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The Power of Hormones: Break free from fear and misinformation about hormones and harness them for a healthier, happier life
For decades, three vital hormones in the female body, progesterone, estrogen and testosterone, have been misunderstood, dismissed and feared. Their critical roles in improving the function of women’s brains, bones, hearts and long-term health have been ignored.
Confusion between natural, body-identical hormones and synthetic, chemically altered ‘hormones’ has fuelled fear, distorted medical guidelines and shaped media narratives. The result? Countless women struggling with hormone imbalances left untreated, misdiagnosed or prescribed antidepressants and other medications instead of being prescribed the hormones their bodies are lacking.
In this bold, evidence-based book, leading doctor and women’s hormone specialist Dr Louise Newson exposes the uncomfortable truth behind medicine’s blindness, ignorance and complacency, revealing how women’s suffering has been normalised for generations. Drawing on powerful medical history, science and decades of clinical experience, she dismantles myths around menopause, HRT and so-called ‘sex hormones’, and gives women the knowledge that has been withheld for too long.
The Power of Hormones exposes why so many people have been let down and continue to be failed by outdated medicine. Passionate, empowering and refreshingly honest, the book shows how understanding and restoring hormonal balance can transform quality of life as well as future health.
Confusion between natural, body-identical hormones and synthetic, chemically altered ‘hormones’ has fuelled fear, distorted medical guidelines and shaped media narratives. The result? Countless women struggling with hormone imbalances left untreated, misdiagnosed or prescribed antidepressants and other medications instead of being prescribed the hormones their bodies are lacking.
In this bold, evidence-based book, leading doctor and women’s hormone specialist Dr Louise Newson exposes the uncomfortable truth behind medicine’s blindness, ignorance and complacency, revealing how women’s suffering has been normalised for generations. Drawing on powerful medical history, science and decades of clinical experience, she dismantles myths around menopause, HRT and so-called ‘sex hormones’, and gives women the knowledge that has been withheld for too long.
The Power of Hormones exposes why so many people have been let down and continue to be failed by outdated medicine. Passionate, empowering and refreshingly honest, the book shows how understanding and restoring hormonal balance can transform quality of life as well as future health.
- GenresNonfiction
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 24, 2026
5 stars. This book was fascinating and answers so many questions as to why treatment seems to be so poor in my life and the experiences of other women o know too. Highly recommend to empower yourself with knowledge that is not readily available or it seems known by so many medical professionals.
July 28, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really enjoyed this book and found it incredibly enlightening. I appreciated how evidence-based it was, with the research helping to explain so many aspects of women’s health that often aren’t discussed in enough depth.
The one area I felt was missing for me was more practical guidance on how to advocate for myself within the medical system. I’m a big believer in body-identical hormone therapy and evidence-based hormone replacement or stabilisation, but I often struggle to communicate my thoughts and questions in a way that encourages meaningful conversations with healthcare professionals. I would have loved a chapter that explored how patients can effectively advocate for themselves and navigate those discussions.
I also found the sections on forensic psychology and the lived experiences of women in the justice system fascinating. Learning about the relationship between hormonal cycles and how they may influence vulnerability to crime or offending behaviour was something I’d never really considered before. It was one of the most interesting parts of the book, and I actually wished it had gone into even more detail.
Overall, this was a thought-provoking and well-researched read that gave me a lot to reflect on. While I was left wanting a little more practical advice in a couple of areas, I would absolutely recommend it to anyone interested in women’s health and the science behind it.
I really enjoyed this book and found it incredibly enlightening. I appreciated how evidence-based it was, with the research helping to explain so many aspects of women’s health that often aren’t discussed in enough depth.
The one area I felt was missing for me was more practical guidance on how to advocate for myself within the medical system. I’m a big believer in body-identical hormone therapy and evidence-based hormone replacement or stabilisation, but I often struggle to communicate my thoughts and questions in a way that encourages meaningful conversations with healthcare professionals. I would have loved a chapter that explored how patients can effectively advocate for themselves and navigate those discussions.
I also found the sections on forensic psychology and the lived experiences of women in the justice system fascinating. Learning about the relationship between hormonal cycles and how they may influence vulnerability to crime or offending behaviour was something I’d never really considered before. It was one of the most interesting parts of the book, and I actually wished it had gone into even more detail.
Overall, this was a thought-provoking and well-researched read that gave me a lot to reflect on. While I was left wanting a little more practical advice in a couple of areas, I would absolutely recommend it to anyone interested in women’s health and the science behind it.
September 3, 2026
☆4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
This book is much more than an informative deep dive into female hormones and the impact on women throughout each of our life stages.
By going back through history, recounting each stage of medical research and it's impact on women (often hideous & debilitating), we are able to see first hand how little has changed in terms of how many within the medical profession still view women's hormonal health.
The easy response would be to give up, believe nothing will change, that gender bias will continue - or we as women can stand together, advocate for our hormonal health, stay informed, and not only educate ourselves but other women.
Through reading this book I am now more fully equipped to advocate for myself and others, and will continue to refer back to it for both my work and own health.
