Welcome to It's Not Just A Period!

Joining Alexandra in the studio this week is entrepreneur, PCOS advocate and women's health coach, Keisha Sethi.

Keisha’s journey started in year 5 of primary school, at such a young age she experienced excess hair growth and the start of her period. As a member of a proud South Asian family, Keisha and her mum navigated the upsetting and difficult path of contraceptive medications and being given a life sentence of infertility. 

She shares the emotional and physical struggles of living with PCOS symptoms through the different stages of her life, including the time she spent homeless, her eating anxiety and how it impacted all of her relationships.

Alexandra and Keisha discuss fertility routes, the toll of miscarriage and how holistic health can compliment Western medicine. Their conversation sheds light on the importance of empathy in medical practices, the value of holistic approaches in women’s healthcare, and the need to break down stigma around these often overlooked issues.

For more information on Alexandra or Keisha, head to the below links:

Alexandra

Keisha

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Welcome to It's Not Just A Period!

Joining Alexandra in the studio is author, campaigner, Endometriosis and Adenomyosis advocate, Jen Moore. 

Jen's story is shocking, heartbreaking and is riddled with medical gaslighting, misdiagnosis and misogyny. Her symptoms began at 11 years old and despite her own mum having an Endometriosis diagnosis, both women's concerns were dismissed as hysteria. After being on the contraceptive pill for over 20 years, Jen discovered the devastating effects Endometriosis and Adenomyosis had had on her body after being left unchecked for so long.

Alexandra and Jen discuss the critical importance of informed consent, the emotional toll of chronic illness, and the need for better clinical education around Endometriosis and other conditions. They also discuss Jen's brand new book 'Endometriosis' which is the most current and comprehensive guide designed to educate, empower, and support others walking a similar path.

For more information on Alexandra or Jen, head to the below links:

Alexandra

Jen

Buy Jen's Book: Endometriosis

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Welcome to It's Not JUST A Period!

In this week's episode, Alexandra is joined by hormone expert and PMDD advocate, Zoe Jane Hindle.

Zoe was diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder in her late twenties after it had disrupted her work, relationships, and mental health for over a decade. Due to the little to no support available at the time, she took matters into her own hands, diving into research and eventually retraining in functional wellness.

Alexandra and Zoe discuss the lack of education around women's health issues, the impact of hormonal treatments, and the importance of lifestyle changes in managing PMDD. The conversation also highlights the significance of mindset, lifestyle, and the role of stress in overall health, encouraging women to seek help and advocate for themselves. They discuss how women can understand their bodies better through genetics, hormone testing, and personalised wellness protocols. 

For more information on Alexandra and Zoe, head to the below links:

Zoe

Work With Zoe

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Welcome to It's Not JUST A Period!

This week, Alexandra sits down with Tia Purewal, Endometriosis warrior and women's health expert. 

Tia was diagnosed with superficial Endometriosis in 2021 after a year of debilitating symptoms which included daily nausea, painful sex and unpredictable bowel movements that plagued her quality of life as a young woman. 

Alexandra and Tia discuss the complexities of living with and diagnosing women's health issues where symptoms range from person to person and no one experience is the same. Tia shares her experience with a vast range of contraceptive treatments, the strange remedies recommended to her and what sustainable holistic changes she has made. They also share their frustrations with the world of social media and how health influencers are misleading a new generation of women when it comes to these conditions.

This episode is an honest and frank conversation where two women with the same condition share very different experiences.

For more information on Alexandra and Tia, head to the below links:

Tia

Alexandra

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Welcome to It's Not JUST A Period!

Joining Alexandra in the studio is Libby Tanswell-Gidney, founder of Ove. OVE is a period tracking app designed for girls aged 8 to 16, born from her own journey of confusion and embarrassment during puberty.

After starting her period in primary school before any of her friends, Libby discovered just how unprepared she was and how little she knew about her body. She saw first hand the taboo around menstrual health and how difficult it can be to talk about when you're young.

Alexandra and Libby discuss the role of education in breaking the cycle of misinformation and the importance of empowering young women to advocate for their health. They highlight the positive impact of OVE and the growing community of young women who are becoming more informed and confident about their bodies.

This episode is proudly sponsored by BeYou, a brand that totally gets women’s health. From period patches that actually work to natural sleep sprays and hormone balancing goodies, BeYou is all about making you feel your best, every day of the month. No gimmicks, just simple, science backed wellness that fits into real life. Check them out at beyouonline.co.uk and make sure you use code ALEXANDRA10 for 10% off!

For more information on Alexandra and Libby, head to the below links:

Alexandra

Libby

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Welcome to It's Not JUST A Period!

This week's episode is a bit different. You've heard her talk before but never like this. That's right, Alexandra is swapping roles for one week only, from host to guest. She's joined by Taylor James, host of The Waffle Shop Podcast to share her journey so far.

