Dr Louisa Albertyn

14/11/2025

Your car has dashboard lights. Your body does too. 🚗💙
You wouldn’t ignore the oil light on your car, but so many men ignore the early signals their body sends.
This Movember, let’s change that.

These four simple numbers can help you catch heart disease and diabetes before they start:

1️⃣ Blood Pressure: Aim for below 120/80 mmHg.
If it’s creeping higher, it’s time to look at stress, salt, and check in with your GP.

2️⃣ Cholesterol (LDL): Keep it under 3 mmol/L.
High cholesterol can silently narrow your arteries, increasing your risk for a heart attack or stroke.

3️⃣ Blood Sugar: Fasting glucose under 5.6 mmol/L.
Small changes today prevent diabetes tomorrow.

4️⃣ Waist Circumference: Less than 94 cm for men.
Visceral fat, the kind that sits around your organs, raises your risk for heart disease, even if your BMI looks “normal.”

✨ These are not “old man” checks. They’re smart man checks.
Because the strongest move you can make is showing up for your own health, long before you have symptoms.

📅 Ask your GP for a quick health check.
It takes less than 20 minutes, and it could change the next 20 years of your life.

You can also book your appointment at the practice. (Details in Bio)

08/11/2025

MSH Team members Dr Louisa Albertyn, Carren Hughes, and Dina-Marie Griffiths attended the Erectile Dysfunction Roundtable hosted by Viatris Pharmaceuticals in Johannesburg.

The event, led by Prof Shingai Mutambirwa, encouraged collaboration between clinicians supporting men’s sexual wellbeing.

We’re inspired by our network’s ongoing commitment to learning, connection, and advancing sexual health across disciplines.

06/11/2025

November is Movember (Basically a whole month dedicated to Men’s Health), a reminder that your health deserves just as much attention as the people and things you take care of every day.

Too many men wait until something feels really wrong before booking that doctor’s visit, but by then, what could’ve been managed early often becomes serious.
Here’s what I want every man (and every partner who loves one) to know 👇

💔 Your heart might whisper before it shouts.
Chest tightness, “heartburn” that keeps returning, shortness of breath, or unexplained fatigue, these can all be early warning signs of heart disease.
Don’t write them off as stress or indigestion. Get that heart checked.

🧠 Low mood isn’t weakness, it’s a signal.
Constant fatigue, irritability, loss of motivation, trouble sleeping, or withdrawing from friends are often symptoms of depression or low testosterone, not “just being tired.”
Both are common. Both are treatable.

💧 Your bladder has something to say too.
Needing to urinate more often at night, feeling pressure, or noticing a weak urine stream may point to prostate changes.
Routine checks can detect issues early, even before symptoms get worse.

💪 Real strength is in prevention.
Going for regular check-ups isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign that you value your health, your future, and your family.

This Movember, make one simple promise to yourself:
📅 Book that health check.
❤️ Talk about how you’re feeling.
👬 Remind a friend to do the same.

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30/10/2025

In case you missed it😉

28/10/2025

Be sure to join our talk this coming THURSDAY at 13:00 - Live on Facebook!
🗓️Mark your calendars😊

Join us on Thursday, 30 October at 1pm for a special Ask The Expert discussion with Dr Louisa Albertyn and Pumla, as they unpack how Breast Cancer impacts Mental Health, and share ways to cope, heal, and find strength through support. Tune in live on Facebook . Let’s raise awareness, break the silence, and stand together in support of those living with Breast Cancer

23/10/2025

Worried about radiation from mammograms? Let’s look at the real numbers.

I get it, the idea of radiation sounds scary.
But here’s what the research shows 👇
🌸 The lifetime risk of radiation-induced breast cancer from regular mammograms is about 10 in 100,000 women.
🌸 The lives saved through early detection? Around 350 in that same group.

So when we weigh the risk vs the benefit; the benefit is overwhelmingly greater.
And remember, we’re all exposed to small amounts of radiation every day, from the ground, the sun, and even flying on a plane.

Your mammogram is not something to fear.
It’s something that could save your life.

💬 Please, book your annual or biannual mammogram, not because you’re afraid, but because you value your health and your future.
🎀 Early detection changes everything.

