femalegp

femalegp Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from femalegp, Medical and health, 140 Carlyle Street, Napier.

Women’s health Specialist GP and educator specialising in perimenopause, menopause, and mental health; offering 1:1 consultations, business education, local community walks and resources that improve access to care

28/03/2026

What a day out at Tussock Traverse. Running in the peace, reflecting, and being forced to stay present (because otherwise I tripped 😅).

I’m pretty tired now, but feeling so lucky to be able to run (walk!) through our beautiful national parks right on our doorstep. The people made it even more special, everyone was so lovely, friendly, and supportive. And my husband at the finish line (with much-needed water!) 💛

Huge admiration for those taking on the 100k, so encouraging, motivating, and genuinely inspiring!!!

It’s been a hectic couple of weeks (written as I’m on an hour bus ride in Tongariro to the start of a 32k run). Yesterd...
27/03/2026

It’s been a hectic couple of weeks (written as I’m on an hour bus ride in Tongariro to the start of a 32k run).

Yesterday I attended a Health Forum run by the charitable trust, New Zealand Women in Medicine (NZWIM) to look how the health system can be improved.

I attended to learn, but also to share my experience, and ideas and advocate how through Womens health can improve the future of the health system. Through my mahi I have realised, that I must always see patients 1:1 and journey with them, but that’s not enough. The system isn’t set up for women’s health, despite the extensive data demonstrating huge inequities and worse health outcomes, and I want this to be at the forefront- because there are some small things we can start with/ive already tried to start. Sadly there wasn’t an opportunity for me share my experience, and I have come away slightly deflated. (Perhaps I’m slightly naive…)

But.. I will be channeling my experience and connecting this week even more with my community, the wāhine toa that support me and any to support their whānau too. Because stories matter.

And we need to find out how to share them.

Because the speakers that inspired me, and who are walking ahead of me are sharing their stories of their patients. It’s an honour, but also when you see potential- it’s a responsibility that we take seriously.

I don’t have time to wait for policy change to start improving the hauora of our wāhine. So, let’s start tomorrow.

Who’s along for the ride? (It’s probably going to be a bit bumpy)

“Neuroses of the menopause.”Published in 1897.1897.. yes. 1 8 9 7Because here we are in March 2026…and I am still standi...
23/03/2026

“Neuroses of the menopause.”
Published in 1897.

1897.. yes. 1 8 9 7

Because here we are in March 2026…
and I am still standing in rooms explaining the link between hormones and mental health.

That’s why I chose this topic for my talks this weekend.

Not because it’s new..
but because it isn’t.

We have known for hundreds of years that midlife hormonal changes can affect mood, behaviour, and emotional wellbeing.

And yet, historically (and currently) women have been (are still being):
😡labelled “hysterical”
😡admitted to psychiatric institutions
😡dismissed
😡recommended and prescribed inappropriate and/or ineffective medications
– or simply not believed

So I have to ask…

How are we still here?

How is there still no standardised, global education on women’s mental health across the lifespan?

How are we still separating hormones from the brain - when they are fundamentally connected?

This isn’t fringe.
This isn’t rare.
This is physiology.

It’s time to stop rediscovering what was already written
and start actually applying it.

PS And slight rant - please don't just blame your GP. We have feelings too, and our doctor friends do as well. We need to work together, not against each other. We want to help. The misogyny isn’t ‘just’ our fault now.

When it comes to MHT, it’s not about a simple yes or no - it’s about the why. This was the core of my talks this weekend...
22/03/2026

When it comes to MHT, it’s not about a simple yes or no - it’s about the why. This was the core of my talks this weekend. People don’t seek medication for fun; they want relief. Our job isn’t to rush to treatment without understanding the root cause; it’s to gather evidence.
✨ Are these symptoms hormonal?
✨ What’s behind them?
✨ Why are they surfacing now?
✨ How will the body react?

