Reflections on the Let's Talk Women's Health Weekend Event

Last weekend, I attended an event called Let's Talk Women's Health , and it left a strong impression on me. The event, which was in its second year, brought together experts, advocates, and everyday women to discuss important topics related to women's health.

The women behind the event are all doing this on a voluntary basis, still needing to do their day job and I think they did an incredible job! You can find them on Instagram - I'll share their handle and that of some of the exhibitors and speakers at the end of this post.

What they successfully created was a space filled with honest conversations, practical advice, and inspiring stories - and seeing this right on my doorstep (well a 5-minute brisk walk away!) was great. My podcast has led to some really good conversations with friends, family and colleagues - and what is clear in all these conversations is that we are still a long way off from menopause getting the focus it needs. There's not enough education ahead of the symptoms landing, there isn't enough current knowledge within the medical community, there are too many women leaving their jobs or being detrimentally affected by absence policies that are not designed to support women through menopause.

What this event did though, was start to increase my awareness and understanding of the broader topic of women's health, better recognising that the experience many of us as perimenopausal or post menopausal women experience is repeated across a whole raft of women's health conditions & there is going to need to be collective effort to address this. I have to be honest, at certain points it did make me question what I am doing with the podcast and the website as it just feels a bit lame when compared to the people I saw and spoke to on the day - but after a lot of quiet reflection I firmly told myself to stop doubting myself and dismissing my personal efforts. Everything counts in preventing the silence and dismissive narratives from surviving or creeping back in!

So what were the highlights?

I could write for hours about the event but let's focus in on the stand outs for me, starting with Women's Health Hope, the founder of which has a direct link to the port I work at and I am really excited about the prospect of building a relationship and inviting them down to the port to expand the support and education we have in place for our employees.

What really stood out to me when I was having a chat was that they are all about lived experience - none of them are medically trained but they having real impact and influence. The charity focuses on women's health at every stage of life - so not just menopause - and stand out because they are doing something that really matters. They're cutting through confusion to provide clear, evidence-based support, and are genuinely advocating for better understanding and treatment of women's health overall.

Take a look at their website - and via their instagram (shared at end of this post) you can also access their volunteering form, which I will be completing and submitting as soon as this post is live!

The Liz Effect!

The key note speaker was Dr Liz O'Riordan - a former surgeon and a current cancer survivor. And I can quite safely say that she is the best speaker I have ever heard from - not once did I find my mind drifting, I was hooked from start to finish. And I would hazard a guess that I wasn't the only one!

The title slide of her session really connected - as this is what my whole approach is in starting the podcast and everything else that has followed since - I don't like that feeling when you have no control but I've never really thought it about my health, until the perimenopause symptoms kicked in.

While her session was not about menopause, every time she shared something that helped separate fact from fiction - false narratives about deodorant causing cancer, false narratives about cosmetic ingredients causing cancer - it reinforced the need for all of us to make sure we look for the hard evidence to support what we are being sold by very good marketeers and influencers.

And actually, by the end of this key note speech I had discovered that the Collagen Powder that I had been stirring into my coffee every morning because it was a 'skin restorer', an 'age reverser' was a clear example of where I had bought into marketing BS as Liz would describe it!.

The Truth about Collagen Powder

Once I had recovered from discovering what that powder actually is, I really listened to what was being shared. Now I am not saying that collagen powder can't help anything - it does provide a protein hit and this is something we need during perimenopause - but a LOT of marketing and influencer posts suggest that this is going to sort your skin!

The reality is very different. When we drink that coffee containing the powder, it is broken down just as any other source of protein would be, into amino acids. And then - and this is crucial - it is distributed however YOUR BODY, not the company selling the product, sees fit! So yes it could make its way to your skin but it is just as likely to reach your gut, joints or any other organ!

I've since read a couple of articles and this one is good as it does suggest a few good products as an alternative. After speaking to my sister she discussed this whole topic with a doctor friend who further confirmed what Liz shared - it needs to be topical treatment, so a cream or a serum direct to the skin. Vitamin C cream is good or retinol cream, and SPF for protecting what you have already!

But in terms of spending money on the powder, you will be just as well saving your money and just adding more protein rich foods to your shopping basket!

What is happening to me?

So back to the event.... there were a range of sessions taking place throughout the day and it is hardly surprising that I chose to go to the menopause focused ones. The morning session was full and standing, and focussed on what is happening to my vagina - I actually thought this session was a really important one as I think it is a topic that many women still find hard to talk about and we need to change that as we are all as likely to experience symptoms like dryness, pain, reduced sex drive as we are any other symptom.

There's a multitude of things you can do that might help with this and some are lifestyle. However, you can also get Vaginal Oestrogen - and if prescribed this it IS covered by the NHS HRT certificate so if you are struggling then do speak to your GP about this.

There are also vaginal moisturisers - the doctor who gave this talk highliy recommended YES! products so may be worth a look if this is something you are struggling with.

You are too young and other myths!

The questions and discussions were as interesting as the presentation itself. One lady, age 35, who described every symptom I've had, being told she is too young for perimenopause. Not true. One lady saying she was told she can't have HRT as it will make her fibroids grow. Not true. Another saying she can't have treatment for perimenopause due to a history of migraines. Not true.

When I say not true, this isn't from me - its from the medical professionals in the room, from the woman who is British Menopause Society accredited. And it is so important to surface these things as we need to challenge and we need to stop women being dismissed & being given incorrect advice.

Remember if you do not feel comfortable with what you are being told, with the treatment you are receiving, you are within your rights to demand to see someone else!

How I Plan to Use What I Learned

After attending the event, I feel even more confident and determined discuss my health concerns with doctors and advocate, not only for myself, but for other women. I'll continue to share the knowledge I learn at this and other events with friends and family, especially about topics that are often overlooked or considered taboo.

Community is so important to support us all as we navigate what can be, at times, a trying, a disruptive and a difficult journey. Join me and help keep conversations on menopause out in the open!

And finally those all important Instagram accounts (alongside mine!)

Let's Talk Women's Health: letstalkwomenshealth_suffolk

Women's Health Hope: womenshealthhope

Liz O'Riordan: oriordanliz

Rachel x