Category: Health and Lifestyle
12 Posts
Stress and Periods: How Stress Affects Your Menstrual Cycle
Read moreStress is a natural part of life and impacts us almost on a daily basis. Whilst a small amount of stress can actually be good for us (believe it or not), chronic stress and burn out can end up negatively impacting almost all of our body’s processes—including our menstrual cycles. In this article we’re going to cover exactly what stress is, the science behind it, how it can impact our…
Hormones and Smoking: How is it Affecting Your Health?
Read moreIt’s a well-known fact that smoking can have a negative impact on health, with both active and passive smoking being associated with multiple forms of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Despite this, in the UK, as of 2019, 28% of men and 22% of women aged between 25 and 34 years are current smokers, according to published health data in England (1)—and a whopping 175 million people assigned-female-at-birth (AFAB) smoke…
Alcohol and Fertility: Drinking While Trying to Conceive
Read moreIf you’re trying to conceive, or beginning to think about starting a family, chances are you’ve probably recommended to stop, or at least cut down, drinking alcohol… Not exactly the news most of us want to hear, but unfortunately alcohol consumption can affect our fertility (in both women and men) and therefore, our chances of conceiving. Although all alcohol can affect fertility, new research has indicated that in those assigned-female-at-birth,…
Being a 21st Century Employer – Supporting Women Through Menopause
Read moreMenopause is a reproductive life stage for any woman when they can no longer conceive and stop having periods. This period (and perimenopause that comes before) is associated with different symptoms, such as hot flushes, trouble sleeping, low mood and anxiety, which can often be disruptive to their daily lives. Why should employers care about menopause? Over 12 million women and gender diverse people at the workplace in the UK…
Why should reproductive health be a part of your mental health benefits?
Read moreCOVID-19 and the shift to remote working has catalysed the demand for mental health benefits – it is now a “must have” for employers in 2021. In fact, in a recent survey, 91% of respondents stated that a company’s culture should support mental health. It is no coincidence that mental well-being is included in how reproductive health is defined by the World Health Organisation, stating that “Reproductive health is a…
Alcohol and Hormones: What is the link?
Read moreWhen looking to conceive, cutting down on your drinking is often one of the first things on your preconception to-do list. The dangerous effects of alcohol on the developing foetus can range from physical to mental and generally disrupts their development in the womb (see foetal alcohol syndrome). But what is the link between alcohol and hormones? According to recent data, women and gender-diverse people assigned female at birth, are…
Exercise and Fertility: Is There Really a Link?
Read moreWe all have different feelings about exercise. Some of us can’t go a day without it and some of us simply can’t bear it. Whichever team you’re on, there’s no denying that exercise comes with health benefits and some of these benefits extend to your fertility. At the same time, too much exercise can be damaging and finding the right balance for you can be difficult. So we’re here to…
STIs and Fertility: What You Need To Know
Read moreThere are dozens of STIs out there, all with different symptoms and characteristics. If you find out you have an STI, you’re gonorrhoea-lly want to sort it out quickly, so it is important to get an STI check-up if you develop any symptoms and get treated as soon as possible. If you do develop symptoms, you should avoid having sex without a condom until you have been treated to prevent…
Veganism and Fertility: How does a vegan diet impact your fertility?
Read moreThis month, an estimated 400,000 people are taking part in ‘Veganuary’: a movement in which you go vegan for the month of January. Perhaps, you are thinking of joining them or maybe you are just curious about how a vegan diet will affect your fertility? The vegan diet is often hailed as having many health benefits, but what about when it comes to your fertility… Firstly, what is a vegan…
The Science Behind Stress and Fertility
Read moreOn a scale of candlelit bath to the year 2020, how stressed are you feeling right now? It’s been a whirlwind of a year (thankfully it’s nearly over), and one that has required a lot of extra self-care to protect our mental health and wellbeing. But what impact could the stress of this year, on top of all life’s normal stressors, be having on your reproductive health? In the world…