Living Hellth

1 in 20 Women Have PMDD: Why Hormone Tests Come Back Normal | ADHD, Autism, Endometriosis, PMOS Connections | The Science Behind PMS and PMDD with Neuroscientist Dr Emilė Radytė

Send us Fan Mail "Every Two Weeks You Are No Longer Yourself" Dr Emilė Radytė is a Harvard and Oxford-trained neuroscientist and the co-founder and CEO of Samphire Neuroscience, where she builds neurotechnology for women's health. Her work treats PMS, PMDD and menstrual pain as conditions of the brain, not just the hormones. She was named in Forbes 30 Under 30 for healthcare in 2024. TW: We discuss depression and suicide in this epsiode. 💬 Top quotes "If you live with PMDD, it means every two weeks you are no longer yourself, so you lose literally half of all of your reproductive life." "When most women test their hormones, they find out it's perfectly fine. The reason they have those symptoms is because of how their brains respond to those hormones." "For years, depression was called hysteria in women, and so I think the idea that women could have something specific is already relatively new." "A stable job expects you to show up the same way every day, and is built for a male-like cycle, where women, we know we're not the same every day anyway." "Hormones are just the way that our bodies talk to us, and I think if anyone gets anything from this talk, that should be the key." 🧠 What we cover: Why PMDD is a recognised medical condition, not a bad mood, and how it differs from PMS even when the symptoms overlap Why most women with PMDD have completely normal hormone levels, and what that really means The two weeks before your period, explained: why the part of your brain that regulates emotion goes offline, and why that isn't a character flaw The woman who writes a resignation letter every single month, and what it tells us about impulsivity in PMDD Progesterone, allopregnanolone and GABA: why a hormone that calms most women can do the opposite for some Why your pain threshold drops during your period, so you feel more pain and have more to feel PMDD was only recognised as a depressive disorder in 2014, which means most psychiatrists trained before it existed What the evidence actually says about supplements, and whether they reach your brain at all The pill and PMDD: what it does, what it doesn't, and why options matter more than answers How brain stimulation works, whether it lasts, and what neuroplasticity really means Why ADHD and PMDD so often show up together, and what's happening in the prefrontal cortex The link between stress, your brain and the timing of your cycle Why hormones are the message, not the cause, including in PMOS (PCOS) What we still don't know about PMDD and long-term brain health ⚠️ One correction to note In the episode, Emilė says 70% of women with PMDD have ADHD or autism. The research runs the other way: studies measure how many people with ADHD or autism also experience PMDD, not the reverse. I couldn't find a figure for the share of people with PMDD who have ADHD or autism. The comorbidity itself is well documented. 💛 Support Please remember support is available any time. Samaritans 116 123 (UK, free, 24/7). Call or text 988 (US). IAPMD at iapmd.org has PMDD-specific support and free self-screening tools. This episode is for information, not medical advice, so please speak to your GP or a clinician about your own symptoms. Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Could your Gut Health be causing PMOS/PCOS, Endometriosis, Severe Period Pain, Inflammation? Research & Solutions with Gut & Menstrual Cycle Nutritionist!

