femalegp

22/11/2025

To improve health without over-medicalising, we must clearly define what’s normal- brief period pain lasting few days and relieved by simple analgesia is normal, while pain with s*x, pain that persists AFTER menstruation, or menstrual pain that limits work or quality of life, is not normal and deserves proper exploration, investigation and support. Education and empowerment need to be at the centre.

15/11/2025

We need to highlight the differences between different hormones and preparations. It really is

It’s a great start.. and very needed to emphasise that transdermal Estrogen therapy doesn’t ‘give’ you breast cancer but it was a missed opportunity to specify the important nuances between the preparations.

Read more ⬇️⬇️

08/11/2025

My art of medicine includes looking at health through a hormonal lens.
I’ve learnt what hormones can do by witnessing incredible change, when they’re often the last thing we look at, and magic happens.
That’s something worth sharing.

But here’s the thing.. many of us don’t even know what “normal” looks like.
If you have a menstrual cycle, you already have clues.
Let’s unpack them together.

Because my art isn’t about pointing out a problem, it’s about finding the way forward.

24/10/2025

Testosterone for women yes - and we need to shout about its importance!

Women make testosterone too and it’s vital for energy, mood, motivation, cognition, and s*xual wellbeing. But right now in Aotearoa, no funded option exists for women, while four testosterone products are funded for men.

⚖️ This is a clear inequity and we can change it.

🖊️ Sign the petition: www.change.org/p/get-pharmac-to-fund-the-only-approved-testosterone-treatment-for-women-in-nz

📖 Read more | share your story | https://www.femalegp.co.nz/androfeme

Your stories and signatures matter.
Let’s make sure women have access to all three hormones - estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Because women’s health deserves equal funding and equal respect.
Please tag a friend, and share. Because this taboo topic needs talking about because it impacts all of us.

21/10/2025

Testosterone for women. Yes it is a ‘thing’
- the benefits for women extend to whānau and beyond. Libido is relevant- partnered or unpartnered.

But let us think a little bit more.. libido is not just one area of the brain.. is it?? So, even though testosterone is only licensed for libido and for women in the postmenopause, it is logical that many experience ‘side effects’ of improved energy, motivation, brain fog…

We can’t change the guidelines right now- but we can get males, females and our community behind the fact that women have and therefore need testosterone too.

Share your support with https://www.femalegp.co.nz/androfeme (link in bio) where I have stated the facts, guidelines and evidence. But your STORIES are important.

Womens health has been dismissed for so long. We got progesterone funded we now need our third hormone funded.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360857778/huge-inequity-women-missing-out-life-changing-hormone-while-pharmac-funds-four-types

🖊️THE PETITION: https://www.change.org/p/get-pharmac-to-fund-the-only-approved-testosterone-treatment-for-women-in-nz

Eva Bradley told her doctor she had “bitchy wife syndrome”. Two years later, she’s a better version of herself.

20/10/2025

I used to think gratitude theory only worked if I was about writing down my list at the end of a long day. And honestly? Sometimes it felt like one more thing on my to-do list - a bit forced, a bit flat.

But recently, I reframed it. And it changed something for me.
Instead of what I was grateful for, I started asking myself:�“How did this good thing come to be?”
For example - recently I got one of those rare bluebird days on the mountain skiing. But what made it so meaningful wasn’t just the snow or sunshine. It was realising:�- My practice manager had cleared my schedule.�- A friend lent me gear we needed.�- My practice manager waved her magic wand and reorganised my schedule
It wasn’t just a moment of joy - it was a whole chain of people and care that made it possible.�And when I traced it back like that, something softened in me. I felt calmer. Held. Less alone.
Science backs this up - gratitude impacts the nervous system most when it connects us to support, safety, and relationships.
So if you’ve ever struggled to feel grateful when life is overwhelming… you’re not doing it wrong. You might just need a new lens.

With gratitude,�Dr Sam x

19/10/2025

Have you ever been so proud of yourself for finishing something that you just want to tell everyone? That’s me right now!

After so many incredible messages from women who took my first course, Is It My Hormones?, I wanted to go one step further - to help you understand how to actually treat hormonal problems once they’re identified.

So I created HORMONE THERAPY DECODED - clear, fact-checked, practical information on what really works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to hormone therapy. It’s everything you need to know, without the overwhelm.

This isn’t just a course, I want it to be an investment in your health, your confidence, and your conversations with your healthcare team.

✨ Intro offer: 25% off for OCTOBER, code FEMALEGP
👉 Link in bio or www.femalegp.co.nz/all

18/10/2025

What does menopause mean to me?

It means opportunity.

When I meet a new patient, or one I’ve known for a while, I smile.. because I know there are likely some “ah-ha” moments ahead, and real empowerment to come.

The concept of hormones and menopause means opportunity. It’s a biological shift that’s been misunderstood for far too long, and a chance for us to do better.

This year’s International Menopause Day theme is lifestyle, and that matters. Movement, sleep, nutrition, and connection all shape how we feel. But as a doctor, I’ve also seen how powerful it is when women understand their hormones and realise they don’t have to just cope.

We can support the whole picture - body, mind, and hormones. Lifestyle matters, but so does access to accurate information and the choice to use hormone therapy when it’s right for you.

For me, menopause means breaking the silence, helping women put the puzzle pieces together, and guiding them toward clarity, health, and self-trust. And importantly, we shouldn’t wait until menopause to start. The clues are there from the moment we transition through menarche, the day our periods begin.

That’s why I’ve created my course, building on Is It Hormones? And today, I’m proud to launch Hormone Therapy Decoded a comprehensive guide to hormone medications, their roles, risks, and most importantly, their benefits.

Menopause isn’t the end of anything.
It’s the beginning of understanding ourselves differently and of changing the dialogue for good.

18/10/2025

What does menopause mean to me?

It means opportunity.

When I meet a new patient, or one I’ve known for a while, I smile.. because I know there are likely some “ah-ha” moments ahead, and real empowerment to come.

The concept of hormones and menopause means opportunity. It’s a biological shift that’s been misunderstood for far too long, and a chance for us to do better.

This year’s International Menopause Day theme is lifestyle, and that matters. Movement, sleep, nutrition, and connection all shape how we feel. But as a doctor, I’ve also seen how powerful it is when women understand their hormones and realise they don’t have to just cope.

We can support the whole picture - body, mind, and hormones. Lifestyle matters, but so does access to accurate information and the choice to use hormone therapy when it’s right for you.

For me, menopause means breaking the silence, helping women put the puzzle pieces together, and guiding them toward clarity, health, and self-trust. And importantly, we shouldn’t wait until menopause to start. The clues are there from the moment we transition through menarche, the day our periods begin.

That’s why I’ve created my course, building on Is It Hormones? And today, I’m proud to launch Hormone Therapy Decoded a comprehensive guide to hormone medications, their roles, risks, and most importantly, their benefits.

Menopause isn’t the end of anything.
It’s the beginning of understanding ourselves differently and of changing the dialogue for good.

Link in bio, or go to my website for more info www.FemaleGP.co.nz