103 – A fighter pilot's menopause: HRT, testosterone & guilt with Jo Salter

Jo flew supersonic jets under extreme pressure for a living, but missed the menopause happening inside her own body.

This week Dr Louise Newson is joined by Jo Salter, Britain's first female fast jet pilot, who spent years pushing through severe menopause symptoms without realising what they were, until she found herself mentally ticking off a symptom checklist in the middle of a conference. They talk about why testosterone is still so hard for women to access even on an NHS prescription, and the guidelines that leave many women denied any hormones at all after a surgical menopause.

Louise also explains why breast cancer shouldn't automatically rule out HRT, the buried history of progesterone and postnatal depression, and shares a patient story that shows just how much hormones can transform a life.

Jo closes with her three take-home tips for building the confidence to advocate for your own health.

Let’s connect

👉 Track your symptoms and understand hormones, download the Balance app: https://bit.ly/4yZty5A

👉 More from Dr Louise Newson: https://linkin.bio/drlouisenewson

👉Follow Jo: @josaltermbe