Send us Fan Mail Jo sits down with Rocsi — menstrual cycle nutritionist and the woman who focuses her life's work on reducing period pain, irregular cycles, PMS, PCOS symptoms, and more — through one thing: gut health. What if everything you thought you knew about period pain was wrong? Not your uterus. Not your hormones. Not bad luck - instead, maybe its in your gut? The science is emerging, but the results so far are undeniable. Why You Need to Listen to This Episode You've been blaming your luteal phase — but it's not the end of the problem You struggle with anxiety, PMS and your mood before your period You have a recent PMOS/ PCOS diagnosis You have heavy, painful periods 📋 What We Cover 🦠 What the gut microbiome is — and why it's the missing piece in women's health 🔄 The bidirectional relationship between gut health and your menstrual cycle — moving from correlation to causation 🩺 The three monthly cycles your body runs every single month — and why most women have never been told about them 💩 Period poops explained — the prostaglandin and progesterone interplay 🌀 The estrobolome — the group of gut bacteria that controls how much oestrogen circulates in your body 😤 PMS and the gut — why dysbiosis makes PMS significantly worse, and what to do about it 🧠 The gut-brain axis — how serotonin, dopamine, and GABA are made in the gut and what happens when they can't be 🌸 PCOS and the gut — 70% of PCOS patients have insulin resistance, and the gut microbiome directly influences insulin and androgen levels ⚡ Endometriosis and the gut — a landmark double-blind RCT on a gut-derived metabolite (sakuranin) that could change everything for endo patients 🥗 The cycle syncing myth — why eating differently every week is burning women out, and what the research actually says 📱 Fibre maxing and gut scrub — what TikTok gets right and wrong 🌿 Rocsi's three non-negotiables for gut health that everyone can start today 🌙 The 10–12 hour overnight fast — what happens in your gut while you sleep (the "night crew" is coming) 🥦 The crucial rule on cruciferous vegetables — don't start here if you're new to fibre 🫙 Pickles in vinegar vs. brine — why this one detail matters 📊 Three real client case studies — from irregular periods to pain-free cycles 🐟 The five oily fish that could transform your period (and the sardine recipe that converts the haters) ⚡ What changed Rocsi's own health forever — the plant tracker that revealed she wasn't eating as well as she thought 💛 Resources & Further Support Her Aligned Hub — Rocsi's practice for menstrual health nutrition: heralignedhub.com Endometriosis UK — patient support and information: endometriosis-uk.org PCOS UK — support, information, and advocacy: pcosuk.org NICE Endometriosis Guidelines — updated November 2024: nice.org.uk/guidance/ng73 NHS: Heavy periods — nhs.uk/conditions/heavy-periods NHS: PMOS update - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polyendocrine-metabolic-ovarian-syndrome-pmos/ 📲 Follow & Subscribe If this episode made you see your period — and your gut — differently, please share it with a woman in your life who needs to hear it. 💚 🎧 Available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | All major platforms Living Hellth is a women's health podcast committed to honest, evidence-led conversations — because every woman deserves access to the information that could change how she feels in her own body, prevent and manage chronic disease Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Krupa's Living Hellth Story: 12 Years Fertility Journey, 4 Rounds of IVF, Travelling the World for Answers, Endometriosis and Twins at 43 years old

Send us Fan Mail Krupa's fertility journey spans 12 years, four rounds of IVF, two countries, endometriosis diagnosis that finally came through fertility investigations, a near-fatal surgical complication, a pandemic, and ultimately — twins, born at 32 weeks, at 43 years old. But it also spans something else: 20 years of painful, heavy periods dismissed as normal in a South Asian community where menstruation was a secret and fertility struggles were unspoken. She then had to build her own support network from scratch — anonymously on Instagram and in a secret Facebook group — because nowhere else felt safe enough to ask the questions she needed answered. This is nothing short of remarkable! 🩸 Heavy, painful periods dismissed for 20 years — and the endometriosis diagnosis that finally came through fertility investigations, not GP care 🏥 The NHS fertility system — IUI as a precursor to IVF, how funding works, and why IUI was the wrong treatment for Krupa's diagnosis from the start 💉 Four rounds of IVF — across NHS, private London clinics, and ultimately Athens — and what drove the decision to keep going (and to stop) 🚨 Ovarian torsion: the near-fatal complication — a surgical error during egg retrieval that left Krupa unable to walk for months and changed everything ✈️ IVF abroad — why Krupa went to Athens, what to look for in an international clinic, and why regulation matters more than location 🧠 The mental health reality of IVF — anxiety, withdrawal from friends, the trauma of a 12-year journey, and why she was placed under perinatal mental health care during pregnancy 💑 Sustaining a relationship through fertility treatment — couples counselling, fertility counsellors, and staying on the same page through the hardest years 🌸 Endometriosis, diet and lifestyle — how changing her diet had more impact on her pain than surgery did 🤫 The South Asian community and fertility taboo — periods as shameful secrets, counselling as a cultural taboo, and the anonymous Facebook group she built for 200 Indian women who had nowhere else to go 📱 Building community when there is none — the TTC Instagram community, anonymous Facebook groups, and why connection with strangers became her lifeline 👶 Twin boys at 43, born at 32 weeks — the NICU journey, the emergency C-section under general anaesthetic, and the PTSD that arrived after 💛 Life on the other side — her role as a Bliss trustee, her advisory work in women's health, and the calls she still gets from South Asian women who need someone safe to talk to 💛 Resources Mentioned Bliss — charity for babies born premature or sick; Krupa is now a trustee: bliss.org.uk Peanut App — fertility and motherhood community app: peanut-app.io NHS Subfertility Units — your GP can refer you; ask specifically about the subfertility unit in your local trust NHS GUM Clinics — anonymous STI testing in every postcode; ask your GP HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) — UK fertility regulator; clinic ratings, evidence ratings for add-ons: hfea.gov.uk Fertility counsellors — available through most IVF clinics, NHS and private; ask your unit about access Perinatal Mental Health Teams — available through NHS for those with significant anxiety or trauma during pregnancy; ask your midwife or consultant to refer you Endometriosis UK — patient support and information: endometriosis-uk.org Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Ami's Living Hellth: What Nobody Tells You About IVF, Male Infertility, Post-Birth PMDD, the Sibling Guilt, and the Beautiful Life We Built Instead

