difference. I don't know what I would have done without my partner. I used to be so independent, so independent fiercely, and I didn't realise how toxic it actually was. I think because, obviously, I'm such an advocate for female empowerment, you know. But it got to a point where, when I was teaching and when I was doing my own thing, I would kind of just be like, I can do everything on my own. I can look after myself. I don't need, you know, a partner. I was single for six years, you know, and I got with my partner I think it was nine months before my accident,  

Dr Louise Newson [00:07:18] so not that long, really

Charlotte Craig [00:07:19] not long at all, and to see how he reacted to the change in our circumstances was just inspiring. You know, he was so just there for me and cared for me. And you know what the hardest part of the accident was, letting go of that fierce independence that I did have. It was so difficult, and I really struggled with it, and I would try and kind of push him away at moments, because I just thought I can do it on my own, but I couldn't, yeah, and that's definitely something that I learned, was that it's okay to to have help, to have somebody who really cares about you and look after you, and like my family and you know, the close friends you know, having them beside me and having them to speak to going through it, has really, really helped, because I would never do that before. I would never just text or call them if I was feeling down. But now it forced me to, it forced me to reach out, you know.

Dr Louise Newson [00:08:19] Which is so important, and I think it's really interesting, isn't it, I think with social media, because, you know, when I was young, there was no internet, there was no social media, which my children find really hard to understand, but also social media, I think looking at it both ways, so looking at it as you as the content creator who's putting out to people, but also people who are receiving as well. And it's slightly different in some ways, because you're reaching people that you don't know, you don't know from Adam. They're very different to these close family friends, but you do have this sort of like co-dependency. It's sort of like self-gratification. It is that sort of thing. But then, actually, it's still not quite a real world as well, is it? But then it's also, I think there's a sort of fine line almost between portraying something that you're not, not for you. But lots of people on social media will have all the filters on. They will look amazing. They will tell you about their perfect day. And you know, one of my patients ages ago, it just stuck with me, because she said to me, she was very, very depressed. She had lots of things going on. And she said, Dr Newson, do you know what? I'm so depressed today that I didn't even post on my Facebook, and I do it every day to show people that I'm actually alright. And I thought that's really quite worrying, because, you know, it is a bit of a act sometimes on social media, and then people think that everyone is really positive and everyone's having a perfect day. And why don't I have a perfect family that never argues, or a perfect partner that you never fall out with.

Charlotte Craig [00:09:57] It's not realistic

Dr Louise Newson [00:9:59] And that's not real. And. So what you've done is found that balance where you know you're showing the difference between what's perfect and what isn't, you know. And I think that's really, really important, though, isn't it? And I wonder whether that's made people resonate with you a bit more, and sort of can feel you because you're you go from being looking absolutely beautiful, all your makeup on to like, just, this is me, you know, and that's real life, isn't it?  

Charlotte Craig [00:10:23] Absolutely, and I've I'm so glad that you picked upon that, because that's what I want to do. I want to be like, if I'm sad today, I'm going to tell you I'm sad. If I'm angry, I'm going to talk about it, you know, and not to feel the pressure of putting on a facade every single day like I used to...

Dr Louise Newson [00:10:40] Yes

Charlotte Craig [00:10:41] Which is interesting. And it wasn't until I started being completely transparent and real, like not wearing my makeup, wearing no bra, you know, like not looking perfect all the time, because who does, who can be bothered, you know? And yeah, just showing each element of life, because that is what life is. It's not all happy all the time. It's not I'm gonna wake up in the morning and have a shower straight away and just make my coffee. You know, if you wanna have a lie, you have a lie in. You know. Just

Dr Louise Newson [00:11:12] And do people like that? Do people comment on that?

