Christina Koch made history this week as mission specialist on NASA’s Artemis II mission as she took off with her fellow astronauts to become the first woman to fly around the moon.

The astronauts – three Americans and one Canadian – took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 1 April on the 10-day voyage, the first time in half a century that humans returned to the vicinity of the moon.

Christina, 47, an engineer and physicist who became an astronaut in 2013, spent 328 days aboard the International Space Station back in 2019, a record for the longest continuous spaceflight by a woman. She was also part of NASA’s first three all-female spacewalks alongside Jessica Meir.

Historically, nearly 90% of astronauts have been men so Christina’s role as a leader in STEM is crucial for inspiring young women and girls. “It feels like an incredible privilege and responsibility,” Christina has said of being part of the Artemis II crew. “We are at a time when everyone who has a dream gets to work equally hard to achieve it.”

On the Artemis II mission, Christina has taken handwritten notes from people close to her for her personal item, a “tactile connection” to loved ones back on Earth.

Surprisingly, the mental load doesn’t seem lighter even when there’s zero gravity. In an interview before takeoff, Christina told reporters that her husband Bob would have to fend for himself at home and not be able to call to find out where lost items are.

“He’s not going to be able to ring me and ask where something is in the house,” she laughed. “He’s going to have to find it.”

In ancient Greek mythology, Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo, who was the namesake of the last Nasa missions that went to the moon. Artemis is the goddess of the hunt, the wild, and - mostly importantly - the moon itself.

And Christina isn’t the only woman shaping the future of space exploration:

Charlie Blackwell-Thompson made history as NASA’s first-ever female launch director, leading the 90-strong Exploration Ground Systems Program. She made the final call, delivering the electrifying “GO!” that sent the mission into the sky. Charlie previously commanded the historic first test flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, Artemis I, guiding the mission all the way to launch.

Laura Poliah, Lander Ground Operations Expert, is part of the Lander Ground Operations team at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and previously served as a lead test engineer for the Orion spacecraft. Her role was to oversee rigorous testing across the crew module, service module, and launch abort system which are vital in keeping the Orion astronauts safe. Laura and her team have been working on testing for Artemis II and Artemis III.

Erica Sandoval is the Program Manager, Abort Motor, Orion Launch Abort System, After completing a degree in mechanical engineering, she worked in rocket motor manufacturing and now leads the team that builds the abort motor for the Orion spacecraft’s launch abort system (LAS). “I had a roundabout path into the space industry, but I love it here,” she said. “I would’ve never imagined that this is where I would end up, but it is an exciting industry and humbling to be a small part of the space industry team.”

Vanessa Wyche is the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, overseeing spacecraft development, astronaut selection and training, and the iconic mission control room. The centre is home to NASA’s astronaut corps and programs such as the International Space Station, Orion, and the Lunar Gateway, with Vanessa guiding missions to the Moon with Artemis, and laying the foundation for future journeys to Mars.

Research from Thames Valley Air Ambulance in the UK reveals one in three women who suffer a cardiac arrest receive no CPR before emergency crews arrive.

And according to St John Ambulance research, a third of adults in the UK are afraid to give CPR to a woman because they’re worried about touching her breasts. Thirty three per cent of men said they were concerned they would be accused of inappropriate touching when giving chest compressions to a woman, compared to 13% of women.

CPR training has historically only taken place on male manikins, leading to a lack of knowledge and experience of performing life saving chest compressions on women. Now, female CPR manikins are being used by charities such as Thames Valley Air Ambulance to help break the stigma and educate members of the public on how to help save women’s lives while waiting for medics to arrive.

Women are more likely to die from a cardiac arrest because their bra is not removed when a defibrillator is used to give an electric shock to the heart, which can help restore the heart's rhythm and get it beating normally again. When a defibrillator is applied within the first three minutes of cardiac arrest it can increase the chances of someone surviving a cardiac arrest by up to 70%.

Understandably, members of the public assisting someone in cardiac arrest are hesitant to remove a woman’s bra but this crucial act could save her life. Resuscitation charity Bra Off Defib On has highlighted the best way to remove a bra - cutting down the side of the fabric instead of the middle, where a wire often is - to make sure skin is exposed for defibrillation which will only work on bare skin.

To close the gender CPR gap, Thames Valley Air Ambulance is being supported by the charity’s royal patron, The Duchess of Edinburgh who got involved with a CPR session recently.

Thames Valley Air Ambulance Chief Executive Amanda McLean says: “Early CPR gives us the best possible chance of saving a life. But we know confidence rates to step in and perform CPR are low and, sadly, they appear to be even lower for women in cardiac arrest. Notions of modesty should never get in the way of saving a life. That’s why we include manikins with breasts in our CPR awareness sessions, and we show people how to cut through a bra before applying defibrillator pads.”

You can watch a video on giving CPR presented by Thames Valley Air Ambulance critical care paramedic Tracey here.

How to give CPR

For an unresponsive adult not breathing, call emergency services immediately and perform CPR - place the heel of one hand in the center of the chest (between the nipples) and the other hand on top, interlocking fingers. Kneeling, keep arms straight and use your body weight to press down 5–6cm at a rate of 100–120 beats per minute. These songs all match this rhythm so help you give lifesaving treatment while waiting for emergency services to arrive:

Shake It Off – Taylor Swift

Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees

Espresso – Sabrina Carpenter

Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper

Flowers – Miley Cyrus

Dancing Queen – ABBA

I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor

You’ve probably seen Louis Theroux: Manosphere by now – and if not, you’ve likely read about it.

Whatever you make of the online debate over the past few weeks, the episode is deeply unsettling.

We’re introduced to a mix of “manosphere” influencers – different faces, but the same dangerous blend of beliefs about masculinity, success and women’s place in the world.

We can warn young people that this content is misleading or harmful, tell them not to take it seriously – but when the voices on their screens are louder, more constant and more confident, we may already be fighting a losing battle.

Read the full article below.

Welcome back to Take The Lead, the fortnightly newsletter from The Female Lead.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the articles you loved this month.

One in 10 women and those born with a uterus are affected by endometriosis, yet the average time to receive a diagnosis of endometriosis in the UK has now reached 9 years and 4 months, new data has been released by Endometriosis UK to highlight the struggles of women seeking diagnosis and support.

Meta’s AI glasses are being marketed as the next step in wearable technology, but as their use grows, so do concerns about misuse - particularly around women’s safety and privacy. Emerging experiences suggest these tools are entering an online culture where boundaries around consent and privacy are becoming blurred.

Have you seen the amazing video of a group dads learning to braid hair in the pub? Pints and Ponytails (hosted in collaboration with Braid Maidens) was set up by Lawrence and Mat from Secret Life of Dads. Originally set up for men to learn how to style their daughters’ hair, it quickly became something even more meaningful.