Send us Fan Mail When we talk about IVF, we tend to talk about the basics. Most people know there are injections and the egg collections involved, but we talk far less about the detail on how it actually works and everything that happens around it - including how you maintain a relationship, and how you can manage hearing a friend's happy pregnancy news whilst still in the middle of your own journey. This week, Jo sits down with Ami for a conversation about the parts of IVF that nobody prepares you for. Ami and her partner dealt with male infertility, three rounds of IVF, a pregnancy loss at nine weeks, developing postpartum depression and anxiety, and then PMDD, the guilt of providing a sibling for her son and then a final decision to close that chapter. What We Cover in This Episode 💊 Twelve years on the pill — and how Ami's body felt when she came off it 🔬 The test results: male factor infertility, type of IVF they went for, and what that cost them 🏥 The NHS IVF postcode lottery — what disqualified them entirely from receiving funding 💉 What ICSI actually involves — explained honestly and clearly 🧠 The psychological weight of IVF 💑 What IVF does to a relationship — the conversations, the fractures, and the things that held them together 😔 Postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and PMDD — and the GP who told her to "wait two weeks" 🎄 A Christmas Day egg collection, a chest infection, and round two that felt nothing like round one 💔 The nine-week scan she went to alone — and what happened next 🌿 Choosing to stop — and how Ami and her partner decided to stop, and built a life they genuinely love 👦 The guilt of the sibling that never came — and how she holds that grief alongside genuine gratitude 💬 What Ami wishes she had known at the start 💛 Resources & Support Fertility Network UK — UK's leading patient fertility charity, including support for those who stop treatment: fertilitynetworkuk.org The Miscarriage Association — support for pregnancy loss at any stage: miscarriageassociation.org.uk More to Life — support network specifically for people living without children after infertility: moretolife.co.uk IAPMD — International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (PMDD): iapmd.org Mind UK — mental health support including postpartum depression: mind.org.uk NHS IVF information — eligibility and funding guidance: nhs.uk/conditions/ivf 📲 Follow & Subscribe If this episode resonated with you — or if it helped you feel less alone in something you're carrying — please share it with someone who needs to hear it. 💛 Following Living Hellth on your podcast platform is the biggest thing you can do to help us keep making episodes like this one. 🎧 Available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | All major platforms Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Everything You Need to Know About Fertility + IVF, Endometriosis, PCOS, STIs, male fertility and much more - with expert Dr. Anu Chawla

Send us Fan Mail *I would highly encourage you to watch the video version on YouTube or Spotify as there are definitions and important disclaimers on screen that will help listeners understand the more complex discussion points* 🎙️ This time on Living Hellth Jo Doyle sits down with Dr. Anu Chawla — one of London's leading fertility specialists — for a comprehensive, no-nonsense conversation about fertility. Whether you're in your twenties and not thinking about it yet, navigating a diagnosis of PCOS or endometriosis, considering IVF or egg freezing, or trying to understand what your male partner might need to think about themselves — this episode is for you. 🔬 What We Cover in This Episode 📊 Why global fertility rates are at an all-time low 🧪 How fertility is tested: AMH, Antral follicle count, and 3D ultrasounds 👩‍⚕️ What every woman in her 20s should know about fertility 💊 Hormonal birth control and fertility — what the science actually says, coming off contraception and thinking about fertility 🧫 PCOS and endometriosis: how they affect fertility and what your options are 🏥 IVF vs natural IVF — what's the difference and which is right for you? 🥚 Egg freezing: is it really biological insurance? An honest answer 🌿 Environmental toxins, fragrance, carpets, and plastic — do they really affect fertility? 🚹 Male fertility: the 50% factor no one talks about enough 🩺 Abortion and fertility — the truth behind the myths and long term impacts 💛 Advice for women about to start their fertility or IVF journey Dr. Chawla's areas of expertise span PCOS, endometriosis, repeated IVF failures, egg freezing, reproductive immunology, fibroids, and male infertility. She's a globally recognised voice in fertility medicine, regularly invited to speak at OBGYN and fertility conferences worldwide. Resources Mentioned: NHS GUM Clinics — anonymous STI testing in every postcode; ask your GP RCOG Patient Information Leaflets — rcog.org.uk Daisy Network — support group for Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) HFEA — UK fertility regulator; FAQs, clinic ratings, add-on evidence ratings — hfea.gov.uk You can find Dr Chawla and more information here: https://www.dranuchawla.co.uk/ Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Cervical cancer expert: Everything You Need to Know About HPV and Cervical Cancer — with Professor Adeola Olaitan

