The Dr Louise Newson Podcast3 Jun 2025

10 - Breaking down health taboos: Dr Karan Rajan on hormones, myths and patient power

'Haemorrhoids is one of those embarrassing problems that a lot of people suffer from. There's a lot of taboos surrounding it, because people don't want to own up that they've got haemorrhoids. A lot of people listening or watching this probably have haemorrhoids, they're probably sitting on them right now. That video is not a sexy topic, but it got over 2 million views... that is a huge amount of people that I could see across 100 clinics, and still not get to that number.'

In this week’s episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Dr Karan Rajan, a doctor, health educator, and host of the Dr Karan Explores podcast. With millions of followers across his social media platforms, Dr Karan showcases the power of social media to ‘de-taboo the taboo’, tackling topics including menopause, women’s health, and bowel issues. He stresses the harm caused by shame and silence, reminding us that ‘taboo should not be associated with any disease or condition’.

A passionate advocate for accessible, jargon-free medical education, Dr Karan believes that everyone deserves to feel confident in understanding and managing their own health. Together, he and Dr Louise challenge persistent myths, like the notion that testosterone is a male-only hormone – exploring how such misconceptions reinforce outdated ideas that negatively impact patient care.

They also address how misinformation, stigma and a one size fits approach to medicine creates barriers to care, particularly in women’s health such as menopause and endometriosis. This episode explores the evolving role of medical educators, and is a call for more open, informed conversations – because great medicine should never settle for ‘good enough’.

Watch on YouTube

We hope you love the new series! Share your thoughts with us on the feedback form here and if you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to leave a 5-star rating on your podcast platform.

Email dlnpodcast@borkowski.co.uk with suggestions for new guests!

Disclaimer

The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr Louise Newson or the Newson Health Group.

LET'S CONNECT

Website: Dr Louise Newson

Instagram: The Dr Louise Newson Podcast (@drlouisenewsonpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn: Louise Newson | LinkedIn

Spotify: The Dr Louise Newson Podcast | Podcast on Spotify

YouTube: Dr Louise Newson - YouTube

CONNECT WITH DR KARAN

Website: Dr Karan Rajan

Instagram: Dr Karan Rajan (MRCS MBBS BSc) (@drkaranrajan) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn: Dr Karan Rajan | LinkedIn

Spotify: Dr Karan Explores | Podcast on Spotify

YouTube: Dr Karan - YouTube

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(368)

60 – Liz Earle on how to age well

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Liz Earle for a refreshing and empowering conversation about ageing, and why the way we think about it needs to change.Drawing on the science behind her ...

23 Apr 30min

59 - Can you start HRT after 60? What the evidence shows

So many women are denied hormone replacement because they are told they are “too old”. In this special solo episode, Dr Louise Newson explains why this is wrong. She covers what happens when hormone l...

21 Apr 28min

58 – ADHD and the gap in hormone care for women

What happens when a woman is finally diagnosed with ADHD, only to be blindsided by perimenopause making everything harder?In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Sarah-Jane Ayers for a powerful...

16 Apr 21min

57 – Bleeding on HRT: what’s normal and what’s not

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by consultant gynaecologist Mr Osama Naji for a reassuring and practical conversation about one of the most common concerns women have when starting HRT, bl...

14 Apr 21min

56 – Why confusion around contraception and hormones is failing women

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by US-based OB-GYN Dr Jordan Emont to explore why so many women are still being denied hormones, despite clear evidence of their benefits.They discuss the o...

9 Apr 28min

55 – HRT, breast cancer and the real risks of not taking hormones

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by physician and author Dr Jeffrey Dach, who is the founder and Medical Director of the TrueMedMD Clinic in Florida and author of numerous books including B...

7 Apr 28min

54 - Menopause at 10 years old

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by therapist SaraWitter who shares her deeply personal and shocking experience of being menopausal as a child. Sara describes how she lost most of her ovari...

2 Apr 29min

53 – Rosie Viva on bipolar disorder, hormones and mental health

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by model and author Rosie Viva, who speaks openly about her experience of living with bipolar disorder, something she also explores in her book, Completely ...

31 Mar 32min