And a new study proves “baby brain” does exist, but it is far from the dismissive stereotype it has long been reduced to. New findings show pregnancy reshapes the brain itself, with shifts that may actually support emotional connection and responsiveness, rather than signal any kind of decline.

Enjoy this issue, share it if you like it, and reply directly to let us know what you think.

You can also catch up on our most recent full newsletter here.

The Female Lead Team

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The Female Lead is a charity on a mission to empower women.

In the last 8 years, we have given access to books and teaching materials to 2.5 million students in 25,000 schools around the world. We carry out research that reframes our understanding of women’s experience, such as our Fulfilment Finder survey which reveals what matters most to women at different life stages. It has now been completed by 150,000 women globally.

We can’t run the charity without your support.

For just £3.50 a month or £25 a year, you can make a huge difference.

Your donations allow us to continue to provide teaching resources and education to girls and women around the world, conduct groundbreaking research, and share science and stories online.

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You’ve probably seen Louis Theroux: Manosphere by now – and if not, you’ve likely read about it.

Whatever you make of the online debate over the past few weeks, the episode is deeply unsettling.

We’re …

Read more

For decades, “baby brain” has been shorthand for something dismissive: forgetfulness, fuzziness, the brain fog and memory problems during pregnancy and postpartum. It’s a phrase often delivered with a shrug of apology by a mother or worse, a smirk from someone watching a woman struggling.

But a recent study indicates that pregnancy has a profound structural impact on brains and offers new clues into the neurological changes in mums‑to‑be.

Research over the past decade by a group of scientists in Spain and the Netherlands has been mapping those changes in unprecedented detail.

Findings in the largest research to date suggests that grey matter - the nerve-rich part of the brain involved in processing information, emotions and empathy - decreases by an average of nearly 5% during pregnancy.

And scientists working on the Be Mother project say these changes may be beneficial when it comes to caring for newborns.

The brain changes on purpose

Researchers led by Prof Susana Carmona, director of the NeuroMaternal at the laboratory at the Gregorio Marañón Health Research Institute in Madrid, and co-lead with Prof Oscar Vilarroya, scanned the brains of 127 first time pregnant women five times - before, during and after pregnancy - and compared them to scans from 52 women who had never been pregnant.

The results were consistent and striking. Grey matter decreased by nearly 5% in regions of the brain involved in self-awareness, reading others’ emotions and social perception during pregnancy, reaching the lowest point in the final weeks before birth. By six months after birth, grey matter regained volume by around 3.4%. This was seen in all women who took part in the study.

Rather than damage or loss, scientists believe this reduction in grey matter reflects a process known as “pruning”, the brain trimming away unnecessary connections to become more efficient.

“I like to use the metaphor of pruning a tree,” Professor Carmona says. “Some of the branches are cut to make it grow more efficiently.”

Rewiring for connection

The women who showed the most pronounced brain restructuring were also more likely to report stronger bonding with their babies. This suggests something powerful: pregnancy may biologically prepare the brain for connection.

One participant in the study put it plainly: “Rather than becoming dumber, we are becoming more specialised for the job.”

Pregnancy is physically and emotionally demanding. Sleep is disrupted. Energy is ebbing.

Related articles

The dominant narrative for decades reduced carrying a baby to inconvenience with mental fog, missed appointments and forgotten names. Which are all real experiences for many expectant mothers.

But these cognitive changes appear to be driven by biology itself, not just the experience of becoming a parent. The transformation seems to be closely tied to pregnancy hormones, especially oestrogen, which rise dramatically and track alongside these neurological shifts.

And the changes don’t simply disappear after birth. While some grey matter returns, traces of this transformation can remain for years, a lasting imprint of matrescence, the transition into motherhood. Other research has shown brain scans alone are able to correctly identify which women had been pregnant even six years after birth, with more than 90% accuracy, proving pregnancy leaves a lasting mark on the brain.

So perhaps the real issue with “baby brain” isn’t that it’s inaccurate but that it’s incomplete. It’s a reprioritisation for new mums to put resilience, perspective, and clarity at the forefront of mind. And pregnant women should no longer be diminished with the turn of phrase, but respected for her transformation, body and mind.

Matrescence - the physical, psychological, and emotional process of becoming a mother - is experienced by millions of women every year, but the lack of research is striking.

Now scientists are beginning to map what happens to the brain during pregnancy. It raises important questions about mental health and how these changes relate to the one in five women who experience depression around the time of birth, support systems, and what it means for health care.

Because if the brain is being reshaped during pregnancy, then the transition to motherhood deserves to be recognised for what it truly is: a major neurological event.

Meta’s AI glasses are being marketed as the next step in wearable technology, a hands-free way to capture content, access information and essentially interact with the world. But as they become more widely used, concerns about how they are already being misused are growing - particularly when it comes to women’s safety and privacy.

You’ve probably already seen the videos. Women being filmed without their consent by men wearing the glasses. Because the camera is built discreetly into the frame, recording is far less obvious than pulling out a phone. There is meant to be a small LED light that signals when filming is happening, but tutorials online show exactly how to cover or disable it, making it easy to record people without them ever knowing.

So this is not hypothetical.

Journalist Jess Davies, who has been reporting on the impact of tech on women for Glamour, notes that these kinds of videos are on the rise. One woman, Annika, told the magazine she was “being used for content without even knowing the video existed”, adding that the man filming her had deliberately covered the recording light. She described it as part of a wider pattern - the “constant hijacking of tech to harm and humiliate women”.

Meta has said its devices include safeguards such as the LED indicator and tamper detection, and that users are responsible for complying with laws and using the product respectfully. The company acknowledged that a “small number of users” misuse its products, adding that it continues to review ways to improve safety.

However, reporting from the BBC suggests the issue is more widespread. Women have described being unknowingly filmed in public and later finding those interactions uploaded to social media, often attracting large audiences and abusive commentary. One woman said she felt “afraid to go out in public” after discovering a video of her had been posted online without her consent. Another described feeling physically sick after a filmed interaction at the gym was shared and quickly gained thousands of views.

In both cases, the women had no indication they were being recorded at the time. And while the videos themselves were distressing, the aftermath - including sexually explicit and derogatory comments - exacerbated the harm. As one woman put it, the most frightening part was how “out of control” the situation felt.

Advocates say this kind of misuse is not unexpected. Rebecca Hitchen, from the End Violence Against Women Coalition, told the BBC that the use of smart glasses in this way is “sadly, very predictable”, pointing to existing patterns of harassment and abuse directed at women and girls online.

Related articles

Beyond how the technology is already being used, reports of what could come next are even more worrying. Reporting by The Independent highlights warnings from charities about the potential introduction of facial recognition features in smart glasses - tools that could allow wearers to identify people and access information about them in real time.