Send us Fan Mail 5 million women in the UK and 1 in 4 eligible women in the US are not up to date with their cervical screening. In this episode, we sit down with one of the UK's leading cervical cancer experts, Professor Adeola Olaitan, a gynaecological oncology surgeon with over 20 years of experience in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of cervical cancer. We cover the science, the stigmas, the screening, and the solutions — from what HPV actually is, to the cutting-edge innovations that could completely change how we approach cervical cancer prevention. Key take aways 4 in 5 women will have HPV at some point. It is not a reflection of sexual behaviour. HPV can lie dormant for years — which is why you must keep going for screening even if you've been negative before. Vaccination + screening = the most powerful combination for eliminating cervical cancer. Symptoms should never be ignored — even with a recent clear cervical screening / smear result. If you've had a LLETZ, tell your obstetrician at your first pregnancy booking. The Eve Appeal is the go-to resource for accurate, non-alarmist information on all five gynaecological cancers. What we cover: - HPV & Cervical Cancer: The Basics - HPV Dormancy, Transmission & Relationships - Symptoms & Warning Signs - The HPV Vaccine: is it's still worth getting vaccinated in your 30s or 40s - Cervical Screening: Smear Tests, HPV testing and cervical cancer diagnostics - Lifestyle, Immune Health & Clearing HPV - The "Menopause Spike" in HPV - Cultural Stigma, Ethnicity & Closing the Screening Gap - HPV Myths & Misconceptions - Adenocarcinoma: When Symptoms Are Dismissed - Can endometriosis or adenomyosis mask cervical cancer symptoms? - Pregnancy, Fertility following HPV or cervical cancer - Innovation & the Future of Cervical Screening - Treatment, Survival & Life After Cervical Cancer Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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V’s Cervical Cancer story: Discovering endometriosis & adenomyosis following a HPV and cervical cancer diagnosis, lifesaving treatment and navigating high-risk pregnancy

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Vijaya Varilly, now an Eve Appeal Ambassador, who faced a life-changing diagnosis at the age of 31, just before the start of the 2020 pandemic. V shares her private and honest journey—from her heavy periods and pain being dismissed by doctors, which was later discovered to be endometriosis and adenomyosis, to then receiving the news regarding a rare cervical cancer diagnosis, threatening her life as she knew it and dreams of becoming a mother. We dive deep into the stigmas surrounding HPV, especially within the Southeast Asian communities, the complexities of a rare cancer that smear tests often miss, and her incredible resilience she used to navigate treatment, IVF and a high-risk pregnancy. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, claiming 350,000 lives every year. However the HPV vaccine and regular screenings could mean it is a disease that could be eradicated within our lifetime. In This Episode, We Discuss: The Warning Signs: Why you shouldn’t ignore heavy bleeding, even if your smear test comes back clear. The Rare Detection: Understanding adenocarcinoma, a type of cervical cancer that develops in the canal and is harder to detect. Breaking the Stigma: Confronting the shame associated with HPV and the cultural barriers within the South Asian community. The Path to Dylan: V’s fertility journey, including unexplained infertility, successful IVF, and the "emergency stitch" that saved her pregnancy. Advocacy in Action: How V turned her trauma into the award-winning "Don't Miss Your Pap" campaign to help bridge the gap between the 5 million women who have missed their screenings. Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Expert on longevity vs personalised lifestyle medicine: Many women are living longer, but are we living better?