15/10/2025

Breast cancer doesn’t only show up as a lump…

Most breast changes are harmless, but some should never be ignored. 💗

Here are 5 signs that mean it’s time to see your doctor:
1️⃣ A new lump or thickening in your breast or armpit
2️⃣ A change in size or shape of your breast
3️⃣ Skin changes (dimpling, redness, scaling)
4️⃣ Any ni**le discharge
5️⃣ A newly inverted ni**le

👉 Remember: noticing one of these signs does not mean you have cancer. But it does mean your doctor should take a closer look.

🎀 Breast cancer is most treatable when caught early. Trust your body, check in with yourself, and if something feels different, don’t wait.

09/10/2025

“I don’t feel a lump, so why should I go for a mammogram?”
I hear this so often from my patients… and it’s one of the biggest myths about breast cancer.

My mom was the first in our family to be diagnosed. 💕
No family history. Non-smoker. Healthy lifestyle.
She just went for her routine mammogram and ultrasound and that’s when they found a tiny lump, invisible to the eye and too small to feel.

That screening quite literally saved her life. 🙏
Today, she’s cancer-free and living proof that early detection matters more than family history or symptoms.

So, please, ladies, don’t wait until you feel something.
👉 Book your annual mammogram and ultrasound.
👉 Tell your friends and sisters to do the same.
Because the best time to check is before there’s a reason to worry.

🎀 Early detection saves lives. My mom’s story is living proof.

02/10/2025

💗 Breast Cancer Awareness Month 💗
Did you know that most women diagnosed with breast cancer don’t have a family history? That’s why awareness, self-checks, and screenings matter so much.

Here’s what I want you to know:
✅ Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide
✅ Risk increases with age, but younger women can still be affected
✅ Warning signs include new lumps, breast changes, or unusual ni**le changes
✅ Healthy lifestyle choices can lower risk, but regular check-ups are still key

🌸 My gentle reminder: don’t ignore changes in your body. If something feels “off,” speak to your GP. Early detection is powerful.

💬 Save this as your October reminder and share with a friend who needs the nudge 💕

24/09/2025

HPV Myths Busted

There’s so much confusion around HPV and cervical cancer.

Here are some of the biggest myths I hear in practice and the facts that matter:
1️⃣ Myth: Only women get HPV-related cancers.
✨ Fact: Men can also get a**l, pe**le, and throat cancers caused by HPV.

2️⃣ Myth: Only girls get the HPV vaccine.
✨ Fact: Boys can also be vaccinated from age 9.

3️⃣ Myth: No discharge or lesions = no HPV.
✨ Fact: Most people don’t have symptoms until advanced changes develop.

4️⃣ Myth: Testing positive for HPV means you will get cervical cancer.
✨ Fact: Your immune system often clears HPV naturally, like any other virus.

5️⃣ Myth: Only women can be tested for HPV.
✨ Fact: Men can be swabbed, but results are less accurate, so routine testing focuses on women.

💬 HPV doesn’t have to equal fear. With testing, vaccines, and regular GP visits, we can prevent most HPV-related cancers.

👉 Would you ever consider an HPV self-test if it was available to you?

P.S. It is! See my post from last week.

18/09/2025

Did you know you can now screen for HPV, a virus that can cause cervical cancer, in the comfort of your own home?

Here’s what you need to know:
🔹 HPV is a very common virus, passed through s&xual contact.
🔹 Most of the time, your body can clear it naturally, but sometimes it lingers and can lead to cervical cancer.
🔹 That’s why we screen: to catch changes early, long before cancer develops.

With new self-collection kits, you can take a simple v@ginal swab at home, send it to the lab, and get clear results.

➡️ If HPV is detected, the next step is a Pap smear with your doctor or nurse.

This isn’t about fear, it’s about empowerment. The earlier we know, the more we can do. 🌸

💬 Would you ever consider doing an HPV self-test at home? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

10/09/2025

When someone shares Suicidal feelings online, it can be hard to know what to say.
The most important thing is to start the conversation. A simple, caring message or call shows them they have been seen and that their feelings matter.

Your courage to reach out can help them feel less alone and be the first step towards getting the support they need.💛