Women now make up a third of porn watchers – according to popular site PornHub. But experts are warning that’s it’s not all harmless fun – in fact, they’re seeing the fall out in sexual health services across the country. The Medical Minefield team are joined by Kristel, who says her weekly porn habit warped her expectations of sex, damaging her relationships. Next, porn researcher Jennifer Johnson, from Virginia Commonwealth University, explains why she thinks the ‘pornification’ of society should be viewed as a public health crisis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shocking findings of a new Mail on Sunday investigation shows spiralling numbers of mental health patients are languishing in psychiatric hospitals, detained under the mental health act. But why? The Medical Minefield team hear from the doctors who say fearful care providers, afraid of being held responsible should a patient harm themselves, are partly to blame. Mental health expert Keir Harding is concerned that this culture of so-called ‘defensive medicine’ means we’re heading for a return of the ‘asylum era’ of the 1930s. Meanwhile one patient, Lois, tells the team why being ‘locked up’ in hospital caused far more harm than good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing ZOE: the latest healthy eating plan that is said to be more effective than all others, thanks to the barrage of scientific tests customers must do beforehand. This tailors this advice to their unique response to sugar, fat and gut-friendly foods, supposedly. Dr Emily Leeming, one of the many top nutrition scientists behind the app, explains to Medical Minefield why ZOE holds the key to successful dieting. But dietician Duane Mellor, head of nutrition at Aston University, has serious reservations, arguing that the focus on health data could lead to obsessive eating patterns – and even mental health problems.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer Malcom Gladwell gave his damning opinion on working from home this week – that it is destroying society, and potentially our mental health. Does he have a point? With Gladwell unavailable, the Medical Minefield team ask another high-profile home-working hater – Jacob Rees Mogg MP – why he thinks the new trend is so detrimental. Did his infamous plan to get civil servants back to the office (passive aggressive notes on their desk, noting their absence) lull them back to work? Meanwhile, Dr Clare Gerada, president of the Royal College of GPs, tells of her experience helping frazzled doctors who isolated and stressed-out at the hands of a new home-working routine. Follow Medical Minefield on Twitter @MedMinefieldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the Medical Minefield team speak to Paula Rastrick, who recounts the harrowing experience of being prescribed twice the maximum dose of oestrogen to treat what might have been perimenopause. Far from making her feel better, her life – and health – almost imploded, and she believes it was partly due to the drugs. The team also speak to Dr Philippa Kaye, a GP who specialises in women’s health, about the right, and wrong way to treat women going through hormonal changes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the Medical Minefield team ask if it’s right that airlines rely so heavily on doctor-passengers to pitch in when someone falls ill on a flight? Cabin crew have basic kit and first aid training, leaving the brunt of sky-high medical emergencies in the laps of physicians that happen to be on the flight. We hear from Dr David Strain, senior clinical lecturer at University of Exeter Medical School, who is one of the 9 in 10 doctors who have been called into action while on board on more than one occasion; and to Alex Macheras, an aviation analyst who has confidence in the medical emergency protocols across all airlines.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve heard about the importance of women’s HRT – but could men benefit from a boost of hormones too? This week, the Medical Minefield team explore the world of private testosterone clinics - where men go to get a boost of the sex hormone, said to rev up their sex drive, energy levels and even muscle mass. We hear from one testosterone evangelist - Mike Kocsis – who has been on it for 20 years and says it’s transformed his life. So why are top hormone experts dead against it – warning the treatment is putting young men at risk of infertility and heart attacks? NHS consultant endocrinologist Dr. Richard Quinton explains the dangers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women with breast cancer are told they can’t take HRT – because it risks the cancer coming back. But a small group of high profile doctors now say it could be safe. One of them, acclaimed menopause specialist GP Dr. Louise Newson comes on the show to debate the issue with Liz O’Riordan, a breast cancer surgeon and author who’s had breast cancer herself, twice – and believes it’s vital women know if they do opt for the treatment, there could be some serious consequences.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, Eve caused a furore on Twitter when she suggested widespread use of high-strength cannabis in the US was causing an increase in patients suffering violent attacks of vomiting and screaming – which she referred to as ‘scromiting’. Critics were quick to accuse Eve of hysteria – with some claiming she’d made the phenomenon – known medically as Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome – up. Now, Dr Timothy Fong, a psychiatrist at UCLA medical centre in California, confirms that so-called scromiting really is a thing – and he’s seeing more and more of it in his patients. Then, the Medical Minefield team speak to one young woman who has suffered the complication herself but, intriguingly, remains a passionate supporter of cannabis use.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Sadiq Khan’s visit to a California cannabis farm, discussions of legalising the herb here in the UK has been brought back into the spot light. But is Mr. Khan’s glowing review of the US marijuana industry all it’s cracked up to be? The Medical Minefield speak with Michelle Leopold, whose campaigning for safer drug policy was sparked after her son, Trevor, died in 2019 from fentanyl poisoning after a long battle with cannabis addiction; and with Dr Roneet Lev, an emergency doctor working on the front lines of legal marijuana fall-out in San Diego.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.