Charlotte Craig [00:11:14] Yes, they do. I think the conversations that I have with my audience are very much like without tooting my own horn, but they say how real and how, how it makes them feel kind of safe and okay with just being who they are. You know, because I laugh loud, you know, I'm very loud. I'll talk a lot, and sometimes that's kind of not frowned upon, but people judge you for anything that you do anything. And I have a very my outlook on it all is just being like, who cares? Who cares? I mean, if you want to not wear makeup or like, you know, wear pyjamas all day, or not shave your legs or whatever, just do it. It's fine. You're not hurting anyone. You know, that's just my outlook on it, and to share that I think is hopefully having an impact on especially my younger audience. And I think it's important to show each element.

Dr Louise Newson [00:12:08] I think so important and it's interesting, because you don't call yourself a social media influencer

Charlotte Craig [00:12:14] No

Dr Louise Newson [00:12:15] It's more of a creator, and it's that, it is that fine line, and I think it's really important to highlight that, because when you talk about social media influencers, and lots of people are referred to them. Some of them really are because they're paid to promote. They want you to buy X makeup brand or whatever, but actually you are creating this content to help people feel differently, maybe about their emotions, their circumstances, or maybe just have a bit of a laugh. That's fine. So is it really different how people should or shouldn't use social media as well? Isn't it?  

Charlotte Craig [00:12:51] Absolutely, I think I don't, I have friends that go by influencer there is their job title, but personally, I don't, I don't think I've got a good relationship with the word, because I feel like when you influence something, you're in control of something. So, like the word influences, like under the influence of, you know, yeah, it's just kind of, it sounds like a controlling word. And I would hate to be that. I would hate to feel like I've got to have an influence on someone and push something down their throat that they don't want, you know, but then, at the same time, the way that content creators and and influencers make their money is by working with brands. But I always try my best to make sure that if I am working with a brand, it's authentic, it's a brand that I love, it's a brand ...

Dr Louise Newson [00:13:44] So, you're in control aren't you

Charlotte Craig [00:12:51] Exactly what I'm promoting. I wouldn't just take anything and be like, yeah, have this, take this, because I want money, you know. So, yeah, it's interesting. I go by content creator, because that's how, that's what I do, yeah, you know

Dr Louise Newson [00:13:56] Yeah, and I think that is so important because, you know, it is quite a responsibility. I mean, I set up my social media a few years ago, and it was really because I was listening to, and I still do every day, stories of women who are really struggling. My oldest daughter is very artistic, and I used to come home and say, gosh, I've just seen this lady who said I felt like I've been hit by a bus. My emotions are so dreadful. You know, the shutters have come down. I can't think anymore. And she said, right, put a picture of a bus on, put a picture of shutters on, put that quote on, let other people know how others are feeling. And I was like, I don't even know what Instagram is, Jessica, what do I do? So, she like, set up my account every morning when you wake up. Just post something. And so, I started doing that a few years ago, and it's just grown and grown and grown very, very organically. And it's been really interesting to see, you know, the content that blows up more, the content that doesn't, but people still comment, and they still learn from it. But it is a real responsibility, and it's an extra layer when you're a doctor, because obviously there's the General Medical Council have a social media conduct, you have to really, you know, make sure that you're doing it in the best way and evidence-based way, and everything else, which is so important. And there are times where I just think, oh, gosh, I don't know that I can do this. Or like you say, oh, I feel more tired. I don't really want to be putting out and doing but actually, it is so powerful to be able to reach people. And I remember the first time I got a DM from somebody who's abroad, and I remember very clearly, she was Canadian, 23 years old, and she said, I've just read your content. I'm in the bathroom crying because it's resonated with me. This is me, and I haven't been listened to. I didn't realise young people could be menopausal too. And I thought, gosh actually, wow, it's not just UK, it's abroad. It's different people, different time zones. And actually, how wonderful to have a platform where you can reach people in a way, and, you know, not really influence, but change their lives and change their outlook. And, yeah, you know, like you I'm a very well. I'm a person that really believes very strongly in women empowerment and choice and enabling people to decide what's right for them. So even as a doctor, I feel like I'm an advocate for people.