Domestic abuse organisations, including Refuge and Women’s Aid, have warned that these features pose a “direct and serious” risk to survivors. Emma Pickering, from Refuge, explains that stalking is already a common tactic used by abusers, and that tech enabling instant identification could make it easier to locate and track victims.

Charities argue that women’s safety should be considered a “foundational principle” in the design of new technologies, rather than something addressed after products are released. Data from Refuge shows a significant increase in cases involving technology-facilitated abuse, confirming a broader trend in how digital tools can be misused.

Taken together, these reports point to a wider issue. While smart glasses and AI-powered devices are often presented as innovative and convenient, their real-world impact depends heavily on how they are used - and misused.

There is, of course, nothing inherently harmful about a device that records video or uses AI to interpret the world. But the experiences being shared suggest that, in practice, these tools are entering an online culture where boundaries around consent and privacy are already blurred.

And that is where the major concern lies.

While companies emphasise safeguards and responsible use, the reality described by women in these reports is one where those safeguards can be bypassed, and where the consequences of misuse fall disproportionately on them.

The technology may be new, but the pattern is not.

It was out of her own personal curiosity that documentary filmmaker Stacey Tenenbaum began working on her project Tough Old Broads.

“I’m heading towards middle age,” she says. “I was wondering what it was about these ladies that allowed them to break barriers, especially in a time where things were even more stacked against women.”

The documentary follows three pioneering women whose work helped reshape the worlds of sport, environmental activism and civil rights: marathon runner Kathrine Switzer, Canadian Inuit activist Siila Watt-Cloutier, and photographer Sharon Farmer. Each became the first woman to achieve something significant in a male-dominated space, and each has continued working for change well into later life.

Stacey initially imagined the film would explore ageism. But as production unfolded, that theme ended up slipping into the background.

“The same thing that allowed these women to be trailblazers has sort of protected them from ageism,” she says. “They just don’t care. They move ahead.”

That attitude and instinct to push forward rather than wait for permission became one of the film’s defining ideas. While age discrimination is definitely real, Stacey found that these women’s long histories of activism and public respect had insulated them from some of its effects.

Stacey began by researching female “firsts”, discovering Switzer through the famous photograph of her being attacked by a race official while running the 1967 Boston Marathon.

“I was looking for trailblazing women who were the first to do something in a man’s world,” she explains. “But I also wanted people with different backgrounds and lived experiences, working in completely different areas.”

It took nearly three years to find the right balance of stories.

Activism had not been her starting point, but all three women turned out to be lifelong campaigners. Kathrine Switzer fought for women’s inclusion in long-distance running, Siila Watt-Cloutier has spent decades advocating for climate justice and Arctic communities, and Sharon Farmer broke barriers as the first Black woman to photograph a sitting US president as Chief Official White House Photographer.

“That was a happy surprise,” Stacey says. “I didn’t go out specifically looking for activists, but that’s what ended up happening.”

In many ways, that coincidence strengthened the project. By following women who had spent decades fighting for change, Tough Old Broads is less about historical milestones and more about endurance - the long, often exhausting work of activism.

“Change is possible,” Stacey says. “But we have to stick to it and keep at it.”

Despite some logistical hurdles, Stacey had some extraordinary experiences from the production. One of her favourite moments involved travelling north to spend time in Arctic communities while filming with Siila Watt-Cloutier.

“It’s such a beautiful place,” she says. “Being welcomed into that community was really special.”

But the most meaningful part of the project, she adds, was the friendships that formed with the three women.

“Getting to know these women so well, that’s the real blessing,” Stacey says. “You don’t get to meet people like that a lot in your life.”

Working on the film also changed her personally. Spending time with lifelong activists reshaped how she thinks about her own role in political and social movements.

“I’ve been radicalised,” she says, only half-joking. “I go to way more protests now than I did before.”

What Tough Old Broads tells us about activism is deliberately broad. Rather than presenting one model for change, the film highlights the different ways people contribute to movements - through public protest, storytelling, advocacy or community leadership.

“Everybody has different skills,” Stacey says. “The idea is to figure out what you care about and what you can bring to creating positive change.”

And it’s this philosophy that shaped the audiences she had in mind while making the film. The first is older viewers, who she hopes will feel encouraged to remain active and engaged in their communities.

“There’s a lot of depression in older communities,” she says. “I wanted people to see that you can still take up space and contribute.”

The second audience is younger people, who she hopes will carry forward the work begun by earlier generations.

“Climate change, civil rights, women’s issues - these aren’t things that will be solved in one generation,” she says. “Young people need to take up the fight where these women leave off.”

Stacey explains that the film’s success isn’t festival recognition but audience response. She recalls screenings where viewers laughed, cried and left the cinema energised by the stories they had just seen.

“People come out wanting to do something themselves,” she says. “That’s what matters.”

The documentary also addresses another issue close to her: the lack of representation for older women in film.

“There’s still a lot of sexism in the industry,” she says. “Women-focused stories don’t get as much attention, and older women get even less screen time.”

Spotlighting these voices was part of the point.

“What you see on screen shows what’s possible,” she says.

Ultimately, Tough Old Broads is less about celebrating the past than about continuing a conversation - one that begins with the question: what can each of us do, in our own communities, to make things better?

Real change rarely begins with grand gestures.

“Sometimes it starts with just one person thinking about what they care about,” she says. “And deciding to keep going.”

You can learn more about Tough Old Broads here.

Lupita Nyong’o has been advocating for better awareness and treatment of uterine fibroids for years - but her latest update puts the scale of the issue into stark focus.

In a candid reflection, Lupita revealed she’s living with more than 50 fibroids, years after surgery to remove dozens before. It’s a reality she says is far from rare - just rarely talked about. As she opens up about the pain and the limited options still on offer, it raises an uncomfortable question about what women are expected to endure and why so little has changed…

In this issue of Take The Lead, we’re diving into two major studies shaping what we understand about women’s health - from how pregnancy reshapes the brain to a breakthrough blood test that could predict dementia decades in advance.

Plus, Autumn Durald Arkapaw made Oscars history with her cinematography work on Sinners and took her moment to acknowledge every woman in the room, while Paramount+ The Madison actress Michelle Pfeiffer reflects on the women who’ve carried her through life’s difficult moments.

Enjoy, share it with your friends, and let us know what you think!

The Female Lead Team

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We’re talking about…

🧠 Rethinking “baby brain” New research by Be Mother suggests pregnancy doesn’t make women less capable, it reshapes the brain for motherhood. The largest study of its kind found grey matter - linked to emotion, empathy and processing - decreases by around 5% during pregnancy. But scientists say this may actually help mothers adapt to caring for a newborn.

