Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) affects an estimated 5-8% of women of reproductive age 1, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed conditions in women’s health. PMDD is not just “bad premenstrual syndrome (PMS)”. It is a severe, often disabling form of premenstrual syndrome that can profoundly impact mood, cognition, and physical wellbeing. …
Healthcare innovation is strongest when scientific evidence is combined with the expertise of those who know healthcare best: the people who experience it.1 In women’s health, this is particularly crucial. From menopause, where 1 in 3 women globally suffer from depression,2 to endometriosis, where 1 in 6 women have had to leave the workplace due …
Read more “From Stories to Solutions: The Role of Lived Experience in Women’s Health”
Written in collaboration with Betty lliadis, author of The Vagina Chronicles. In contemporary global scientific and social discourse, female genital mutilation (FGM) is recognised not merely as a medical or public health issue, but as a deeply entrenched social practice that reflects unequal power relations and rigid gender hierarchies.1 FGM is an internationally recognised violation …
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) affects an estimated up to 80-90% of menstruating women at some point in their lives, making it one of the most common cyclical health conditions globally1. Yet despite its prevalence, PMS is often trivialised, misunderstood, or dismissed as an inevitable inconvenience of being a woman. PMS is not simply “a bad mood …
Read more “Living Through the Monthly Shift: The Reality of PMS”
Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is defined as excessive blood loss during menstruation that negatively impacts a woman’s physical, emotional, social, or quality-of-life parameters. HMB may include: passing large clots, needing to change sanitary protection every hour or two, or flooding through to clothing or bedding1. Because much of what counts as “heavy” remains subjective, many women …
Read more “Heavy Periods: When normal isn’t actually normal”
Throughout the years, ovarian cancer has been referred to as the “silent killer” for women as early stages symptoms are subtle, non-specific, and often resemble those of other common conditions, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), digestive issues or urinary tract infections (UTIs). As discussed in one of our previous articles, ignoring these symptoms leads …
An honest look at women’s health and sports science, and what needs to be done to level the pitch.With the contribution of Hebe Ide and Douce de Boisgelin The problem Until women are represented in sports science, the data is only 50% correct. In 2020, only 6% of sports science studies focused on women1. This …
Read more “The Penalty of Ignoring Periods on the Playing Field”
Disclaimer: We strongly advise consulting your physician to better understand any personal needs and limitations and to ensure your training is safe and effective for your individual health history before making significant lifestyle changes. Weightlifting has long been misrepresented as overly intense, unsafe, or unsuitable for women, with persistent misperceptions suggesting that it makes women …
Read more “Living Longer, Living Stronger: Weightlifting’s Benefits on Women’s Health”
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in women. More than 50% of women will experience at least one UTI in their lifetime, and approximately 27% have a symptomatic recurrence within six months of their initial episode1,2. While many may assume that UTIs are “simple” or easily treated, the reality is …
Read more “Urinary tract infections: More than just a mere inconvenience”
Reframing Endometriosis part 2 Endometriosis is a chronic gynaecological condition characterised by symptoms such as dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), non-menstrual pelvic pain, and infertility1,2,3. According to the World Health Organization, endometriosis affects approximately 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years, representing around 10% of women globally4. In the previous article, we explored the genetic link …
Read more “How Immune and Hormonal Dysfunction redefine the categorisation of Endometriosis”
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