Charlotte Craig [00:16:15] Absolutely a conversation starter  

Dr Louise Newson [00:16:15] I'm not going to tell people

Charlotte Craig [00:16:20] Yeah, that's amazing. The best, you know, the best way to help people is to have conversations and be open about it

Dr Louise Newson [00:16:25] Yeah, for sure

Charlotte Craig [00:16:25] Rather than having one thing that will solve one thing, no, that's not. There's no way in life that one thing will be right for every single person. So, I think it's great that you you have them conversation, and you talk about it, and because it makes everybody feel safe and included. It's very inclusive, because every single person, every single woman, is different

Dr Louise Newson [00:16:47] Of course, people want different things. And I remember doing a podcast a while ago with James Smith, who massive PT, he's brilliant, and he gets some negativity, like anybody. And I said to him, James, how do you deal? And he said, Well, that's fine. These people can just unfollow me. They don't have to. They can choose. And I thought actually, what great way of thinking about it. We do that with friends all the time. We do it with relationships, and it's exactly the same. So, I think I've really learned that you don't have to please everybody.  

Charlotte Craig [00:17:13] You can't  

Dr Louise Newson [00:17:14] You can't can you

Charlotte Craig [00:17:15] No, Like we're not going to be everyone's cup of tea or coffee, you know, so, like, they can put sugar in it, or they can go, like it'slike it's up to them, you know, but it's, what's important is the people that do appreciate what, like you or I, do, you know, it's going to have a really good impact on them, and that's important

Dr Louise Newson [00:17:36] Yeah. And one of the things that some people, especially with medical information, there's always these things that every so often, blow up, especially actually, about contraception or hormones that people who are non-medical have put out, especially on TikTok,  

Charlotte Craig [00:17:55] I see all sorts  

Dr Louise Newson [00:17:55] and people are saying, oh, gosh, oh gosh. But then, actually, my children learn a lot of medical information through TikTok, often through people who aren't healthcare professionals. But sometimes it's not all bad, because it starts the conversation. And what's always difficult is that often people only put negative experiences on so you won't say, oh, I feel so great because I've taken this hormone, or I've done this or whatever. It's usually the negative. So, then you'll get quite skewed information. But, what I'm hearing more and more from younger people is they're so confused about contraception, about hormones, about what to do, and I don't know if that's anything that's on your radar at all.

Charlotte Craig [00:18:33] Absolutely, I'm so I'm 27 and I'm still, I still don't know everything that I probably should, you know, and from a young age, I so I had really irregular periods when I was younger, and I really, really struggled with cramps and PMS. I think, well, you know, I don't know my body enough. And it's it, it's a shame, because I should, and it's not talked about enough. So, this is why I love what you do, because you, you make it a talking point, and I'm sure I can learn a lot from you in that sense. But so, I just went on contracept contraceptive, um, from a very early age, because my periods were irregular, I didn't understand why I was in so much pain. I was throwing up, you know? It got really, really bad, so they just shoved me on the pill. And I was on that for for years, and I was just still, to this day, don't understand why, but I was just moody, down, you know. And then still, to this day, I'm on the implant, you know, and I've never given myself that chance to explore what my body's doing I think

Dr Louise Newson [00:19:49] Yeah, so, do you feel different on the implant to how you were on the contraceptive pill?

Charlotte Craig [00:19:52] I, more numb. I would say I would feel like when I was on the pill, I was very like, impulsively, argumentative. It might have been my teenage years, you know, but I was very, very high, very low, very all over the place, whereas on the implant, I'm just kind of one level. But as I'm getting older, and I want to start thinking about potentially having children and stuff, I'm just thinking my body has been on this synthetic contraceptive hormone that I don't actually know what it's doing to me.

Dr Louise Newson [00:20:29]  And did anyone explain to you how the implant works?

Charlotte Craig [00:20:32] I know that it's. See, this is interesting. No, and I was a secondary school teacher

Dr Louise Newson [00:20:38] So, just to be clear, you've got this device in your arm that someone's put in

Charlotte Craig [00:20:42] And it's just in that place, but it goes through my body, doesn't it? Yeah, obviously.  