“It’s not about becoming forgetful - it’s about becoming more specialised for the job.”

🧪 Dementia detected earlier A breakthrough blood test could predict dementia risk in women decades before symptoms appear. Researchers found that higher levels of a protein linked to Alzheimer’s can signal future cognitive decline up to 25 years in advance, offering a potential window for much earlier intervention. Experts in the UK have welcomed the findings, pointing to rapid progress in developing simple blood tests that could transform early detection.

Inspire me…

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The Female Lead on Instagram: ""I wanted it for all the girls a…

Lupita Nyong’o is advocating for better uterine fibroid treatments and awareness after revealing she is currently living with over 50 of them, 12 years after having surgery to remove 30 growths.

To mark her 43rd birthday, Lupita shared the latest on her health condition. “Over the course of my lifetime, I have carried 77 uterine fibroids: 25 surgically removed, and more than 50 still growing inside me today - the largest the size of an orange,” she said. “In this image, I’m holding 77 fruits, as a symbol for each fibroid, to make visible the weight that I, and millions of women like me, carry every day.”

Read the full article here

Final thought…

@the_female_lead

The Female Lead on Instagram: "@michellepfeifferofficial talks …

Become a paid supporter

The Female Lead is a charity on a mission to empower women.

In the last 8 years, we have given access to books and teaching materials to 2.5 million students in 25,000 schools around the world. We carry out research that reframes our understanding of women’s experience, such as our Fulfilment Finder survey which reveals what matters most to women at different life stages. It has now been completed by 150,000 women globally.

We can’t run the charity without your support.

For just £3.50 a month or £25 a year, you can make a huge difference.

Your donations allow us to continue to provide teaching resources and education to girls and women around the world, conduct groundbreaking research, and share science and stories online.

By pledging to make a donation, you get a host of other benefits like:

• Access to our full archive of content on everything from advice from CEOs, to early menopause, to the brain impact of the mental load

• Get the first look at our research reports busting myths around women

• A virtual supporter badge to share and display online

Subscribe now

Share

Lupita Nyong’o has been advocating for better awareness and treatment of uterine fibroids for years - but her latest update puts the scale o…

Read more

To mark her 43rd birthday, Lupita shared the latest on her health condition. “Over the course of my lifetime, I have carried 77 uterine fibroids: 25 surgically removed, and more than 50 still growing inside me today - the largest the size of an orange,” she said. “In this image, I’m holding 77 fruits, as a symbol for each fibroid, to make visible the weight that I, and millions of women like me, carry every day.”

“Expect to be in pain every month”

“When you have fibroids, doctors usually use fruit to explain to you what size your fibroids are. So your fibroid could be the size of a grape,” Lupita’s said. “My biggest fibroid is the size of an orange.”

“This is not a rare story. It is just a rarely told one,” she explained. “I have endured seasons of constant pain, losing dangerous amounts of blood each month, and suffering in silence.”

Before her fibroids were discovered, Lupita, regularly experienced pelvic pain and fatigue. Once her period started, she was told to “expect to be in pain every month”.

“So, when I was experiencing the heavy bleeding, it didn’t sound an alarm. The clotting was not anything remarkable to me. I didn’t understand my body. I didn’t know what was going on, and I didn’t know to be worried,” she said.

Following her 2014 Oscar win for 12 Years a Slave, Lupita was diagnosed with fibroids and had a myomectomy, surgery to remove them for the first time. Doctors extracted 30 growths.

“I asked my doctor if I could do anything to prevent them from recurring,” Lupita has explained. “She said: ‘You can’t. It’s only a matter of time until they grow again’.”

Twelve years later, they have grown again and Lupita’s debating whether to undergo the procedure again.

“So now, 12 years later, I have fibroids again,” Lupita revealed recently. “I have double the amount of fibroids and I’m still being offered the same options: surgery or living with the pain. I haven’t yet chosen the surgery. I’m not ready to make that decision. It’s quite invasive, and a lot of women just get a hysterectomy [to remove the uterus].”

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Ditching women’s health shame

In fact, fibroids are incredibly common.

“Eight out of 10 Black women and 7 out of 10 white women will experience fibroids,” Lupita says. “Yet we speak so little of them. When we reach puberty, we’re taught that periods mean pain, and that pain is simply part of being a woman. I started talking about my experience privately, and I realised so many women are going through this.”

“I felt shame,” Lupita shared recently. “What did I do to cause them? And then I felt very alone and quite scared for my reproductive health.”

Related articles

By sharing her experience, Lupita hopes to change the shame held by so many women and encourage them to seek the support and treatment they deserve.

What you need to know about uterine fibroids

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb (uterus). The growths are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue, and vary in size. They’re sometimes known as uterine myomas or leiomyomas. They are common with 2 in 3 women developing at least one fibroid at some point in their life, most often in women aged 30 to 50.

The exact cause of fibroids is unknown, but they have been linked to the hormone oestrogen, produced by the ovaries. Fibroids usually develop during a woman’s reproductive years (16 to 50) when oestrogen levels are at their highest. They tend to shrink when oestrogen levels are low, such as after menopause.

Many women are unaware they have fibroids because they do not have any symptoms.

Around 1 in 3 women do have symptoms and may experience:

• heavy periods or painful periods

• abdominal pain

• lower back pain

• a frequent need to urinate

• constipation

• pain or discomfort during sex

In rare cases, further complications caused by fibroids can affect pregnancy or cause infertility.

Fibroids can grow anywhere in the womb and vary in size considerably, from the size of a pea to the size of a melon.

If you do have symptoms caused by fibroids, medicine to help relieve the symptoms will usually be recommended first. There are also medications available to help shrink fibroids. If these prove ineffective, surgery may be recommended.

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By Freja Love

Documentary maker Louis Theroux has weighed in on the ‘manosphere’ and it’s as bad, if not worse, than we thought.

In the 90-minute Netflix show, we meet UK-born influencer Harrison Sullivan, better known as HSTikkyTokky, and his close friend Ed Matthews. From the US there’s Myron Gaines, Justin Waller and Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy, better known as Sneako.

Five men, different platforms, but broadly the same worldview: a messy Venn diagram of beliefs about masculinity, success and women’s place in the world. Most of it, I hope, will shock viewers.

We should all be worried. I have two younger brothers, and after watching this documentary they’re the first people I want to talk to about it. This is what scares me the most.

These men present their opinion as fact. I should have counted the number of times something was described as “the truth” - whether that was advice about making money, how to be “proper boys” (not “these little soy boys or gimps that walk around in the modern day”), how to live “outside the system”, or which conspiracy theories to believe.

One topic they are particularly confident about is women. What we want. What we should be.

