The Lowdown’s May 2025 Newsletter

Hi everyone, Alice from The Lowdown here 👋

I’m delighted but sad to say that this is my last newsletter for a while. I’m logging off soon for the impending arrival of my second son.

Running The Lowdown pregnant with a toddler this year has been a challenge…but sitting down to write this email at the end of the month has always been something I love doing. I will leave you in the wonderful hands of our Medical Director, Dr Fran, who will be taking over from me as Newsletter Editor In Chief. If you want to stay in touch and read my personal updates and musings on women’s health, follow me on Substack.

This month’s newsletter is sponsored by Aneira Health, a new private women’s health service designed to offer more joined-up, personalised care. Read on for more info!

Looking for personalised women’s healthcare? Aneira Health can help 🌿

Aneira Health is a new women’s health company reimagining how care is delivered – blending physical and digital clinics to offer whole-body, life-stage-aware support. From hormones to mental wellbeing, cycles to sleep, they join the dots across conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, fertility, and menopause.

Founded by some top clinicians and researchers, their approach looks beyond prescriptions to offer support that combines medical treatment, lifestyle advice, and emotional care. They are building a My Health platform that offers a consolidated view of your health data, including blood tests, hormone levels, genetic risk scores, and menstrual cycle tracking, all in one place. For those who choose to contribute their data, it also supports research to help close longstanding gaps in women’s health data. Which is always a win. 

They offer a £33 monthly membership, that includes an annual women’s health check up, smear tests, and a personalised health plan to support you going forward – you pay on top for any additional tests or appointments. Or a more complete membership plan that includes up to 10 appointments per year. Their physical clinics are currently in central London.

Tell us about your experience trying to access the morning after pill 💊

One parting request from me: A few weeks ago we sent you all an email asking if you could share your experiences with accessing the morning after pill in a short survey.

I would love it if you could spare 5 minutes sharing your experiences with us. We know that accessing emergency contraception in the UK is far too complicated; so many of you have shared your frustrations – from pharmacies being closed, to online orders arriving too late, or simply not knowing where to turn.

That’s why we’re working with a healthcare company called Perrigo to try and change this. Your answers could help influence real policy change and improve how people access emergency contraception across the UK 💪

Can the pill affect asthma? 🫁

A new UK study has explored whether taking the pill might influence asthma flare-ups. Looking at over 130,000 women with asthma, researchers found that in general, using the combined pill (which contains both oestrogen and progestogen) or the progestogen-only pill (POP) was not associated with asthma attacks.

When the researchers looked further into the data they did find that for some progestogen-only pill users, namely those under 35, those with a specific type of asthma called eosinophilic asthma, and those who were on low doses of inhaled steroids, there was a slightly increased risk of having an asthma attack requiring steroid tablets. As a recap, progestogen only pills include brands like Cerazette and Desogestrel.

Scientists think progesterone may play a role in airway inflammation, especially in these groups, but more research is needed. This definitely doesn’t mean you should stop taking your pill if you have asthma; asthma is a chronic condition which needs to be well managed with correct treatment to avoid flare ups. Make sure you have your asthma check ups and talk to your doctor or asthma nurse if you have concerns.

In the news… 📰🌎

🩸 A new study has confirmed what many already know: heavy periods and painful cramps can seriously affect girls’ education. Researchers found that teenagers with heavy or painful periods missed more school and were more likely to get lower GCSE grades. Lack of access to toilets, stigma, and anxiety made things worse. We definitely need better support in schools so periods don’t become a barrier to learning.

📱 You’ll have seen a lot of the outcry about new police guidance in England and Wales that advises officers to search women’s homes and phones, including search histories, private messages and period tracking apps, after unexpected pregnancy losses like miscarriage or stillbirth, if illegal abortion is suspected. What in the Trumpian BS is this?!

🗳️ Speaking of which, abortion is still a criminal offence in England and Wales unless it meets strict criteria under the 1967 Abortion Act. But this could soon change. MPs are set to vote on new proposals to decriminalise abortion; the proposed changes wouldn’t alter the 24-week time limit or access rules, but would remove outdated criminal laws from the 1800s. The Lowdown, along with major medical bodies and cross-party MPs support the changes. Abortion should be treated as healthcare, not a crime. Please write to your MP to show your support via BPAS bpas-campaigns.org!

Review of the month 📝

Great to see some positive stuff about managing endo and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) 🙌

Post of the month 📣

Our morning after pill post went kinda viral – who knew so many of you would relate to Doechii’s dramatic MET gala entrance? 🫣

That’s all from me. Wish me luck ejecting a small ginger human from my vagina! See you on the other side ❤️  

Reminder to please fill in our survey!

Thanks,

Alice

Our new book Contraception: Your essential guide to separating the myths from the medicine is available to order now here