Dr Louise Newson [00:20:44] So, you've allowed someone to put something in. Just to be clear

Charlotte Craig [00:20:49] Yeah

Dr Louise Newson [00:20:50] And how long does it stay in for?

Charlotte Craig [00:20:51] Three years

Dr Louise Newson [00:20:51] So, you put something in for three years, you don't really know what it is

Charlotte Craig [00:20:57] No, because we don't. This is all it's awful, isn't it? Oh, God, I'm doubting myself now. It's awful. It's just because it's the norm, yeah, and because everybody does it,  

Dr Louise Newson [00:21:05] Yeah, yeah, yeah

Charlotte Craig [00:21:07] You just, you know, my mom was on it. So, I was like, Okay, I'll do my mom. Sorry. I should say just in case, sounds like, Man, my man, my mom was on it. And I was just like, okay, yeah, I'll just do it without actually.

Dr Louise Newson [00:21:21] So, if I tell you that it contains a hormone, of course, you know that

Charlotte Craig [00:21:24] Yeah

Dr Louise Newson [00:21:24] it contains a synthetic hormone. It's been chemically altered. So, what it does is it switches off your natural hormone. So, it switches off your oestradiol, progesterone and testosterone in your body.

Charlotte Craig [00:21:23] That's crazy. I didn't which is crazy to me. I'm a 27-year-old woman. I should know this.

Dr Louise Newson [00:21:39] So it obviously stops you producing an egg, therefore stops you being pregnant.    

Charlotte Craig [00:21:43] Yes

Dr Louise Newson [00:21:43] that's lovely, but it switches off all your hormones in your brain, in your body, in your heart system, in your skin, every single cell in your body has receptors that responds to these hormones, and you don't have those hormones in your body.

Charlotte Craig [00:21:59] Do the doctors? The doctors never, ever told me any of that. And if I were to know that, I mean, I'm a free woman, I should have educated myself. But they didn't tell me that.  

Dr Louise Newson [00:22:11] No

Charlotte Craig [00:22:12] They just said, oh, your periods will stop for you. You know, they'll stop your egg from, you know

Dr Louise Newson [00:22:16] Yeah precisely, so it's again, it's a bit of, let's control women by whether they're going to get pregnant or not, without thinking about, let's think about the women's brain and body. And I certainly see a lot of women who have implants, who then have quite dry, itchy skin, they have recurrent urinary tract infections, they feel quite low in their mood.  

Charlotte Craig [00:22:35] Yes, yes, yes. Sounds very much like me to be honest

Dr Louise Newson [00:22:38] Because it basically it's giving you a menopause.

Charlotte Craig [00:22:40] Interesting, wow, wow. Well, there you go. I learned something new. I should know it. I just It's sad. It's sad that, you know, I know there'll be so many people listening to this, my age, older, younger, that don't know that, because they just don't feel like

Dr Louise Newson [00:22:59] No. And to be fair, I feel a bit mean because I sort of almost making fun of you, but I didn't think about it the same way. I've never given implants as a doctor, because when they came out, I knew more about hormones, it didn't feel right, almost.  

Charlotte Craig [00:23:12] And when was that?

Dr Louise Newson [00:23:14] They've been probably 15 years or so

Charlotte Craig [00:23:17] Okay

Dr Louise Newson [00:23:17] Quite a long time they've been around. But before that, and even now, there's still something called Depo-Provera, which is an injection. So, it's an injection of contraception that lasts 11/12, weeks. And I used to give it loads. And I feel really bad looking back, because we used to give it a lot to stop periods, especially for people who were disabled, had physical disability, because, as you know, if you're having a heavy period and you can't walk, it's the last thing you want. So, we used to give it a lot to people with different disabilities, people with heavy periods, and then I'm thinking, what was I doing? Giving this injection again, injecting a synthetic progesterone that blocked the natural hormones. Then these women would come back, feel quite low in their mood, then they'd be given antidepressants.  