(Did any of you get the call because no one asked me?)

According to Myron Gaines, because he “understands” women, he also “knows what’s best for them”

“Better than they do?” Louis asks

“Yes in many ways. That’s how women want it. They want a man who can lead and dominate them”

Cringe.

At one point, standing on a balcony, Justin Waller gestures towards the buildings around him, claiming, “Men build, invent and maintain society, that’s a fact.”

Louis looks unconvinced. “Don’t women do that too?”

Apparently not.

Justin is firm. Women are “by and large looking for husbands and want to have families”.

Another moment comes during Myron Gaines’ late-night livestream. He plays a video of a supposed neuroscientist claiming women “absorb and retain the DNA of every man they’ve been with via the sperm”.

“Ever wonder why a kid resembles an ex more than the father?” the clip asks. “This is usually why.”

(I have never wondered that, personally.)

Louis quickly points out the misinformation, but Myron doubles down, claiming there has been “some scientific data that reflects this”.

I dread to think what other nonsense has been shared as gospel across the thousands of episodes where Louis Theroux was not there to push back.

HSTikkyTokky, who promotes and profits from OnlyFans creators on his Telegram channel of around 500,000 people, repeatedly expresses disgust for women doing the very work he monetises.

“I think she’s disgusting bro. I think she’s absolutely repulsive as a person,” he says about Bonnie Blue. In the same breath he happily shows Louis a video of himself being “sucked off by a girl the night before”.

His latest venture was House of Heat - an OnlyFans content house where adult creators lived together and cross-promoted one another. He boosted their accounts across his own platforms, taking a percentage of the income generated.

He and Ed Matthews also film so-called “cheeky” content rating women at beaches and festivals, looking for girls in “the tartiest outfits”. Ed, who films women without their consent for these videos, also posts “predator sting” content… It feels contradictory.

Elsewhere, Myron invites a group women onto his podcast seemingly for the purpose of humiliating them. Their knowledge, jobs, “body counts” and appearances are all fair game but when they push back - which I’m certain is the point of the segment - they are labelled “pressed”, “triggered”, or told by viewers to “shut the f**k up”, along with a lame insult about their looks.

There is a word for this. It’s gaslighting. And the whole thing is grim.

The most baffling thing, though, is that all of these men insist they love women. Which means they are teaching young people that this is what loving women looks like.

At best it is backwards. At worst it is dangerous. And with two younger brothers navigating the world online, it’s beyond concerning.

The dangerous effects are starting to show. A study recently found that 31% of Gen Z men in their teens and twenties believe “a wife should always obey her husband”. The study’s co-author says social media has played a “huge role” in shifting attitudes worldwide, exposing boys to “shocking levels of misogyny, both online and offline”. Terrifyingly, many young men are simply “mimicking what they see online without really understanding what that actually means”.

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Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram have all taken action against prominent figures, such as Andrew Tate, who was banned for violating policies on hate speech. But while governments try to keep up with big tech and implement new laws to govern the world online, it can feel like a losing battle.

So what exactly is it about women that these men claim to love?

Not much, it seems.

Across the entire documentary there is barely a single moment where these men describe liking a woman for who she is. The women they speak about exist mainly in terms of what they provide: children, loyalty, domestic labour, sex.

Justin praises his baby mama, Kristen for giving him two children and being open to threesomes. The “lanes they’re in”, he explains, are clear: “she handles diapers and cleaning,” while he “provides”.

That is about as deep as the description goes.

I am not sure whether these men genuinely know nothing about the women in their lives, or whether this really is all they care about. Probably both.

Young women reading this, please, please choose a partner who wants to know - and appreciate - everything about you and likes you for something real. I promise you, they do exist.

Another thing that frightens me is the sheer volume of content people like this are producing. If you are ‘doomscrolling,’ as so many teens and young men are, it would be almost impossible to avoid it entirely - and once you hear something often enough, what stops it starting to sink in?

Research has found social media algorithms amplify extreme content, such as misogynistic posts, which normalises harmful ideologies for young people. In an algorithmic modelling study by UCL, the University of Kent and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), the level of misogynistic content in the “For You” page of TikTok accounts increased fourfold in just five days on the platform.

The documentary is full of young men approaching the manosphere influencers, shaking their hands, asking for photos, shouting their names and consuming their content. They say young people’s brains are sponges, and these men are lucky for the cognitive plasticity of youth.

HSTikkyTokky insists that 13-15 year olds are not his main demographic, but it does not take much digging to see that younger boys are very much part of the audience. At one point, Justin Waller even congratulates a “13-year-old follower who is making more money than their parents”.

So they know who is watching.

And the reality is that many teenagers probably know more about influencers’ lives and opinions than they do about the people around them, even their own families. Spend enough time on TikTok or Youtube Shorts and those voices start to feel familiar, even authoritative. Before long, the language spreads: boys barking at female teachers, repeating misogynistic phrases, absorbing the idea that there is only one acceptable way to be a man.

The men in the documentary want to make it very clear that they DO NOT CARE what other people think, or how they come across online. But whenever Louis pushes for deeper answers about why they do what they do, the mood shifts. They become cagey.

“Here we go, you’re setting me up…” Justin complains at one point. HS calls him a tw*t.

They hate that Louis Theroux, the investigative journalist, is ‘digging’.

But if they genuinely do not care what people think, how do we hold them accountable?

We can tell young people the content is misleading or harmful. We can warn them not to take it seriously. But if the voices on their screens are louder, more constant and more confident, we may already be fighting a losing battle.

And that is something I find hard to shake.

The documentary itself is compelling - I watched in equal parts fascination and horror - but when it ended I mostly felt sad.

Sad for the young men absorbing this worldview. Sad for my brothers who could have this nonsense pushed to them in feed or have a friend influenced by the dangerous narrative after seeing it too many times online. At least my brothers have me to tell them what’s up.

I’m angry for the young women who will be forced to deal with the dangerous consequences.

And disappointed that, somehow, this is where we are again.

Like many new parents, Lawrence Price and Mat Carter anticipated sleepless nights and logistical chaos when they became fathers. What they did not expect was the emotional and psychological shift that came with it.

Mat experienced postnatal depression during the first year of fatherhood - something he did not even know fathers could experience until later. Around the same time, Lawrence began dealing with severe anxiety for the first time in his life. Years later, when the two compared notes on those early months, they realised something surprising: neither of them had been remotely prepared for what becoming a parent would do to them.

That conversation became the starting point for Secret Life of Dads, a podcast and community project that explores modern fatherhood with curiosity rather than certainty.

“We realised there was very little information or guidance out there to guide dads through this challenging but amazing journey,” Lawrence says. “So we decided to dive into it ourselves.”

