Dr Saadia Meyer

16/12/2025

The festive season often brings celebrations, indulgent food, and a few more glasses of alcohol than usual 🎄🥂
But it’s also a good time to pause and reflect on how alcohol affects our bodies as we get older.

During perimenopause and menopause, hormonal changes alter the way alcohol is processed. As women, we naturally metabolise alcohol more slowly than men, meaning more of it stays in the bloodstream for longer. This is why alcohol can start to feel “different” in midlife.

Alcohol is a toxin and, for some women, it can worsen symptoms such as hot flushes, mood changes, anxiety, and poor sleep. It can also disrupt sleep quality and contribute to dehydration — which is why hangovers often feel far worse as we age.

This doesn’t mean you need to avoid alcohol altogether. Being more mindful can help: lighter drinks, lower-alcohol options, or soda or tonic with citrus and just a splash of spirit can make a big difference.

Enjoy the season, listen to your body, and focus on small choices that support your health and wellbeing ✨

21/10/2025

Feeling Like You’re Losing the Plot?

Yesterday you did what? Today you need to do what? And tomorrow… well, that just feels too far ahead to even think about!
Some days, it can feel like your mind is foggy, your focus is gone, and you’re constantly second-guessing yourself. The more you worry about it, the worse the confusion and distress seem to get.

Your partner might shrug it off as “women’s problems”, your children might laugh, and your friends nod knowingly — they’ve felt it too.

But should you just ignore it?
Or is it time to look a little deeper and find a way to manage what’s really going on?

The truth is, there are valid reasons why you’re feeling like this — and one of the most common is a hormonal imbalance linked to perimenopause or menopause.

Emerging research is helping us understand what’s really happening inside our bodies during this stage of life. In particular, it’s showing how the central nervous system is influenced by changing levels of progesterone and estrogen.

While these hormones are often thought of as being purely related to reproduction, science now shows they have far-reaching effects — impacting cognition, mood, inflammation, mitochondrial function, and even neurogenesis (the growth of new brain cells).

So if you’ve been feeling “not quite yourself,” it’s not in your head — it’s in your hormones. And understanding that is the first step toward feeling like you again.

25/09/2025

17/09/2025

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20/04/2025

Why Do I Still See My Patients in Person — and Always Will

Yes, it’s more expensive to open the door. In-person care takes more time, more space, more presence and more legislation But it’s worth it for both of us as the results are the evidence.

I know there are more online clinics and one-click hormone services popping up every day. And yes, virtual care has a place — especially for follow-ups, or for women who live far away. My patients always have that option once they’re steady. But when we’re starting out, or when things are complex, I want to see them. Really see them.

I work with women going through PMDD, perimenopause, menopause — times in life where so much can feel unclear, overwhelming, or invisible. And while forms, test results, and trackers help, they don’t tell the whole story.

My many years of experience has taught me to listen not just to words, but to people. My job is to look at the whole woman — not just her symptoms, or her blood tests, or her history typed into a box. That holistic view depends on seeing the person as they truly are - and for me, that happens best in the same room, together.

And it’s not just about what I pick up - it’s about how they feel in that space.
I’ve had women travel from the remotest parts of the UK and even from abroad — and that effort reminds me why I do this the way I do. Because it works. Because it honours the person. Because it’s human.

That’s why I still do it.

02/04/2025

COLLAGEN Supplements-MIRACLE OR MARKETING?

Let’s break it down - FACT:
Collagen is just protein. When you eat it, your body breaks it down into amino acids - it doesn’t magically travel to your face or joints.

FALLACY:
“Taking collagen will make your skin glow and joints strong.”
There is no solid scientific evidence to back this.
Most studies are small, industry-funded, and not robust.

FACT:
If you’re already eating a protein-rich diet - eggs, fish, meat, dairy, legumes - you’re getting all the amino acids your body needs to make collagen.

FALLACY:
“You need collagen supplements as you age.” No. You need enough total protein. Collagen is low in essential amino acids. It’s not superior - just well-marketed.
Want better skin, joints, gut health?
Try bone broth. It’s nose-to-tail, nourishing, and actually gives you the same amino acid profile without the hype - plus it’s delicious, natural, and far less processed.

I love ’s take - he doesn’t believe in collagen supplements either... but his wife swears by them because she feels her skin looks amazing. And that’s fair - the placebo effect is powerful. If it feels good, do it - but let’s not call it science.

BOTTOM LINE:
Collagen isn’t a magic fix. A solid diet with enough total protein, good fats, minerals, and sleep will do far more for your skin, joints and hormones than any overpriced capsule.

The Meyer Menopause clinics advise, help, and treat women going through the Perimenopause & Menopause.