Charlotte Craig [00:23:57] That's what I've done. I haven't really spoken. It was actually the first time I spoke about that on social media. Was three days ago on my life, which is interesting, but I've been on antidepressants, for which probably people wouldn't think for, oh, six years, yeah. And it's only recently that I've thought I'd need to start coming off them. And like I said before, as I'm getting older and thinking about what I want with if I want children, etc, I'm just thinking about all the different things that are going on in my body and what I'm putting in. And this couldn't have come at a better time

Dr Louise Newson [00:24:37] Well the synthetic hormones. They've done scans of people who have synthetic hormones like contraception. And looking at the brain activity and the serotonin, you know, our happy hormone in our brain, and levels of serotonin reduced in people who have synthetic hormones. And so, it's no surprise that a lot of people then have antidepressants to try and help that. But we know our hormones so oestradiol, progesterone, testosterone, work closely with serotonin and dopamine, our reward hormone. You know that enjoyment, pleasure hormone that people have. So, if you've got low oestradiol, low progesterone, testosterone, which you will have because you've got the implant, it can reduce your dopamine and serotonin. So, a lot of people say they don't have so much joy and pleasure in things. Are just sort of existing a bit sort of

Charlotte Craig [00:25:22] I kind of do. I go off. It's hard to explain when, when you say you have difficulty in joy and stuff like that, I still would say, I still feel it, but I don't feel it. You know, like I still enjoy, like I said before, like a coffee outside. I know that I but I know that I love that. Yeah, it's not necessarily a first time feeling, feeling, if that makes sense, like when I used to do it, which I haven't actually really thought about, I would feel like a sense of, Oh, I love this, but now it's like, I know I love this, so I'm going to do this, which is interesting, because it's so it could be that then.

Dr Louise Newson [00:26:08] Yeah, It's all quite sort of subtle, and I've learned a lot through my clinical practice. Obviously, we give a lot of natural hormones, which are exactly the same structure as their own hormones that we have ourselves. And certainly, with some hormones like testosterone, for example, people just have this sort of they just feel generally happier. You know that? I know it sounds a bit trivial, but you know, when you've got to unload the washing machine and you're like, I can't be bothered, whereas when you're feeling well, you're like, oh, just do it quickly, because it'll take two seconds, then I'll do something else that's a bit more enjoyable. And that's often the difference that something like testosterone can have progesterone is quite calming hormone. So, you know that sort of, oh, I'm quite tired. I'm going to, like, do a little bit of meditation, go to sleep very easily, or, oh my gosh, I'm really stressed, because tomorrow I've got a big day and I'm not going to be able to sleep. And that's the difference with progesterone and not with progesterone and oestrogen, often like gives people just a bit more sort of positivity, a bit more energy, a bit more focus. So, these three hormones work in balance really well together, and that's when it's really difficult, and people don't have them.

Charlotte Craig [00:27:13] Yeah

Dr Louise Newson [00:27:13] And you still function, but it's just very different.  

Charlotte Craig [00:27:17] And it's so interesting that you because you are explaining me, and I've never thought about it, and now I'm going down an ADHD diagnosis route, right? Maybe it's just yeah, what the implant? You know, it's really got me questioning my own body, and I've never thought of it. I've never thought that the implant would have that effect on me, because I didn't know

Dr Louise Newson [00:27:42] And this, this is the whole thing, isn't it? It's knowledge, is power and then making choices. And, you know, again, we see lots of women with ADHD. It's either newly diagnosed or worsened, because their hormones have started to fluctuate. And a lot of not just me and my practice, but others abroad as well. I'm doing some work with people in Sweden and Australia who are ADHD specialists, and they're noticing that testosterone, as well as the other hormones, but especially testosterone, really helps with the changes in ADHD and really improves it. And we know a lot of people are being medicalised with the wrong medication.  