What followed was not a neat parenting guide, but a series of conversations. Through interviews with experts, Lawrence and Mat began exploring the science, psychology and social realities of fatherhood - covering everything from neuroscience and evolutionary anthropology to mental health and identity.

Along the way, they discovered something men are rarely told: becoming a father can involve real biological and emotional shifts.

“Dads also go through a number of changes,” Lawrence explains. “There are shifts in identity, social isolation and modern economic pressures that fundamentally change who we are.”

In the early days, Lawrence and Mat were not entirely sure what the podcast would become. Parenting is a vast topic, and at first they were simply trying to figure it out themselves. Slowly, though, a rhythm emerged. Conversations about parental mental health sat alongside discussions of psychology, science and relationships.

“Most of our early growth was actually from mums,” Lawrence says. “They were incredible at validating the mission and sharing the podcast with the men in their lives.”

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At one stage, roughly 75% of listeners were women sending episodes to partners, brothers and friends. Only more recently has the audience shifted towards an even split between men and women.

That dynamic reflects a core belief behind the project: fatherhood conversations are not just for fathers.

“This is a podcast about dads, but for all parents,” Lawrence says. “The strongest relationships are built from understanding each other with compassion and communicating in a healthy, emotionally mature way.”

In other words, understanding dads better is good for everyone.

One of the biggest lessons Lawrence and Mat discovered during the process was that parenting is less about controlling children than about managing yourself.

“It sounds naive looking back,” Lawrence admits, “but we did not realise quite how much parenting would invite us to do the inner work.”

The unpredictable nature of raising children - the emotional swings, the lack of control, the constant learning - forced them to reflect on their own reactions, habits and expectations.

Two years into the project, both say they are different men from the ones who started.

“Yes, it is a public podcast,” Lawrence says. “But most of all it is a very personal journey of growth and self exploration for us.”

The project has also expanded beyond the podcast studio. Today, Secret Life of Dads exists in several different forms.

There is the podcast itself, where guests reflect on everything from their relationships with their own fathers to the experiences that have shaped the kind of parents they have become. Alongside that are street interviews - short conversations with members of the public that get straight to the heart of questions around parenting, identity and modern life.

Then there are the in-person gatherings. One of the most popular, particularly on social media, is the community event Pints and Ponytails.

The activity, in collaboration with Braid Maidens, is for dads to come together to learn how to style their daughters’ hair but what unfolds is something much bigger than that.

What followed, Lawrence says, was one of the most special evenings they have been part of. Fathers compared braiding attempts, helped one another figure out techniques and, perhaps most importantly, spent time talking and connecting in a space that rarely exists for men.

The first meet up was in February 2026 with 10 dads. By the next event, 35 fathers walked through the door.

“It is about honouring our daughters and connecting dads,” Lawrence explains. “But it is also about redefining the role of the modern dad and breaking outdated stereotypes.”

The gatherings create a space where vulnerability and parenting struggles are normal topics of conversation. There is a growing recognition that men often lack these kinds of supportive environments while mothers’ networks are more visible and socially accepted.

And the online response has been incredible:

Projects like Secret Life of Dads are an invitation for men to talk, learn and grow together.

“We see community as being the bedrock of this modern dad’s movement - getting curious dads, who are willing to grow together, in the same room and seeing the enthusiasm and openness to connect has been humbling.”

Lawrence says success isn’t measured in downloads or event attendance.

“We often say it is impossible for us to fail on this project,” he says.

“Success is being able to take what we have learnt home and deepen our relationships,” he says. “If we can show up as better dads for our children, that already feels like a huge win.”

One in 10 women and those born with a uterus are affected by endometriosis, yet the average time to receive a diagnosis of endometriosis in the UK has now reached 9 years and 4 months - an increase from an average of 8 years in 2020.

This Endometriosis Awareness Month, new data has been released by Endometriosis UK to highlight the struggles of women seeking diagnosis and support. Shockingly, 39% of those surveyed needed to visit their GP 10 times or more before endometriosis was suspected. And sadly 55% of respondents attended A&E with their symptoms, but 46% of these were sent home without treatment.

Around 1.5 million women in the UK are currently living with endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a long-term condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body. Common symptoms include pelvic pain, painful periods that interfere with everyday life, heavy bleeding and pain during or after sex.

It’s often misunderstood as being solely a gynecological condition, but as a systemic inflammatory disease it can affect the entire body. Endometriosis has been linked to bowel and bladder dysfunction, chronic fatigue, brain fog, nerve pain, joint pain, and, in severe cases, spread to organs. It can contribute to infertility and is frequently mistaken for IBS, autoimmune disorders, or anxiety before the underlying disease is recognised.

Emma Cox, CEO of Endometriosis UK, said: “It is unacceptable that those living with endometriosis have to endure years of pain and uncertainty before receiving a diagnosis. Our findings underscore the urgent need not only for increased awareness and understanding of endometriosis and menstrual health among healthcare providers, but for this to be translated into action, with appropriate levels of resources allocated by the NHS to overcome far too long waiting lists and enable access to care where and when it’s needed. Endometriosis care has been neglected for too long and the situation is getting worse.”

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Endometriosis UK is now calling on all UK governments to commit to reducing the average time for diagnosis to one year or less by 2030. This will need targeted action to reduce waiting lists for gynaecology services, appropriate levels of funding and resources, mandatory and effective endometriosis and menstrual health training for healthcare practitioners, menstrual health education in schools and an acknowledging endometriosis as a common chronic condition that must be treated as a long term condition by the NHS.

Kirsteen Sullivan MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis, said, “Whilst I am appalled by the shocking waiting times across the UK for women to receive a diagnosis for endometriosis, I am regrettably not surprised. For too long, women’s health issues have been sidelined, and this must change. Endometriosis can be debilitating and devastating. Anyone suffering from this condition deserves timely and compassionate diagnosis, treatment and care.”

According to a damning parliamentary report by the Women and Equalities committee published in 2024, women and girls are enduring years of pain because gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis and adenomyosis are treated with inadequate care due to a “pervasive stigma”, a lack of education by healthcare professionals and “medical misogyny”.

There is a serious investment gender gap. More money is invested in men’s health issues than women’s. Between 2019 and 2023, there were 11 erectile dysfunction (ED) startups that attracted 28 times more capital than eight endometriosis-related ventures. For context, the same number of women live with endometriosis as men experience ED. It’s also been widely reported that male pattern baldness is studied more than endometriosis.

And the new research published this month shows medical misogyny is still very much an issue for women’s health with continued lack of funding into research and understanding by medical experts.

Research published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health in 2025 showed that across the 194 WHO member states, nearly half of all countries have no national policies or clinical guidance on diagnosis or care. More than a quarter of countries lacking any publicly available clinical recommendations and only 7% have official government-endorsed clinical care guidelines. A second study found that half of all countries had no policy information available at all.

