Ask The Expert: GP Eleanor Galvin

Dr. Eleanor Galvin challenges the outdated notion that menopause is a one-size-fits-all condition, revealing that women who experience early menopause after treatments like stem cell transplants are not 'too late' for hormone replacement therapy (HRT)—even years after symptoms begin. She argues that HRT is now a personalized, patient-centered approach, with options like vaginal estrogen available for those who can't take systemic HRT. She also dismantles the outdated label 'PCOS,' advocating for the new term 'PMOS' (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome) to reflect its systemic impact on metabolism, mood, and energy—not just fertility. Galvin emphasizes that conditions like hay fever are no longer just seasonal nuisances but rising public health concerns linked to climate change and reduced early-life immune exposure. She warns that ignoring symptoms like moles changing in asymmetry, border, color, diameter, or evolving over time can delay skin cancer detection. Her core message: don’t wait for symptoms to become unbearable—seek care early, especially when family history or systemic symptoms are involved.