Charlotte Craig [00:28:17] Lion's Mane, I've heard a lot about that

Dr Louise Newson [00:28:18] Yeah, no that can help a little bit. But in medicine, you always want to treat the underlying cause. Do you know what I mean? So, you know, if you've dislocated your knee, you're not just going to put a sticking plaster on and give you some painkillers. You're actually going to try and repair it. Yeah. And that's the difference with this so often, with the work we do in the clinic, is we'll say, well, let's rebalance your hormones in a natural way. And then let's see what else is going on. Because obviously, like, for example, ADHD, looking at exercise, looking at nutrition, looking at everything else is so important. It's not just taking hormones. But what happens so often, especially with women, is that we'll say, do your exercise, change what you eat, duh duh duh duh and then forget the hormone bit. Yes, yeah, really hard that you have been. But actually, if you haven't got those hormones, you can't, you can't eat them, you can't make them.

Charlotte Craig [00:29:10] I need to get into your clinic. My goodness! (laugh)

Dr Louise Newson [00:29:16] You probably weren't expecting all of this.

Charlotte Craig [00:29:17] No, I was not, I really, really wasn't, no and it honestly, I'm so glad that we brought it up, because I feel like this is going to help a lot of my audience too, because

Dr Louise Newson [00:29:26] that's really important, and it will be very interesting going forward, seeing how much of this conversation will start, because certainly, ADHD hormones, synthetic hormones, contraception, is something that people really want to know more, and there's so much confusion out there as well, so having that conversation is going to be really important going forward. So yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing, like, what direction you take going forwards as well with your work and everything.  

Charlotte Craig [00:29:55] Because I'm coming off this, yes, I'm taking it out. I am. I've been thinking about it for a while, because I've been thinking about what it's doing to me. I don't know what it’s, but this has kind of solidified my choice, my decision, definitely, and then, because I want to see a change, I want to see what I'm like without them.  

Dr Louise Newson [00:30:16] I think the other thing with hormones is, everything's a choice, and everything's reversible. So, some people, you know, they have natural hormones, they feel better, wonderful. Some people, they might say, well, no, you know what, I felt better when I was taking this contraception or that. That's fine as well. And that's the same with anything. It's just literally about being able to choose. But if you don't have that knowledge. You can't make choices and um that's where you know the work that you're doing, that I'm doing, just allowing people to think differently, even if it's thinking differently. So, you feel happy because you're listening to the dad jokes or you're just watching whatever. It's fine, you know.  

So no, it's great, and it's really great talking about everything.  

So just to wrap things up (30:59), I always ask for three take home tips. So, there's a lot to think about, but I'm really keen to ask three things that you think women should do to be in control of the knowledge that they want. So, what are the three things that you think are good for people to do? 

Charlotte Craig [00:31:19] Open, be open to conversations and don't be narrowminded. Um one solution doesn't fit all. Yeah, okay. I would say also as well. Sorry, just going off on a tangent. Well, not a tangent, but I would say, get checked more. I think I touched on this on my on my page before I struggled with my homocysteine levels, and I didn't know anything about them until I did, and I ended up having a blood clot in my eye. Woke up blind one day, which was crazy, but I didn't look at myself enough. I didn't know. I didn't get checked. I didn't get my bloods checked for years and years and years. So, I think it's important to be aware of what's going on in the body, which sounds quite hypocritical from everything that I've just said but (laughing) be aware and the third one, be confident in asking questions and getting it wrong, because, like today, I've got things wrong, and I feel more empowered getting it wrong, because now I know. 

Dr Louise Newson [00:32:26] I think that's so important. And, you know, learning by your mistakes, learning by negativities, as we start to the podcast. You know, learning from anything that's not gone well, you can only improve so and, and, you know, just not always believing everybody the first time they tell you something, and being questionable. Yeah. Is really good, isn't it  

Charlotte Craig [00:32:45] Definitely. Conversations are important. knowledge is power, like you said.

Dr Louise Newson [00:32:51] Oh, well, thanks for joining me today. It's been great.  

Charlotte Craig [00:32:53] Thank you, for having me, I've had a lovely time, thank you.