It's Not JUST a Period!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode of It’s Not Just A Period Podcast and to keep up to date with Alexandra’s Vlogs.Welcome to It’s Not Just A Period!In this episode Alexandra sits down with Abbie Firth, paddle boarding instructor and lover of the outdoors to talk about how women living with these conditions can still do badass things!Abbie shares how spending a decade on the contraceptive pill successfully masked her symptoms and enabled her to live a relatively 'normal' life. It was only once she stopped taking it that she realised what horrors it had been hiding, pandora's box had been officially opened.She shares the incredible support she received from her GP but how her trust and belief in the healthcare system came crashing down around her when she visited A&E and gynaecology departments.Abbie speaks about the importance of fighting for yourself even when you're not ready to, the decision to be a self paying and the risks associated with it and the life changing diagnosis she finally received.Now, Abbie is turning her pain into purpose, as she takes on the monumental 3 Peaks Challenge to raise money for Endometriosis UK and Wild Women's Outdoors Club at Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre.If you can, please donate HERE. Even if it's only £1, every little helps!Links, Socials & ProductsAbbie Firth...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbiepaddles/3 Peaks Challenge Donation Page: https://gofund.me/7a4275732Wild Women's Outdoor Club: https://www.instagram.com/lopc_women?igsh=NmdoMTlxZDIxeWVpIt's Not Just A Period...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsnotjustaperiod.ukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsnotjustaperiod.ukYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsNotJustAPeriodDisclaimer: The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not replace personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please speak to your GP or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health, or before making changes to your healthcare routine.

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode of It’s Not Just A Period Podcast and to keep up to date with Alexandra’s Vlogs.Welcome to It’s Not Just A Period!This week's girl chat is on FIRE! Join Alexandra and OvaryReaction founder, Ella Pamment as they laugh, cry and shock each other with their stories.Ella walks us through jaw dropping story after jaw dropping story, her journey has been nothing but dramatic and unexpected.After years of suffering with a multitude of symptoms, Ella got two for the price of one when she was diagnosed with Endometriosis and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.We discuss menstrual health education, what they don't tell you about surgery and how OvaryReaction is going to transform the workplace for women.Links, Socials & ProductsElla Pamment...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ovaryreaction/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ovaryreactionIt's Not Just A Period...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsnotjustaperiod.ukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsnotjustaperiod.ukYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsNotJustAPeriodDisclaimer: The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not replace personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please speak to your GP or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health, or before making changes to your healthcare routine.

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode of It’s Not Just A Period Podcast and to keep up to date with Alexandra’s Vlogs.Welcome to It’s Not Just A Period!This week Alexandra is joined by Lily Rose Winter to discuss the relationship between PMDD, autism, and ADHD, and the huge impacts these have on her daily life.Lily reflects on her long and often frustrating journey to diagnosis, the ways neurodivergence has shaped her identity and relationships, and how PMDD intensifies her feelings of guilt, shame, and emotional overwhelm.Together, they discuss how coping mechanisms can become dark and destructive, the impact of long term masking on mental health and why getting the correct diagnosis is so important.This conversation highlights the complex relationship between PMDD and neurodivergence, it's a conversation for anyone who’s ever felt dismissed, misunderstood, or told they were “too much”.Links, Socials & ProductsLily Rose-Winter...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilyrosewinter/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lilyrosewinterIt's Not Just A Period...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsnotjustaperiod.ukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsnotjustaperiod.ukYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsNotJustAPeriodDisclaimer: The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not replace personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please speak to your GP or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health, or before making changes to your healthcare routine.

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode of It’s Not Just A Period Podcast and to keep up to date with Alexandra’s Vlogs.Welcome to It’s Not Just A Period!This week is a first for the podcast as we're talking about a brand new condition to the show, Premature Ovarian Insufficiency. Alexandra is joined by advocate and campaigner, Sheree Hargreaves.Sheree has never experienced a 'natural' period and went through her teenage years without experiencing any signs of puberty. But her days were plagued with many 'menopause like' symptoms including brain fog, hot and cold flushes, night sweats and weak bones.She breaks down POI; what the condition is, how it presents itself and the diagnosis process, and bravely shares the reality of being infertile and what they means for her.Our discussion highlights the lack of awareness around the condition and why more advocacy is desperately needed.Links, Socials & ProductsSheree Hargreaves...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeofpoi_/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeofpoi_It's Not Just A Period...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsnotjustaperiod.ukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsnotjustaperiod.ukYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsNotJustAPeriodDisclaimer: The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not replace personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please speak to your GP or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health, or before making changes to your healthcare routine.

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode of It’s Not Just A Period Podcast and to keep up to date with Alexandra’s Vlogs.Welcome to It’s Not Just A Period!This week, Alexandra is joined by Anishka Sooriah, who reached out to us wanting to share her journey with painful sex and tearing as a result of Endometriosis.Anishka opens up about years of misunderstood symptoms and how complicated her relationship with herself and others became when she started to experience painful sex and tearing.She walks us through years of GP appointments, gynaecology consultations and the unexpected complications that have come from specialised Endometriosis care.Anishka's openness, vulnerability and courage to share intimate details of her health is a reminder of why it's so important to break the taboos around women's health.Links, Socials & ProductsAnishka Sooriah...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicallynish/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chronicallynishIt's Not Just A Period...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsnotjustaperiod.ukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsnotjustaperiod.ukYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsNotJustAPeriodDisclaimer: The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not replace personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please speak to your GP or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health, or before making changes to your healthcare routine.

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode of It’s Not Just A Period Podcast and to keep up to date with Alexandra’s Vlogs.Welcome to It’s Not Just A Period!This week Alexandra welcomes the fabulous duo behind the Menstrual Health Project, Gabriella Pearson and Anna Cooper. Their friendship began on Instagram as they connected over Endometriosis but today it has become so much more as they tackle fundamental change in menstrual health.Anna and Gabz's individual stories of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis are some of the most shocking we've ever heard. Their journeys are plagued with medical gaslighting and misogyny from the start and highlight the truly shocking realities within women's healthcare.We discuss the gaping holes in care across the England, Scotland and Wales, the lack of education and understanding surrounding conditions and the life changing impacts of surgery; particularly hysterectomy's and surgical menopause, can haveGabz and Anna are raw, honest and unfiltered as they put their hearts on the line in this chat.Links, Socials & ProductsGabriella Pearson...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allthingsgabz/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@allthingsgabzAnna Cooper...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/battlewithendo_ox/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@battlewithendo_oxMenstrual Health Project...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MenstrualHealthProjectWebsite: https://menstrualhealthproject.org.uk/ It's Not Just A Period...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsnotjustaperiod.ukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsnotjustaperiod.ukYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsNotJustAPeriodDisclaimer: The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not replace personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please speak to your GP or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health, or before making changes to your healthcare routine.