From early life to ageing well: Advancing Women's Health through research and community initiatives

From supporting teenagers with period pain to ensuring equitable maternity care and advancing menopause research, our work addresses key health challenges that have long been overlooked. 

 Listening to teenagers: Improving period pain care 

Period pain affects up to 93% of teenagers, with severe pain preventing many from attending school or social activities. Yet, despite the availability of treatments, many young people do not seek medical help. A research project run by Dr Sharon Dixon, an NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow in our department and a GP, aims to change this by listening to teenagers' experiences and identifying gaps in care. 

Through the project, the researchers are exploring how young people find information, who they turn to for advice, and what happens when they seek help. By placing teenagers’ voices at the centre, they will develop evidence-based resources to support better education, healthcare, and decision-making around period pain. These resources will be available for free, ensuring young people, schools, and GPs have access to reliable information.  

Equal Start Oxford: Ensuring equitable maternity care 

Pregnancy and early motherhood should be a time of support and care, yet Black and minoritised ethnic women in the UK face significant inequalities in maternal health. Supported by the Centre for Research Equity, based in NDPCHS, the Equal Start Oxford project was launched to address these disparities by providing community-led support to women from diverse migrant backgrounds in Oxford. 

The project offers culturally appropriate antenatal classes, advocacy services, translation services, and peer-to-peer support to ensure that all women receive the care they need. By building strong connections between communities and healthcare providers, Equal Start Oxford is empowering women to make informed decisions about their health and improving maternity services for the future. 

In the department, Professor Lisa Hinton has been leading a research project, funded by the Obstetric Anaesthetists Association, to explore inequalities in pain relief in labour. She and her team have spoken to 34 women and 10 fathers from ethnic minority groups across England to understand their needs and experiences and identify future research priorities.  

Challenging misinformation: Menopause research that puts women first 

The menopause is a natural stage of life, yet misinformation about treatment options continues to create confusion and anxiety. Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) has been the subject of much debate, and while more women are now accessing it, commercial products claiming to ease symptoms have flooded the market—often without evidence to support their claims. 

Research by Dr Anne-Marie Boylan, Departmental Lecturer & Senior Researcher in NDPCHS, featured last year on BBC’s Panorama: The Menopause Industry Uncovered, investigated the claims behind menopause-related products. The research found that companies often don't test their own products and that marketing practices rely on poor quality evidence and anecdotal claims. This raises important questions about how we regulate and communicate information about menopause care.  

Improving endometriosis care:  Learning from patient and practitioner experiences  

Endometriosis is a long-term condition involving the presence of tissue resembling the lining of the womb outside of the womb. It affects around 10% of women and those assigned female at birth, often causing pelvic pain, fertility issues, and significant impacts on daily life. Despite its prevalence, many patients experience delays in diagnosis and poor care experiences.   

A new study in our department, led by Dr Abi McNiven, aims to better understand the challenges faced by patients and the healthcare practitioners involved in their care. By gathering insights from both patients and healthcare practitioners, the research will identify key areas for improvement 

Advancing Women’s Health research: A pivotal moment for our department 

Last year, we held our Advancing Women’s Health Research Showcase, bringing together researchers from across the University of Oxford to address historical gaps in women's health research.  

Developed by Professor Lisa Hinton and Dr Kath Tucker, the event was a pivotal moment for our department - highlighting gaps in research, celebrating ongoing projects, and strengthening our commitment to patient and public involvement (PPI). 

The event highlighted work on: 

• Cognitive and physical frailty in elderly women. 

• Endometriosis and reproductive health. 

• Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) across the life course. 

• Regulation of fertility trackers and digital health tools. 

• Gestational diabetes, hypertension in pregnancy, and postpartum care. 

 By bringing together experts from multiple fields, we aim to not only drive forward new research but also ensure that the next generation of women's health studies is inclusive, innovative, and impactful. The event laid the groundwork for future partnerships and networks, has inspired an upcoming seminar series in the department, and initiated crucial conversations to help our department address health disparities and improve outcomes for women in primary care health research.