Women’s health

The stigma around reproductive health

We need to destigmatise reproductive health in the workplace, otherwise, as a consequence women suffer. The stigma around reproductive health applies to, but is not limited to: menstruation, menopause and fertility treatment.  When women menstruate they are to do so quietly. Come to work, take paracetamol and bring a hot water bottle if you must, …

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The misleading messages of fertility in the media and in our schools

Pregnancy test adverts show the happy heterosexual couples hugging over the ‘pregnant’ message that appears on the tiny screen they hold in their hands. They fail to show a diverse range of realities: the lesbian couple distraught after another failed self insemination, or those grieving after their 8th failed round of IVF.     The message …

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Fertility Coaching: the alternative therapy for staff?

Fertility coaching is becoming popular with those trying to conceive. But what is it exactly? We spoke to the lovely fertility coach and former midwife Nicola Headley who answered all of our questions . What is fertility coaching? Fertility coaching can vary depending on the coach and programme.  I trained with the Freedom Fertility Formula which …

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What can we do to create a better awareness around women’s health in the workplace?

Women make up 75.8% of the teaching workforce. It’s time we do more to support them. Employers who back women through huge life events such as menopause and even infertility can increase staff retention and save a lot of money.  To support women’s health in the workplace businesses can: Educate staff Normalise conversations Introduce policies …

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Why we need to stop asking female colleagues if they want children

‘Do you want children’, is an old fashioned question that is a bad fit in the modern world. It’s a question that women have been asked more times than Kate Flemming has called Steve Arnott ‘mate’ in all 6 seasons of Line of Duty. It’s personal and invasive and one of the most inappropriate talking …

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New Zealand’s 3 days of paid leave following miscarriage- is it really worthy of praise?

‘I’m an advocate for paid family and medical leave because the benefits are massive and forever… there are huge personal benefits to workplaces that honour the obligations of family life, and those benefits turn into social and economical benefits as well’. Melinda Gates The Moment of Lift.  There’s no getting around the fact that the …

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3 reasons why absence request forms need to be scrapped in schools

An absence request form and the details required for this might be acceptable if a teacher is asking for time off to have knee surgery or to watch their child in a nativity play. Expecting details from a female teacher attending fertility appointments can cause visceral harm. 1. Information is too personal With fertility treatment …

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