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Clare Nieland joins the Living Hellth podcast to break down the science of staying fitter, healthier and,inevitably younger, for longer. And how lifestyle medicine can be used to prevent chronic disease and conditions - with a special focus on women's health. Whether you're navigating pre-pregnancy tips, managing PCOS, or simply want to ensure your "Second Spring" menopause phase is your strongest yet, this episode provides the data-backed roadmap you’ve been looking for! In this episode of Living Hellth, host Johanna Doyle sits down with Dr. Clare Nieland to discuss how we’re moving past "reactive" healthcare and into preventive, personalised lifestyle medicine. In this episode, we cover: 🩸 The #1 test to determine a woman's lifespan 👯‍♀️ How lack of social connection could be draining your health 🏋️ Why grip strength and muscle mass are non-negotiable as we age 🥗 The 6 pillars of a lifestyle medicine 🩺 The Difference Between Longevity and Lifestyle Medicine 🧬 We discuss how lifestyle medicine can be used to prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s, Osteopenia and Osteoporosis, Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes 🧘🏼‍♀️The simple and free lifestyle changes that actually predict our health 💊 The supplements she couldn't live without - and the trends that have no scientific backing! With women spending 25% more of their lives in poor health than men, Dr. Nieland reveals why we need to start tracking the biomarkers that actually predict our future. Whether you're navigating pre-pregnancy tips, managing PCOS, or simply want to ensure your "Second Spring" menopause phase is your strongest yet, this episode provides the data-backed roadmap you’ve been looking for. Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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TRAILER: Expert chats longevity vs lifestyle medicine - comparing the facts from fads!

Send us Fan Mail In our 2nd and final bonus episode for season 1, we are covering a topic that affects everyone, but with a special focus on women's health and hormones with expert Dr Clare Nieland. With over 20 years’ experience of working with patients both in the national health service in the UK (NHS) and private sector, general practitioner Dr Nieland chat withs us about Longevity vs. Lifestyle medicine: and how we can measure, remedy or strengthen our health. So, is it possible to slow down your biological clock without spending a fortune? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Clare Nieland, a specialist in the burgeoning field of longevity medicine who also practices at the Hooke Longevity Clinic in London. We dive into the critical differences between simply living longer and "lifestyle-first" medicine—a grounded approach that uses simple, everyday changes to tackle the mental health struggles and wide-spread chronic diseases. From the "village" of support every woman needs to the one specific test Dr. Nieland would run to determine a woman's lifespan, this conversation reveals how you can take control of your future health right from your own home. Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Shona’s Living Hellth: How chronic anxiety and burnout at age 30 led to a profound turning point and a career-defining role at Headspace

Send us Fan Mail In the information-overload era of AI and social media, "consciousness is our competitive advantage". This episode of the Living Hellth Podcast features Shona Beats, employee number two and ex-COO at Headspace, who helped move meditation from a niche practice to a global mainstream phenomenon. Shona shares her powerful journey from a high-adrenaline career and total burnout at age 30 to becoming a neuroscience-backed coach for leaders and founders. Episode Highlights The Moment of "Freeze": Shona details the terrifying day her "autopilot" crashed during a high-stakes pitch, leading to a profound "rock bottom" moment that eventually became her life’s most glorious turning point. The Problem with "Cracking On": Discover the difference between burn out and resilience, why resilience isn't about "holding your ground", but instead about the process of being knocked down and learning how to get back up. Surviving the AI Era: Shona explores why AI can outsource knowledge but cannot access presence or wisdom. Learn why reclaiming our "human skin" and embodiment is the ultimate mindfulness and leadership strategy. The Toxicity of Social Media: Why social platforms are engineered like "Vegas slot machines" to keep you in a state of provocative mindlessness and how to break the addiction. Leadership Alchemy: A breakdown of Shona’s framework for founders and leaders: Awareness (seeing your code), Altitude (rising above it), and Alchemy (rewriting it). Follow us on TikTok here. Follow us on Instagram here. About Shona Shona Beats teaches CEOs and founders what meditation taught Silicon Valley: consciousness becomes competitive advantage in the AI era. Described as a voice of modern wisdom, she joined Headspace as Employee #2 and COO, building the product, business, and team from the ground up over six years - navigating hypergrowth, multiple funding rounds, and relocating the team to Silicon Beach. Headspace made meditation go mainstream, and has gone on to reach 100M+ users in over 190 countries. All this - off the back of burnout. At age 30, Shona was signed off work with chronic anxiety. She found her own path through meditation, and within months had not only recovered but joined Headspace's co-founders to build one of the most defining mind health brands in the world. Grounded in 5,000+ hours of consciousness training and nearly two decades studying elite performance and leadership, Shona developed The Human OS Upgrade - a neuroscience-backed framework for unlocking human potential in the AI era. Today, she's a keynote speaker, executive coach, and board advisor working with CEOs, founders, and C-suite leaders on the internal upgrades that drive external results. Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shonabeats/ Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Trailer: Get above the Algorithm: The link between Burnout and anxiety, in the social media and AI Era

Send us Fan Mail Subscribe to know when this episode goes live! Going live next Tuesday 24th of Feb It's the start of the year, and reevaluating ones health is always a common theme- but have you thought about your mental health when it comes to social media and AI? Anxiety and burn out can affect us all. In this bonus episode for season 1, we chat with Shona Beats about how "consciousness is the ultimate competitive advantage in an AI world.” In this profoundly candid episode, we sit down with Shona Beats, Executive Coach for Founders & Leaders, keynote speaker, and ex-COO at Headspace. Shona played a pivotal role in taking meditation mainstream with Headspace, just before she became a global leader in mental and mind health, she had experienced a life-changing chapter with anxiety and burn out. At age 30, Shona appeared to have it all—a glamorous career, amazing travel, impressive network and a new home. On the inside, she was running on a high-adrenaline "autopilot" that eventually led to a total physical and mental freeze. Shona shares her raw journey from that "rock bottom moment on the floor” to discovering the transformative power of meditation and neuroscience-backed frameworks. Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

(Peri)menopause, my career and my sense of self: in conversation with industry leader, Melissa Robertson

Send us Fan Mail Melissa Robertson shares her journey with peri-menopause (leading up to the menopause) that started to appear at the same time as she started her new role as CEO (at Dark Horses agency) around 5 years ago. This has a dual focus, on the personal but also professional impact (peri) menopause can have on her life and career. Melissa is a portfolio NED and consultant with over 30 years of experience in the advertising and marketing industry. She was a co-founder of the creative agency, Now; a Director of the women’s lifestyle platform, The Pool; and most recently CEO of Dark Horses, a creative agency focused on sport. She is now Non-Executive Chair of Spike, the sports arm of W Communications, a Trustee of the Women’s Sport Trust, and a director of Menopause Mandate. We chat about… Her erratic periods and wild dreams What life is life in perimenopause, waiting for The menopause The symptoms that hit like a train How they are selling menopause on Amazon - and raising awareness How businesses can support menopause How menopause showed up in her worklife How menopause has impacted her career How she was supported, and how partners can show up for those going through menopause You review your menopause on Amazon here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/SellingMenopause/page/242CA1A9-DE7A-4685-BA6A-0D70AA9047C8 You can reach out to Melissa here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissarobertson29/ Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Menopause in the workplace with Lauren Chiren from 'Women of a Certain Stage'

Send us Fan Mail Lauren Chiren from Women of a Certain Stage the global authority on menopause certification, training, and enterprise workplace strategy. She has educated over 350,000 people through free workshops, trained and certified 1,470+ professionals to become Menopause Coaches and Champions in over 36 countries, and advised 400+ of the world’s top employers. Her clients include Amazon, Mercedes F1, HSBC, Blackstone, Nike, and other global brands that don’t just want awareness - they want execution, enterprise integration, and measurable results. Lauren is a trusted voice in international policy, Menopause Action Plans, providing evidence to the UK Parliament, contributing to US DE&I initiatives, and serving on the award-winning BSI committee behind the world’s first Standard for menstruation and menopause at work. We talk about… How she turned her crisis turned into purpose that has helped countless women Menopause isn’t ‘over the hill’ - Menopause is a second power Why menopause policies and strategies are so important - it’s not just the women who are experiencing perimenopause, it’s also the people around them who socialise, work and live with them! How partners can actually help Her success stories with top female executives she’s worked with The next generation of women won’t tolerate this lack of support and info Menopause sufferers - you are not alone and there is hope and help for you! Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Early perimenopause: A personal journey with experiencing perimenopause in her early 30s

Send us Fan Mail Wizz Selvey shares a really honest recount of how she discovered her early perimenopause, her symptoms, feeling overwhelmed and gaslit, then onto her road to properly understanding and managing her symptoms. We talk about: What sleep is like, now and during perimenopause Puberty and early adulthood: the signs and the symptoms Ignoring her cycle and realisation to embrace it, work with it The real cost of questioning herself The very early signs of perimenopause that "hit hard" Thinking it was long covid, discovering it was perimenopause Perimenopause is a massive opportunity to reassess your life How she managed her symptoms naturally, thinking about HRT More about Wizz Wizz Selvey the Co-founder of Valerie. The company tackling one of the biggest health challenges of our time: the 1 billion women navigating peri/menopause. Their mission is bold - to revolutionise midlife healthcare and empower women to live fully and freely at every age. Valerie is more than a product; we’re a movement. We’re here to help women reclaim their health, take back control, and turn midlife into maxlife. Valerie have developed Daily Essential, a pioneering liposomal technology supplement with 12 nutrients and 90 health benefits. Email her for partnerships and ambassador roles wizz@wearevalerie.com Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Menopause specialist: Everything you need to know about the menopause in your 20s, 30s and 40s

Send us Fan Mail Dr Claire Phipps is a highly dedicated GP turned menopause specialist based in London. She works particularly close women and people with complex health histories or multiple medical conditions, and her approach combines evidence-based hormonal and non-hormonal therapies, as well as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Claire is also deeply committed to advancing access to evidence-based menopause care for underserved and underrepresented populations. She holds the British Menopause Society Advanced Menopause Certificate, is a member of the International Menopause Society, and European Andropause and Menopause society. In this episode, we chat through: The menopause basics How we should be thinking about menopause in our 20s, 30s and 40s Her trauma-aware approach and how oestrogen boxes up how we feel Unrecognised symptoms and how you should prepare for consultation with your doctor HRT basics - Not ready for HRT? There are alternatives The good news - menopause doesn’t have to be scary! More on Dr Phipps Dr Claire Phipps is a highly dedicated and compassionate GP with many years experience in providing comprehensive healthcare to all ages. Claire also specialises in supporting women through menopause, particularly those with complex health histories or multiple medical conditions. Her approach combines evidence-based hormonal and non-hormonal therapies with a deep understanding of how existing health issues can influence menopausal symptoms and treatment choices. She focuses on personalised care, aiming to restore balance, improve quality of life, and empower women to navigate this transition with confidence and clarity. Dr. Phipps holds the British Menopause Society Advanced Menopause Certificate, is a member of the International Menopause Society, and European Andropause and Menopause society. She a certified menopause and GP trainer providing education to healthcare professionals. She is also CBT trained and sits on the British Menopause Society medical advisory council. Claire believes that the perimenopause and menopause are opportunities to take back control of our health. Claire is deeply committed to advancing access to evidence-based menopause care for underserved and underrepresented populations. She sits on the board of different community charities. Her areas of special interest include providing education around genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) treatment and within this supporting survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM). You can find out more and get in touch with Dr Phipps via her website: https://themenopausegp.com/ or instagram @themenopausegp Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Autoimmune expert: Dr Mark Vanderpump is an endocrinologist specialising in thyroid disease and reproductive endocrinology including PCOS

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I interview a leading Endocrinologist based in London, Dr Mark Vanderpump, on autoimmune diseases, with a special focus on thyroid conditions. In this episode, I ask him: Why are women more imapcted by autoimmune diseases than men? What are autoimmune diseases and why do they occur? What are the autoimmune diseases triggers and treatment Conflicting researching surrounding increases and decreases in rates of autoimmune disease His view on lifestyle medicine and how gut health might impact Why is there a delay for so many women when it comes to diagnosis About Dr Vanderpump Dr Mark Vanderpump is a consultant physician and endocrinologist OneWelbeck in London, specialising in thyroid disease. Dr Vanderpump is a highly experienced endocrinologist. He was a Consultant Physician and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust for 17 years, until he moved to full-time private practice, in 2016, after more than 30 years working in the NHS. He is the past President of the British Thyroid Association (2014-2017), and a 2017 and 2022 Top Doctors award winner. He is the former Chair of the London Consultants’ Association. He is a published author with a book and chapters on thyroid disease, and he regularly contributes to medical publications and teaches and lectures nationally and internationally. Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Rocsi's Living Hell: After almost a decade, she discovered she had autoimmune disease, called Hashimoto's. Then she removed a 16cm cyst and is now managing primary dysmenorrhea (painful periods without a cause)