With these answers, we can build a plan that truly fits. MHT might be part of it, or it might not be. Focusing on why leads to more personalized and effective care. You deserve more than just a yes or no; you deserve clarity.

The evidence is clear: considering hormones leads to better outcomes, especially for women.

21/03/2026

Feeling really lucky to be supported by an amazing community here in Aotearoa and world wide- to have the confidence to teach about hormones and mental health. I’m motivated by my patients, and the stories I hear, and fundamentally how- when we get it right, hormone can change their lives, and those of their whānau. We need to learn from each other, and make our own pathway for our community, our Wāhine here in Aotearoa. I thank , , (Prof Kulkarni), , , and for giving me the confidence to stand up and share my stories underpinned with evidence. We can’t wait for the guidelines to change our practice. We don’t have that long to wait.

90 mins on hormones, mental health and perimenopause. The hardest thing was choosing what NOT to say. I hope I’ve select...
20/03/2026

90 mins on hormones, mental health and perimenopause. The hardest thing was choosing what NOT to say. I hope I’ve selected the ‘best’ bits!

20/03/2026

Session 1: Hormones and mental health across the lifespan. And Session 2: Is it perimenopause? Early clues and clinical confidence in making a diagnosis. That’s 90 mins to start to change the world… right?!

Ongoing perimenopausal symptoms?What are you actually treating?You’re not treating “low.”You’re treating change. Big cha...
27/02/2026

Ongoing perimenopausal symptoms?

What are you actually treating?

You’re not treating “low.”
You’re treating change. Big change.

And a low-dose estrogen patch (eg 25mcg or 1 pump.. or even 2) while your ovaries are still surging and crashing -
plus progesterone for 12–14 days isn’t always going to cut it.

Because the problem isn’t absence. It’s change.

Perimenopause isn’t a gentle decline. It’s a hormonal recalibration.

And huge change needs a thoughtful plan, not a one-size-fits-all script.

Follow for evidence-based practice-informed hormone education. Because if you think it is hormones. It often is. You just need the right evidence to guide you.

If you feel (like I do) that everyone deserves to understand what perimenopause actually is, tag a friend.

More info in bio.

Comment (or PM) MORE and I’ll send you a discount code, plus access to free lessons to explore first.

26/02/2026

9 minutes on ADHD and perimenopause/hormones (and that’s no way near enough!)

Under the stars tonight, I was thinking about hormones.The more I have learnt, the more confident I feel discussing both...
18/02/2026

Under the stars tonight, I was thinking about hormones.

The more I have learnt, the more confident I feel discussing both the benefits and the risks. That is what understanding does. It brings clarity.

We need to share the science.
The physiology.
The logic.

So everyone can choose.

And so people know, if their symptoms are hormone related, just how much better they might feel when those symptoms are appropriately treated.

The answers are all in your history. Your story.

“My progesterone is low.”Progesterone is made after ovulation (corpus luteum function).From the mid-30s, ovarian ageing ...
14/02/2026

“My progesterone is low.”

Progesterone is made after ovulation (corpus luteum function).

From the mid-30s, ovarian ageing increases cycle variability:
• ovulation becomes less consistent
• luteal progesterone output declines
• cycles shorten or become erratic

This contributes to:
• insomnia
• mood symptoms
• heavier periods
• spotting
• hot flushes
…and declining fertility after ~35 ('everyone' knows this).

Some (non–evidence-based) approaches push progesterone-only therapy as the “first step.”
And yes, it can help.

But if estrogen fluctuation is also causing symptoms, it makes sense that the evidence shows estrogen + progesterone is often more effective.

Here’s the part that makes no sense:

We happily prescribe the pill to 20-year-olds for “period problems.”

But a 38-year-old with sleep disruption, mood changes and cycle chaos is told:
❌ “too young”
❌ “just stress”
❌ “wait it out”

Why do women have to fall apart before they qualify for treatment?
Especially as MHT is safe for most women

Address

140 Carlyle Street
Napier
4110

Opening Hours

Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when femalegp posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category