Individual members of The Menopause Exchange can send in questions to be answered by our ‘Ask the Experts’ panel. The senders of all questions remain anonymous.
KATHY ABERNETHY MClinSci RN
BMS Menopause Specialist, Director of the menopause course and of Coombe Menopause Clinic, South West London. Author of Menopause; The One Stop Guide.
GAYNOR BUSSELL B.Sc. Nutrition (Hons)
Nutritionist and writer, specialising in diabetes, women’s health and weight issues.
I am an award-winning and widely experienced nutritionist who also worked as a dietitian for over 30 years. I am an established author, having written a bestselling book on women’s health plus two kindle e-books and chapters in various books on diet and health. I have been published in journals and conference proceedings and written articles for magazines, content for websites and am a journal peer reviewer. I have expert knowledge and experience in many aspects of diet including women’s health, weight management, diet and inflammation, Type 2 diabetes, and behaviour change.
DR SARAH GRAY BSc. (Hons) MBBS MRCGP DRCOG DFSRH FHEA
Dr Sarah Gray is a GP with over 35 years’ experience in all aspects of women’s health. She has retired from the NHS and now leads a practice providing specialist services within the independent sector. She is extensively involved in teaching and training healthcare professionals as well as educating women directly so that as many as possible have the chance to make informed decisions about their own health.
DR JOANNE HOBSON MBBS, DRCOG, BMS Specialist, Member of the Institute of Pyschosexual Medicine & Member of NAPS
Dr. Joanne Hobson is a highly experienced GP with over 30 years of practice, specialising in women’s sexual and psychosexual medicine. For more than 15 years, she has led a menopause clinic in Nottingham, alongside her role at a community gynaecology clinic, where she addresses a wide range of gynaecological issues, including psychosexual concerns.
As the Clinical Lead Director of The Menopause Consortium (TMC), Dr. Hobson oversees a number of clinics across the UK, collaborating with BMS Specialists and Women’s Health Specialists to deliver personalised hormonal healthcare.
A passionate advocate for education and professional development, Dr. Hobson has spent the last 15 years training and presenting to healthcare professionals. In recent years, she has focused on expanding her training programs for healthcare providers to meet the growing demand for improved menopause care services.
ANGIE JEFFERSON RD RPHNutr
Angie Jefferson is a consultant dietitian. Whether communicating face-to-face or via the web or written form, Angie focuses on delivering simple positive messages for achieving optimum nutrition within a healthy lifestyle. In addition to the practical application of the science of nutrition, Angie’s specialties include women’s and children’s nutrition, functional foods, weight management and heart health. She has run her own consultancy business for almost 26 years.
DR DIANA MANSOUR FRCOG FFSRH DIPM
Dr Diana Mansour is a consultant in community gynaecology and reproductive healthcare and honorary clinical lecturer at the University of Newcastle. She was Senior Vice President for the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. She has written more than 90 scientific papers and publications on a variety of medical topics including the menopause.
CARRIE MARTIN Pelvic Health Physiotherapist
Carrie Martin is a highly skilled and compassionate Pelvic Health Physiotherapist at The Menopause Consortium (TMC), she is dedicated to improving the lives of women through specialised care. With a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for her field, she has made a significant impact on the well-being of her patients.
As a passionate advocate for women’s health, Carrie firmly believes that pelvic floor issues should not be endured silently. She strives to empower her patients by providing them with the necessary tools, education, and personalised treatment plans to regain control of their pelvic health. With her compassionate approach and comprehensive understanding of the unique needs of women, she aims to improve healthcare and make a positive difference in the lives of her patients.
Professional Accreditations:
Member of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Member of the Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (POGP)
Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)
Member of the British Menopause Society.
PROFESSOR NICK PANAY
Professor Nick Panay is a consultant gynaecologist with a special interest in reproductive medicine, menopause and menstrual disorders. He is a Professor of Practice at Imperial College, London and heads a research team which focuses on improving the understanding and management of the menopause, premature menopause, PMS, PCOS, new HRT products and complementary therapies. He leads NHS menopause clinic at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital and is founder and director of The International Centre for Hormone Health (www.hormonehealth.co.uk) at One Welbeck, 1 Welbeck Street, London.
DANI SINGER BA, PG Dip Counselling, MA Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP Snr Accr)
Dani Singer is a specialist counsellor & psychotherapist at the Menopause Clinical & Research Unit, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex, with over 25 years of experience and is a Senior Accredited practitioner with the BACP.
She formerly worked at the West London Menopause & Premenstrual Syndrome Centre at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital and at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital and was involved with the charity The Daisy Network from its inception as Patron and Trustee.
She is currently also in private practice, working with women experiencing menopause and struggling with infertility, as well as anxiety, stress, low-self-esteem and low mood.
DR NUTTAN K TANNA D Com P, IPP, FFRPS, FRPharms
Dr Nuttan Tanna works as a consultant pharmacist in Women’s Health. Her remit includes pharmaceutical/clinical care with focus on good and safe medicine taking, teaching and training, research, leadership and policy level work. She runs weekly medication management clinics at Northwick Park Hospital, London North West Healthcare NHS Trust, in Harrow, Middlesex. The clinics are for high-risk patients including women with an early menopause, with other medical conditions and those who have breast or gynaecological cancer and need help managing their menopause. She works with patients with osteoporosis and high risk for fragility fractures. She is a clinical advisor for the Royal Osteoporosis Society. Her research interests include innovative NHS service development. She is a senior NIHR CLAHRC fellow with expertise in improvement science, and a senior honorary research fellow and principal lecturer with Imperial College, London.
Menopause Patient information leaflet on this link: https://www.selfcareforum.org/menopause/
To check your risk for fragility fracture, link for the FRAX tool: https://frax.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/tool.aspx?country=1
LILA THAKERAR MBE GPhC
Lila Thakerar is a community pharmacist from Harrow. She was named in the Queen’s New Year Honours list 2012, as having been awarded the Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the community in the London Borough of Harrow. Having won two national business awards in 2005, Lila also writes for magazines and national newspapers and advises and writes about the menopause and pharmacy related issues in the community.
DR JENIFER WORDEN MBChB MRCGP MFHom DFSRH
Dr Jenifer Worden is a GP in Christchurch, Dorset. She has a particular interest in women’s health ‘especially contraception and the menopause’.
DR SARAH WRIGHT
Dr Sarah Wright graduated from Leeds University in 2001 and earned her GP qualification with distinction in 2006. She has extensive experience working as a GP in the Midlands, where she developed a strong interest in women’s health early in her career. In 2004, she completed a Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, followed by the Diplomate of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare in 2007 and has completed the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Post Reproductive Health course as well as being a member of the British Menopause Society.
Her dedication to providing evidence-based care empowers women to make informed decisions during their menopause journey. Dr. Wright is committed to helping women navigate this challenging phase of life, guiding them to feel their best through a holistic approach that integrates medical, alternative, and lifestyle measures for optimal well-being during menopause and beyond.