Alexandra shares the terrifying symptoms she's lived with since she was 16, the countless battles with medical professionals and how transforming her lifestyle gave her a quality of life she hadn't had before. Her 10 year journey includes the impact of Endometriosis on university, careers, relationships, surgery, fertility and more!

Alexandra's story is one that has to be heard and so we're going to let her do the talking.

For more information on Alexandra and Taylor, head to the below link:

Alexandra 

Taylor

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Welcome to It's Not JUST A Period!

This week we have an EXCLUSIVE interview for you. Please welcome for their first ever podcast appearance Kru and Hemang, the sibling co-founders of BeYou. A flagship period product company committed to changing the dialogue around women's health.

Born from Kru’s experience of period shaming, BeYou offers natural, holistic solutions, like their innovative period patches, that bring real comfort and relief. But their mission goes far beyond just products, they're driving systemic change in research and development here at home as well as creating a global impact through their BeYou Foundation, which supports women's education and job creation in India.

Kru and Hemang take us on the journey of BeYou, from research and conception, launching the first product, to navigating the complexities of Covid 19. We discuss in detail the lack of inclusive medical research, why women's pain is dismissed in medicine and the workplace and how Big Pharma's grip complicates access to effective natural treatments.

Our conversation expands to pregnancy, childbirth, maternity leave, menopause and why Kru and Hemang have chosen holistic health. 

It is clear that BeYou is a labour of love. From sibling dynamics that fuel creativity to systemic change through advocacy, Kru and Hemang’s story is one of innovation, compassion, and unwavering purpose.

For more information on Alexandra or Kru and Hemang, head to the below links:

BeYou

Alexandra

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Welcome to It's Not JUST A Period!

This week, Alexandra sits down with Charlotte Henshaw MBE, paracanoe athlete and Endometriosis campaigner.

Charlotte began her sports career in para swimming and after the 2016 Rio games she moved to the paracanoe where she's claimed the titles of European Champion, ten times World Champion and 3 times Olympic Champion. 

In 2013 Charlotte started to experience excruciating pain in her right side and began a long 7 year journey to diagnosis resulting in a diagnostic laparoscopy 8 months before the Tokyo games.

Charlotte walks us through every stage of her diagnosis journey as she describes the challenge of working as a professional athlete whilst living with debilitating symptoms. She navigated numerous investigative dead ends, misdiagnosis' and the withdrawal from competitions. 

Together, Alexandra and Charlotte, explore the cultural shifts in women's sport including investing in research and development and using menstrual cycle tracking in training. They discuss the importance of breaking the silence around this condition, the shift in athlete mentality towards vulnerability, and the significance of listening to one's body in training. 

This conversation is a call to all future female athletes to empower them to pursue their dreams regardless of health challenges.

For more information on Alexandra or Charlotte, head to the below links:

Charlotte

Alexandra

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Welcome to It's Not JUST A Period!

Joining Alexandra in the studio this week is Phoebe Williams, she shares how her journey with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), led to founding the first ever UK charity for the condition. 

Phoebe opens up about her own experience, from the emotional and physical toll of the condition to the frustrating delays and missteps she encountered in the healthcare system. With the average time to receive a PMDD diagnosis being around 12 years, this conversation highlights just how misunderstood and under diagnosed the condition is.

Alexandra and Phoebe explore the wider impact of PMDD on mental health, relationships and careers as well the urgent need for better education around menstrual health. Phoebe shares the mission of the PMDD Project and her hopes for the future of PMDD and those living with it. 

Her story is one of resilience and determination, shedding light on the reality of living with PMDD and the importance of building compassionate, informed communities. This is an essential listen for anyone looking to better understand PMDD, challenge the silence around menstrual health, and support those affected by this life altering condition.

*This episode contains discussions of mental health challenges, including suicidal thoughts, which some listeners may find distressing. Please take care while listening, and know that support is available*

For further support or for more information on Alexandra or Phoebe, head to the below links:

Alexandra

The PMDD Project

Phoebe

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Welcome to It's Not JUST A Period!

This week, Alexandra sits down with Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP for Clapham & Brixton Hill and Endometriosis warrior.

Bell chairs the All Parliamentary Group for Endometriosis and throughout her career has been a vocal champion for improving healthcare access, particularly in addressing racial and gender disparities in the system. 

Bell shares her 5 year diagnosis journey which can only be described as a nightmare combination of medical gaslighting, misogyny and misdiagnosis. She battled the removal of vital medication, a botched laparoscopy and chronic pain that left her immobilised in hospital. 

Together, Alexandra and Bell explore the urgent need for political advocacy, why we need to change the landscape of research and development and how ensure women’s health is a societal wide priority.

Ultimately, this episode is a wake up call. The scientific, medical and political landscapes have failed women and continue to do so. We must do better.

For further support or for more information on Alexandra or Belle, head to the below links:

Alexandra

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

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