This book is much more than an informative deep dive into female hormones and the impact on women throughout each of our life stages.
By going back through history, recounting each stage of medical research and it's impact on women (often hideous & debilitating), we are able to see first hand how little has changed in terms of how many within the medical profession still view women's hormonal health.
The easy response would be to give up, believe nothing will change, that gender bias will continue - or we as women can stand together, advocate for our hormonal health, stay informed, and not only educate ourselves but other women.
Through reading this book I am now more fully equipped to advocate for myself and others, and will continue to refer back to it for both my work and own health.
May 25, 2026
A great book for deeper understanding of the truth / myths and scientific/ un-scientific knowledge etc. read it with lots of skips though because a lot information is irrelevant if you are not a medical professional. It is a comprehensive everything included. The real information for a normal person could be distilled into a long article.
June 9, 2026
4.5 rounded up to 5.
Dr Louise Newson reveals the medical misogyny at play whereby the medical profession have largely denied women access to body identical hormones, not just for vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes) in menopause and perimenopause, but also for a wealth of other symptoms such as aching joints, brain fog, memory problems, anxiety, depression which are also due to low hormone levels.
These links have been known for decades, yet still there is a lack of knowledge or a 'willful blindness' as she puts it, on the part of the medical profession to make this connection and give women what they they need.
Fascinating, comprehensive and rage-inducing, (especially as I've read this hot on the heels of 'Invisible Women').
Everyone should read this! And don't think it's just about hormones relating to HRT. She also talks about the contraceptive pill. I didn't know they these don't contain 'hormones' at all! Instead, they contain chemical substances that, as well as having health risks that are minimised, have the effect of blocking the hormones circulating in the body that are much needed. A double whammy then. And body identical hormones can help with PMT/PMDD. Who knew? I certainly didn't.
The history parts are great - both in explaining how long the benefits of body identical hormones have been known, but also how other drugs prescribed to women and 'chemical' hormones came to be pushed and marketed aggressively instead.
There are some case studies included which demonstrate just how bad it can get for women and an interesting section on her work with women in prisons.
It's excellent to educate readers with a well-researched piece like this. I'd have liked a summing up with more of a call for action - making recommendations for change at the highest levels, both nationally and internationally. I'd also love to learn more about and about best practice - of good things that are happening internationally to give pointers to those of us living in countries (New Zealand in my case) where my doctor said no when I asked her for testosterone as part of HRT, because 'I'll develop a deep voice and grow hairs on my chest (sic).'
I already sing
Excellent and important. Read this and spread the word...
Dr Louise Newson reveals the medical misogyny at play whereby the medical profession have largely denied women access to body identical hormones, not just for vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes) in menopause and perimenopause, but also for a wealth of other symptoms such as aching joints, brain fog, memory problems, anxiety, depression which are also due to low hormone levels.
These links have been known for decades, yet still there is a lack of knowledge or a 'willful blindness' as she puts it, on the part of the medical profession to make this connection and give women what they they need.
Fascinating, comprehensive and rage-inducing, (especially as I've read this hot on the heels of 'Invisible Women').
Everyone should read this! And don't think it's just about hormones relating to HRT. She also talks about the contraceptive pill. I didn't know they these don't contain 'hormones' at all! Instead, they contain chemical substances that, as well as having health risks that are minimised, have the effect of blocking the hormones circulating in the body that are much needed. A double whammy then. And body identical hormones can help with PMT/PMDD. Who knew? I certainly didn't.
The history parts are great - both in explaining how long the benefits of body identical hormones have been known, but also how other drugs prescribed to women and 'chemical' hormones came to be pushed and marketed aggressively instead.
There are some case studies included which demonstrate just how bad it can get for women and an interesting section on her work with women in prisons.
It's excellent to educate readers with a well-researched piece like this. I'd have liked a summing up with more of a call for action - making recommendations for change at the highest levels, both nationally and internationally. I'd also love to learn more about and about best practice - of good things that are happening internationally to give pointers to those of us living in countries (New Zealand in my case) where my doctor said no when I asked her for testosterone as part of HRT, because 'I'll develop a deep voice and grow hairs on my chest (sic).'
I already sing
Excellent and important. Read this and spread the word...
June 20, 2026
To All Women - whatever age, please read this book -
To help yourself and help other women that you love and care for - daughters, granddaughters, friends, colleagues - to provide understanding and information for the right treatment to better improve their health, mood and lives.
To help yourself and help other women that you love and care for - daughters, granddaughters, friends, colleagues - to provide understanding and information for the right treatment to better improve their health, mood and lives.
September 3, 2026
Very informative, quite shocking in places
May 29, 2026
Fascinating and informative. It’s shocking how much women have to fight to overcome medical misogyny and gaslighting. This book is just another step on the road to improving women’s health and breaking down some of the myths around artificial synthetic hormone-like drugs that are so commonly prescribed without thought for their implications our bodies. I thoroughly recommend this book- and there’s even loads of evidenced research that Dr Newson lists to back up what she talks about if you want to delve deeper.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews