Season 1, BONUS #2, Details:
Gynaecology with Dr Emma Hayward
Listen to the episode:
Episode Overview:
In this bonus episode, Dr Emma Hayward joins us to talk about gynaecology and explain how your menstrual cycle is a vital sign of your overall health.
From painful, heavy or missing periods to changing discharge and sexual pain, they explore what’s likely normal, what’s worth checking out, and when it’s time to book in with your GP.
Detailed Episode Show Notes:
“It’s really about holistic health, thinking about the menstrual cycle as a sign of overall health, as well as just reproductive health – it’s a vital sign.”
Welcome to our second bonus episode with Dr Emma Hayward, this time diving deeper into the topics we’ve covered about gynaecology and the menstrual cycle.
Your menstrual cycle is an invaluable window into your overall health, and our resident GP and women’s health expert helps us to clear that window so that you can understand what your cycle’s telling you about your body.
Join us to understand how to ‘find your normal’, and what’s worth checking out with your GP.
👤 Guest profile:
Dr Emma Hayward
- Practicing NHS GP
- Senior Lecturer at Bournemouth University
⏱️ Chapters:
[0:00] – Introductions and the GP’s role in gynaecology support
[3:13] – Gynaecology is a sign of holistic health, not just reproductive health
[4:15] – Monitoring your periods and when to get help
[6:40] – Cycles, periods and discharge
[9:17] – What to do if your quality of life is affected
🔑Key Themes:
- The menstrual cycle as a vital sign of holistic health
- Body literacy and “knowing your normal”
- Seeking help early and improving quality of life
📖 Resources Mentioned:
- Women’s Health Support in Dorset: https://ourdorset.org.uk/women/
- British Menopause Society: https://thebms.org.uk/
- Women’s Health Concern: https://www.womens-health-concern.org/
- Dorset Menopause Support: https://www.dorsetmenopausesupport.co.uk/
🔗 Connect with us:
- Dr Emma Hayward, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dremmathurston/
- Marianne Storey, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-storey-46938435/
- Anjali Mavi, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjali-mavi-66a5a86/
- Dorset Women CIC Website: https://dorsetwomen.org.uk/
- Women’s Health Support in Dorset: https://ourdorset.org.uk/women/
🎯 Action Items for Listeners:
- Pay attention to your menstrual cycle as a health signal
- Develop body literacy and know your personal ‘normal’
- Don’t ignore worries about your reproductive or sexual health
- Notice your normal vs any new changes
- Visit the Women’s Health website for evidence-based health information.
- Share the podcast and website with other women in the community.
- Consider how to advocate for women’s health in your local area.
- Encourage male family members and partners to learn about women’s health issues.
💡 Top Quotes:
2:20 – Dr Emma Hayward
“I might have a woman come to talk to me and she’ll say she’s had pain since the birth of her child, who’s now 15 – she’d been waiting for 15 years to come and ask someone about her pain.”
4:00 – Dr Emma Hayward
“It’s really about holistic health, and thinking about the menstrual cycle as a sign of overall health, as well as just reproductive health.”
4:15 – Dr Emma Hayward
“I think everyone can have a funny month… if it’s gone on for more than three months in a row, that’s when we think there’s something more that’s good to look into.”
6:40 – Dr Emma Hayward
“One thing I remember never being taught about was the colour of blood across a menstrual cycle. During a period, it might be heavy and red, and then it might turn brown, and that’s purely because it’s flowing slower, and the blood is oxidised before it gets out. That’s perfectly normal.”
9:30 – Dr Emma Hayward
“I don’t want to say, ‘Oh, don’t come and see us. If your periods have always been so painful you can’t function most days’. Either if it’s affecting your quality of life, or it’s a new change for you and you’re worried, just come and see us.”
Transcript: Find the full transcript here. Please note, these notes are AI generated.