How many women quietly put up with heavy bleeding, painful periods or a difficult coil fitting, telling themselves it is just part of being a woman?
In this episode, Laura sits down with obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Áine Dempsey, who works at BlackRock Women's Health and at the Rotunda, for an honest, practical conversation about the things women are so often told to live with - and what can actually be done about them.
Áine explains what a hysteroscopy really involves, why polyps and fibroids drive heavy bleeding, and when the Mirena coil is the right first step before ablation or surgery. She is candid about pain relief during coil fittings, the six-month settling period, and where the copper coil fits in.
The conversation moves into perimenopause and HRT, smear tests, HPV and colposcopy, and the realities of painful sex, vaginismus and caring for women who carry past sexual trauma. She closes on labour ward life, her own two pregnancies, the magic of epidurals, and why no woman should feel she has to suffer in silence.
At its core, this episode is about taking your own symptoms seriously and making your gynae health a priority.
Heavy bleeding is not something to put up with
changing a pad every hour, bleeding for more than five days, or planning your life around your period all count, and there is plenty that can help.
Flooding is a symptom women rarely volunteer
Áine asks directly because most women never mention soaking through their clothes or sheets.
A hysteroscopy is not as frightening as it sounds
a thin camera and a well-briefed team can investigate bleeding, polyps and fibroids, usually without a general anaesthetic.
You deserve proper pain relief for a coil fitting
from paracetamol and ibuprofen beforehand to numbing gel and a local cervical block.
The Mirena coil takes about six months to settle
bloating, tenderness or mood changes often ease, and it can be used as part of HRT.
HRT is about long-term health, not just symptoms
beyond brain fog and night sweats, it supports heart and bone health.
Painful sex is not normal
whether it stems from low oestrogen, endometriosis or past trauma, there are options that help.
You do not have to suffer in silence
if something is affecting your quality of life, make your gynae health a priority.
BlackRock Health Women's Health Centre
The Mirena and copper coils (HSE)
HRT and menopause treatment (HSE)
Cervical screening and HPV (CervicalCheck, HSE)
02:04 - Inside a day at BlackRock Women's Health
03:23 - What a hysteroscopy actually involves
06:21 - Polyps, fibroids and heavy bleeding
09:02 - Heavy bleeding and flooding in perimenopause
10:11 - The Mirena coil as a first-line treatment
13:56 - Pain relief and what to expect from a coil fitting
18:02 - The Mirena as part of HRT, and sleep
20:04 - Mental health support through menopause
22:35 - Smear tests, HPV and colposcopy
24:35 - Painful sex and trauma-informed care
29:18 - Vaginismus, physio and the pelvic floor
33:34 - Her own pregnancies and epidurals
37:56 - Don't suffer in silence
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