Some research that did gain attention - for all the wrong reasons - was back in 2013. The study, Attractiveness of women with rectovaginal endometriosis: a case-control study, was published by Fertility and Sterility and publicly funded by the University of Milan school of medicine. It took seven years to be retracted after being criticised by doctors for ethical concerns.

Those who suffer from debilitating diseases like endometriosis deserve better.

Welcome to a special issue of Take The Lead, our fortnightly newsletter. This week we are celebrating a decade of The Female Lead ahead of International Women’s Day.

A message from Edwina Dunn, OBE, …

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Welcome to a special issue of Take The Lead, our fortnightly newsletter. This week we are celebrating a decade of The Female Lead ahead of International Women’s Day.

A message from Edwina Dunn, OBE, founder of The Female Lead:

“Ten years ago, when I published my first book — The Female Lead: Women Shaping the World — I had no idea that our mission was only just beginning. What started as a single act of storytelling has grown into something far greater than I could have imagined.

In the decade since, we have published thousands of interviews, articles and stories, and built a vibrant, engaged online community that continues to grow every year. Today, we reach an audience of nine million. Nine million women who trust our voice, who pay attention to the myths we challenge and the truths we bring to light.

That trust is not taken lightly. It is the foundation of everything we do — and it is what makes The Female Lead a movement capable of driving real, lasting impact.

When we began, our focus was clear: create rich, diverse role models so that girls and women everywhere could see themselves reflected in the world. That purpose hasn't changed. But our ambition has grown.

In the years ahead, we will continue to work with game-changing leaders and organisations who respect our mission and recognise our community as a rich source of cultural insight. The world is changing rapidly, and The Female Lead is at the centre of that change. Thank you for being part of it.”

To mark a decade of The Female Lead, here’s 10 of our articles and interviews tackling the topics that matter to YOU.

She refused anonymity. She faced 51 men in court. And she chose to make them the ones who should feel shame. As Gisèle Pelicot launched her book A Hymn to Life in the UK, The Female Lead heard her speak in her own words – about chemical submission, family trauma and the urgency to address violence against women.

For more than three decades, Christina Lamb has reported from the world’s most dangerous conflicts - from Afghanistan to Ukraine - surviving ambushes, gunfire and front-line combat. But it isn’t the near-death moments that define her career. In this interview, the chief foreign correspondent of The Sunday Times reflects on the story that has stayed with her most: how sexual violence is used not as a by-product of war, but as one of its most brutal weapons.

Plus, we recently sat down with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to talk about the UK government’s violence against women and girls strategy, the Epstein Files and influence of Andrew Tate on boys and young men.

Enjoy this issue, share it with the women in your life who would love it too, and reply directly to let us know what you think.

You can also catch up on our most recent full newsletter here.

The Female Lead Team

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📚 10 International Women’s Day Books For Your Shelf

From essential feminist reading to the most recent best-selling titles tackling sexism and misogyny, here are just some of the books you can delve into for knowledge, inspiration and empowerment…

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Bimbo by Ashley James

Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez

The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny by Laura Bates

Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History by Philippa Gregory

The Second Sex by Simone De Beauvoir

She Wanted More: Reimagine your future and live by your rules by Poorna Bell

Feminist History for Every Day of the Year by Kate Mosse

The Othered Woman: How White Feminism Harms Muslim Women by Shahed Ezaydi

The Female Lead: We Rise by Lifting Others by Edwina Dunn OBE

Our global history is full of passionate, angry, and strong women who have paved the way for us today. Ahead of International Women's Day, here are ten protests that women have led around the world which changed the lives of countless others...

@the_female_lead

The Female Lead on Instagram: "Our global history is full of pa…

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There is no shortage of reasons to feel exhausted by the news cycle. It can be hard enough being a woman without also scrolling through a daily buffet of rights rolled back, voices shouted down and yet another tech bro insisting that artificial intelligence will definitely fix everything - 🙄. But for all the noise, the backlash and the endless think pieces, the fuller picture is more complicated than the doom suggests.

Brilliant things are happening for - and by - women. They are happening in stadiums and laboratories, in film studios and clinics, in policy meetings and on running tracks. They are happening structurally and symbolically. So once a month, we are making space for them.

Here is some good news for women from the past month.

Deepfake abuse faces 48-hour takedown rule

UK ministers introduced measures requiring platforms to remove non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours of a report. That includes deepfakes, digitally altered images that disproportionately target women, often using their faces without consent to create sexually explicit content.

The speed requirement is significant. The longer an image circulates, the greater the harm - socially, professionally and psychologically. A 48-hour rule acknowledges that tech-enabled abuse is not a niche issue but a mainstream one. It also shifts responsibility back where it belongs: onto the platforms that profit from hosting user content. Regulation alone will not solve image-based abuse, but this move suggests a growing recognition that women should not have to police the internet alone.

The Female Lead sat down with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to discuss how this will protect victims moving forward.

@the_female_lead

The Female Lead on Instagram: "The UK Government has announced …

Most gender-balanced Winter Olympic Games yet

At Milano Cortina, women made up 47 percent of competitors - the highest share in Winter Olympics history. It is not perfect parity. Men still had more medal events overall, and structural inequalities in funding and coverage do not disappear because of one statistic. But 47 percent is not an accident. It reflects decades of campaigning, incremental reform and pressure on governing bodies to take equity seriously.

The representation and visibility matters. When young girls see women occupying nearly half the field at one of the world’s most watched sporting events, it subtly recalibrates what feels normal. Progress in sport is often uneven and slow, but this shift signals something important: women’s participation is no longer a side note to the main event. It is the main event.

Endometriosis film wins BAFTA

This Is Endometriosis won the British Short Film award at the BAFTA Film Awards, bringing mainstream attention to a condition estimated to affect 1 in 10 women. For many, endometriosis is accompanied not just by pain but by dismissal - years of being told that symptoms are normal, exaggerated or simply part of being female.

Collecting the award, British creative Georgie Wileman - a filmmaker, photographer and spoken-word poet - used the moment to speak directly to that culture of disbelief. “If your families, partners, friends, employers, and most messed up of all your doctors tell you that you’re lying. That you’re being dramatic, looking for attention, or just have a low pain tolerance? I’ve got a new response for you. Watch the BAFTA winning film This Is Endometriosis,” she said.

Georgie continued: “This affects 1 in 10 born with the uterus, takes on average ten years to diagnose and causes pain worse than child labour. Everyone in this room will likely know someone with endometriosis, whether they have their diagnosis yet or not. Our film focuses on validation, representation, and education of endometriosis, and we need all of you for that last part.”