15/10/2024

Informed Consent is as Important as informed refusal:

As a responsible specialist, I believe it’s essential that patients not only have the right to consent to treatment but also the right to refuse any therapy or intervention after being fully informed.

In my holistic integrative approach to
personalised hormone therapies, counselling isn’t just about encouraging agreement; it’s about empowering patients to make the best decisions for themselves, whether that means proceeding with or declining a treatment.

This ensures we are working in true partnership— on the same wavelength-throughout their treatment journey.

29/05/2024

When should I start thinking about HRT?
The post-reproductive health of women, that is, our life after finishing our periods, is very important. This is our second innings and we will be playing this game until we die! So, it is extremely important not only to reflect on our lifestyle choices, but equally, to consider our hormone balance for its benefits to our well-being.

But when to start reflecting on how your hormones are behaving?

Perimenopause can start any time from around age 45. You might notice new symptoms related to your periods, mood, sleep and libido, such as night sweats, hot flushes, urinary symptoms or vaginal dryness. HRT will help alleviate all of these.

No distressing symptoms? It may still be worth No distressing symptoms? It may still be worth a discussion with your doctor about your options and making an elective choice to go on HRT. The many benefits for future overall health include: maintaining your bone health, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke, preventing painful s*x and bladder problems. There is more robust evidence for the benefits compared to the small increase in potential risks, including breast cancer.

Studies indicate that the benefits of hormone therapy, when commenced before age 59, have the greatest impact. Starting later than this is still beneficial, especially with regards preservation of bone density and the reduction of heart disease risk.

A myriad of life experience awaits us after menopause, so why not be as fit, well and physically independent as possible to enjoy everything.
Think my choices. Think my hormone balance.

15/05/2024

Understanding HRT and Weight

Contrary to popular belief, HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) isn’t the culprit behind weight gain. Let’s clear up this misconception and dive into the actual details.

As women approach and undergo perimenopause and menopause, the body’s production of the hormone oestrogen decreases. This is because the body anticipates a reduced need for it, given its primary role in reproduction. Meanwhile, this hormonal change can strain the adrenals, organs that play a significant role in fat metabolism.

Your adrenals regulate cortisol levels, a hormone sourced from various processes within the body. When functioning properly, they maintain a healthy cortisol balance. However, disruptions, especially during phases like perimenopause and menopause, can upset your metabolic rate. A well-known consequence of a decreased metabolic rate is weight gain, especially around the midsection, a concern for many women.

A common question I encounter from patients revolves around ways to manage or reduce this newly accumulated fat. While there’s no magic solution, a combination of hormonal balance, regular exercise, and a mindful diet can boost metabolic rates, enhancing fat burn. Additionally, managing stress is essential as heightened stress levels can surge cortisol production. Opting for a diet low in sugar ensures the carbohydrates consumed are nourishing rather than simply contributing to fat storage.

Lastly, always seek comprehensive information regarding any suggested treatment or medication. Being informed empowers you to make decisions that best suit your needs.

09/05/2024

Misdiagnosis of the perimenopause is a huge concern to women and understandably so. During your 40s, major life events often overwhelm us, without considering the hormonal changes that are just beginning to challenge us every day.

Your children have become teenagers and they need you almost more than when they were little: you have to guide them rather than bribe them, but with that come the heated debates, uncomfortable silences and challenging behaviours. You’re feeling jaded, faded and irritable. Chaos seems to rule your homelife and the workplace no longer feels like an escape or a morale booster. Then you lose a parent and grief hits you like a juggernaut and you don’t know how you’re going to cope.

An experienced and accredited menopause practitioner can help you differentiate between symptoms and what’s causing them at this delicate time.

The symptoms you are feeling may be connected to the perimenopause, so make sure the practitioner you choose has the right credentials and experience before seeking medical care. You may be advised to follow a course of anti-depressants, without a look at the whole picture. When you’re in your 40s or early 50s, mood swings, low moods, fatigue, brain fog, and a variety of physical discomforts are more likely to come from hormonal changes than mental illness. This could be the perimenopause when the hormones are in a state of flux.
ur experiences and ability to cope with whatever life throws at us are at their peak at this time of our lives, contrary to popular belief and poor media coverage. It’s a question of turning the negatives into positives and understanding what exactly is happening in our bodies. As a practising GP, Menopause specialist and Gynaecologist, Dr Saadia Meyer has the knowledge and experience to look at a client from the inside out and prescribe the most suitable perimenopause treatment for that individual. She uses an integrative holistic approach in her medical practice. Every woman is an individual and her ethos is to formulate a management plan that is personalised.

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