Female Hormone Clinic

Location: Maudsley Hospital

Contact information: email susan.hodges@slam.nhs.uk or susan.hodges1@nhs.net

Mode: Outpatient

Referrals are accepted from: Consultant psychiatrists, GPs, clinical commissioning groups, self-funded and private referrals

Overview

This unique outpatient service provides assessment and evidence-based treatments for women who suffer from serious mental health conditions, including psychosis and severe depression, at times of hormonal change (for example, pre-menstrual, peri and post-menopausal).

A subgroup of women experience highly significant cognitive, mood and neurological disorders associated with fluctuation of sex hormone levels. These windows of vulnerability can occur pre-menstrually, post-natally, or around the time of menopause. Although the underlying cause of these problems may include a complex interaction between psychological and social factors, there is increasing evidence that biological factors are also important.

Our team includes international experts in gynaecological endocrinology, psychiatry, psychology and neurology. They provide evidence-based treatments to manage disorders like premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), peri and post-menopausal mood and memory disorders, cyclical epilepsy and women with neurodevelopmental disorders (for example, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)).

There is a growing body of research that supports the use of specific nutritional, hormonal and non-hormonal (for example, psychological) treatments in the management of these disorders. It is, however, difficult to access expert, unbiased help. We have developed our national service, which is specifically designed to meet this need.