Send us Fan Mail After a decade long fight for answers to her symptoms, Rocsi was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s - where the body’s own immune system attacks the thyroid. It didn’t end there, as she still had to learn why she had such painful and heavy periods. She discovered why, but it then meant she had to undergo a c-section surgery to remove a 16cm cyst. She fought hard to recover and continue to support her thyroid through properly nutrition and anti-inflammatory practices. Today she manages her primary dysmenorrhea (painful periods without a cause) and her autoimmune flare ups with a focus on nutrition and gut health, which has significantly improved her quality of life. In this episode: Rocsi’s upbringing and her first few extremely painful cycles Her experience with the birth control pill What led her to discover her autoimmune thyroid disease Pushing her body to the extreme with diets and exercise, losing her period Post surgery recovery and adjusting her lifestyle and nutrition to support her body Returning to a normal cycle and managing autoimmune disease Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Trailer: Rocsi's story

Send us Fan Mail A snippet from our full conversation with Rocsi, who shares her very long and very frustrating journey to get the answers to her debilitating symptoms. But it didn't end there - she then had to push for answers to her painful periods, which in the end, required c-section surgery and a long road to recovery. Rocsi's story is heart-breaking, inspiring and she's come out the other side armed with research and knowledge, determined to help any other women facing the same diagnosis or living with painful periods affecting their quality of life. Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

Is there a link between ADHD & female reproductive hormones? Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais chats through emerging research on hormonal transitions and fluctuations

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Queen Mary University London. Her research investigates the developmental course of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) across the life span. In this episode we discuss what the research states when it comes to ADHD and hormonal transitions and fluctuations, including: Puberty and menstruation PMDD Hormonal contraception Pregnancy Sleep Perimenopause and menopause We also cover the basics: What is ADHD? How is it diagnosed? How does it affect women and girls differently? Why is there such a delay in diagnosis for girls and women? Medication in the menstrual cycle and pregancy Dr Agnew-Blais current study focuses on ADHD among girls and women, and the role of times of hormonal change, including puberty, the menstrual cycle and the menopausal transition, in functioning among women with ADHD.. The books Dr Jessica Agnew referenced in this episode include: Lotta Skoglund's books and resources (via her website) https://www.borgskoglund.se/en/ https://www.borgskoglund.se/en/literature/adhd-girls-to-women/ Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais also recommends “Understand ADHD in Girls and Women” edited by Joanne Steer. Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais works with www.adhdlifelab.com and people can find out about getting involved with research here: https://www.adhdlifelab.com/get-involved-1 Follow Dr Agnew-Blais, her work and affiliated organisations: @adhdlifecourselab @bluesky @adhdlifecourselab.bsky.social Linkedin: ADHD Lifecourse Lab Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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Endometriosis surgeon & pelvic pain expert: Dr Karolina Afors shares the stats, facts and practical advice with it comes to this chronic condition

Send us Fan Mail In this third episode on endometriosis, we speak with Dr Karolina Afors, a Consultant Gynaecologist at University College London Hospitals, with over 17 years of experience in the NHS (the public healthcare system for England and Wales). She specialises in pelvic pain and endometriosis, including conducting surgery on patients suffering from Endo. Dr Afors provides us with the stats, facts and practical advice when it comes to endometriosis. She has a unique perspective, as she values and includes guidance on holistic living and nutrition as part of her work with her patients, and as part of this epsiode, alongside other medical and surgical inventions. In this episode, we cover: What is endometriosis (and adenomyosis) Why it is so painful for sufferers How the medical community defines / classifies endometriosis Innovations within the endo space she is especially excited about Why this is a delay is diagnosis Advice she has for sufferers and what questions they can ask their GP More on Dr Karolina Afors She is actively involved in clinical research, medical education, and surgical training. She regularlyteaches at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and holds a seniorcommittee position within the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE). She alsocontributes to the Pelvic Pain Special Interest Group of the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESGE).Beyond her clinical practice, Dr Afors plays a leading role in women’s health innovation,working in drug development to design and deliver therapies that address significant unmetneeds. She also serves as a health educator and advisor, consulting across digital health platformsto integrate technology with personalised, holistic care, promoting accessibility and equity inhealthcare delivery. You can find more info: https://www.karolinaafors.com/ Support the show Follow us on Instagram or TikTok, or subscribe via YouTube. We've reached 1.6 million views across all platforms, proudly covering some of the most chronic and confusing conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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