Period Story

What would you do if your period was so painful that you would faint when you were on the toilet? This was the dilemma Lexi Elven, my guest on today’s episode of Period Story faced for 8 years.In this episode, Lexi shares: Why she turned to Reddit to help her understand why she was in so much pain that she would faint during the first two days of her periodThe phrase two GPs on an endometriosis Reddit forum told her to say to her doctor, which helped put her on a diagnosis pathwayHow a second opinion led to her receiving a bowel endometriosis diagnosis after 8 yearsHow yoga has been a helpful tool to manage endometriosis symptoms And of course, the story of her first periodLexi says that if you’re in a similar situation, it’s important to try and persevere if you feel lost and not to let embarrassment stop you from seeking help. Thank you, Lexi!Get in touch with Lexi:Instagram

Would it surprise you to hear that menstruation can be a great time for detail oriented work, and for making great decisions? On this week’s episode of Period Story, I speak to Maggie McDaris, the CEO and co-founder of Phase, a company that helps women align their work with their menstrual cycle.In this episode, Maggie shares:The story of her postpartum adenomyosis diagnosis and what she does to manage the condition The four phases of the menstrual cycle and how less than 40% of women know when they ovulateThe post-ovulation cliff and why she believes the luteal phase gets a bad rap The generational divide on what productivity means Why our periods can be a great time to reflect, make decisions and take action on those decisions Why the follicular phase is a great time for strategic planning and creativity The influence of testosterone on communication skills And of course, the story of her first period Maggie says that it’s very empowering to know how changes in our physiology and hormones impact how we show up every day and understanding this can help us show up as a better version of ourselves. Thank you, Maggie!Get in touch with Maggie:WebsiteInstagramTikTokLinkedIn

Menopause is big news right now and rightfully so. But with all the noise, how do you know what’s right for you? On this week’s episode of Period Story, I’m joined by Dr Claire Phipps, the Menopause GP, who talks me through common perimenopause and menopause myths and misconceptions. In this episode, Dr Claire shares: Why she’s only just understanding her menstrual cycle at 48Why empathy is vital as a doctorWhy moving away from a paternalist model towards patient empowerment is an important part of her work as a GP and menopause trainer Why the 10 minutes you have with an NHS GP should be the start of the conversationThe difference between perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause How a holistic approach to menopause may or may not include HRTWhy it’s important to meet patients where they’re at Why perimenopause can be a time of unmasking for neurodivergent women and the rise of AuADHD diagnoses And of course, the story of her first period Dr Claire says the we should try not to be fearful of menopause or pathologise it, but instead, embrace it and move towards a positive natural transition. Thank you, Dr Claire!Get in touch with Dr Claire:WebsiteInstagramWomen’s Health ConcernBritish Menopause Society 

Did you know that 700,000 panty liners, 2.5 million tampons and 1.4 million pads are flushed down the toilet everyday in the UK? Martha Silcott is the inventor of two products that aim to reduce the impact of disposable personal care waste: FabLittleBag and HyGeeni. This was a perfect week to release this episode of Period Story with a fellow Arsenal fan (#coyg!)In this episode, Martha shares: The lightbulb moment that led to her inventing a brand new productThe process of patenting and bringing FabLittleBag to lifeWhy we need to stop flushing tampons and pads and the impact this waste has on our sewage system  What terms the loo roll wrap, flushers, binners, and the handbag smuggle meanThe Period Supportive movement in sport she started, in order to help periods be less of a barrier to girls’ participation in sportHow a customer inspired the invention of HyGeeni, a larger disposable bag to help dispose of used stoma bags and diapers And of course, the story of her first period Martha says that if you want to invent something or create something new, there is plenty of help out there to talk to and to give you guidance!Thank you, Martha!Listen in Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Kia855 Listen in Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/339AF1QyodImw44v141Emv Get in touch with Martha:WebsiteInstagram

Did you know that your nervous system can have an impact on your experience of menstruation? I get into all of this and more on today’s episode of Period Story with Amy Gaston, the president of OhmBody, a drug-free wearable device designed to work with the body’s nervous system to naturally support lighter, shorter, more comfortable periods.In this episode, Amy shares: The impact of growing up in a conservative Christian household and being a late bloomer on her understanding of her bodyWhy perimenopause has led her to ask better questions about her health Her thoughts on innovation in women’s health The issues that disproportionately affect women and why we have to talk about women’s health, not just healthWhy menstruation is a whole body experience What OhmBody is and why it’s a helpful drug-free way of managing period pain, premenstrual pain, and ovulation pain How stimulating the vagus and trigeminal nerves can increase the body’s clotting process, and help reduce heavy menstrual bleedingAnd of course, the story of her first period Amy says that painful periods are not normal and that if your period disrupts your everyday life in any way, there is a better solution than normalising this narrative. Thank you, Amy!

We’ve got a corker for you today! I’m so pleased to share my conversation with Dr Sarah Hill, the author of the books How The Pill Changes Everything: Your Brain on Birth Control and The Period Brain: The New Science of the Luteal Phase and How To Thrive Through It on today’s episode of Period Story. In this episode, Dr Sarah shares: Why her experience as a psychologist led her to write two books on the effects of women’s cycling hormones and the brainHer thoughts on biological essentialism and how our biology, including our hormones, influences what we do Why progesterone is underrated, including the amazing fact that our peak progesterone levels are up to 250 times higher than our peak oestrogen levelsWhy we need to eat more in the second half of our menstrual cycle Why PMS is not a pathological condition, but an inevitable consequence of experiencing hormonal changes in a world that wasn’t created with female bodies in mindWhat the vagus nerve is and how vagal nerve stimulation can be a helpful treatment in decreasing the symptomology of PMDD, perimenopause, and heavy menstrual bleedingAnd of course, the story of her first period Dr Sarah says that it’s important to learn to listen to your body and trust what it’s telling you, so you believe your body. Thank you, Dr Sarah!Get in touch with Dr Sarah:WebsiteInstagram