@georgiewileman

Georgie Wileman on Instagram: "To our endometriosis community, …

India expands menopause healthcare access

In Maharashtra, India, newly launched public menopause clinics have already seen tens of thousands of visitors, establishing the first state-run network of its kind in the country. Menopause, like menstruation, has long been treated as something to be endured silently rather than supported structurally.

A state-backed network reframes menopause as a legitimate healthcare priority rather than a private inconvenience. For women navigating symptoms that can affect everything from sleep to employment, accessible public clinics are essential and practical. It’s a step closer to better advice, cheaper treatment and acknowledgement without embarrassment.

Research explores menstrual HPV testing

A February study reported that HPV detection using menstrual blood showed comparable accuracy to clinician-collected samples in identifying high-risk cervical changes. For many women, cervical screening is uncomfortable, logistically difficult or anxiety-inducing. Barriers to testing directly affect early detection rates.

The possibility of reliable menstrual blood testing could transform access. It suggests a future where screening fits more seamlessly into women’s lives rather than requiring additional appointments, time off work or invasive procedures. Research like this is often incremental, but its implications are expansive.

It’s encouraging to see healthcare adapting to women’s realities instead of expecting women to adapt to healthcare.

Keely Hodgkinson breaks the 800m record

Keely Hodgkinson ran 1:54.87 in the 800m in Liévin on 19 February, breaking a 24-year-old indoor world record. At 22, she became the fastest woman in history over the distance indoors, surpassing a mark that had stood since 2002.

The time places her at the top of the all-time indoor rankings and underlines the English runner’s status as one of the leading middle-distance athletes in the world. It is a clear statistical milestone in women’s athletics and one of the standout sporting performances of the year so far.

@keely.hodgkinson

🌪 on Instagram: "Not many words to say about yesterday other t…

Taken together, these stories are not about perfection. But each of these moments marks measurable movement - in policy, in culture, in science and in sport.

If you have more good news stories about women - from your community, your industry or anywhere in the world - share them with us. We might even include them in next month’s good news! Because while the headlines may amplify the worst, we are equally committed to documenting the better.

Teens are picking up ideas about their bodies long before anyone sits them down to explain what’s actually going on. From social media to the group chat and playground myths, information about periods, sex and hormones starts early and it is often wildly inaccurate.

For us adults, that creates a tricky gap. When misinformation fills the space, young people can carry confusion or shame around their health without even realising it. Over time, that shapes how much they trust their instincts, how comfortable they feel asking for help and whether they believe their bodies deserve care at all.

So today, we’re busting a few of the most common women’s health myths young people come across online and offline, and sharing what parents and educators can do to help challenge them.

Myth 1: “Period pain is just part of growing up”

Period pain is often brushed off as something to endure, by friends, by adults and sometimes even by medical professionals. But UK research shows that 97% of girls aged 12 to 18 experience period pain, with over two in five describing it as severe. Many say it affects school, concentration and mood (Wellbeing of Women).

Studies have also found a link between severe period pain in adolescence and an increased risk of chronic pain later in life. In other words, early symptoms can matter more than we think.

What we can do:
If a young person is regularly missing school, sport or social plans because of pain, treat it as a health conversation rather than a resilience test. Help them describe how it affects daily life and support them to ask for help instead of pushing through.

Myth 2: “Everyone’s body works the same way”

Many young people grow up thinking there is one version of normal. One way to develop, one way to feel, one way a body should behave.

In reality, bodies change at different speeds and respond differently to hormones, stress and growth. But comparison culture makes difference feel like failure.

What adults can do:
Remind young people that variation is expected. Encouraging them to notice patterns in their own body rather than measuring themselves against friends or social media can reduce anxiety and build body confidence.

Myth 3: “If it were serious, someone would have noticed”

A lot of young people assume that if something was really wrong, an adult or a doctor would automatically spot it. In reality, early symptoms are often quiet, inconsistent or easy to dismiss, especially when someone is still growing.

This belief can stop young people from speaking up, particularly if they already worry about being dramatic, overreacting or not being believed.

What adults can do:
Encourage young people to trust what their body is telling them. Help them practise explaining how something affects their day to day life, not just what the symptom is. Feeling heard can make a huge difference to whether they seek help again.

Myth 5: “Talking about bodies is awkward, it’s better not to”

When bodies are treated as embarrassing, silence quickly fills the gap. And when young people do have questions, the internet often becomes the first stop.

This is how misinformation spreads at speed.

What adults can do:
You do not need to have perfect answers. Simply letting young people know that questions are welcome, even the awkward ones, can reduce shame and open the door to safer conversations over time.

Resources

For teachers & educators

👉 To support this week’s focus on women’s health, we’ve created a ready-to-use lesson resource exploring the gender health gap and why women’s voices matter in healthcare. The slides spotlight leading figures including Dr Nighat Arif and Professor Dame Lesley Regan, unpack key issues such as the underrepresentation of women in medical research and the Women’s Health Strategy for England, and prompt thoughtful classroom discussion around fairness, bias and advocacy in healthcare.

The Female Lead - Women’s Health - Lesson Plan

969KB ∙ PDF file

Download

For parents & guardians

👉 You don’t need to be a medical expert to support young people with their health. What matters most is creating an environment where questions feel safe and symptoms are taken seriously.

A lot of young people are already getting information from social media, friends and the group chat. The goal isn’t to control that — it’s to balance it.

Here are a few gentle ways to open the door:

• “Have you seen anything online about health lately that made you curious or confused?”

• “If something felt off in your body, would you feel comfortable telling me?”

• “Do you think people take your pain/discomfort seriously enough?”

• “What do you think ‘normal’ means when it comes to bodies?”

• “Is there anything about health that feels awkward to talk about?”

You don’t need to solve everything in one conversation. Even saying “If you ever want to talk about this, I’m here” can make a difference.

And if a young person repeatedly mentions pain, discomfort or feeling unwell, treat it as information, not exaggeration. Help them describe what they’re experiencing and, if needed, advocate for support alongside them.

Trust grows when young people feel believed.

Four titles to add to your ‘to read’ list

Our book recommendations for young women wanting to learn more about their health:

📚 You Grow Girl!: The Complete No Worries Guide to Puberty and Growing Up - Dr. Zoe Williams

📚 The Body Image Book for Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless - Charlotte Markey

📚 We Need to Talk About Vaginas: An IMPORTANT Book About Vulvas, Periods, Puberty, and Sex!: - Dr. Allison K. Rodgers(Author), Neon Squid(Author), Annika Le Large(Illustrator)

📚 The Knowledge: Your Guide to Female Health – from Menstruation to the Menopause - Nighat Arif

By Ashley Moore

Ten years ago, I was fighting for my life when an incredible stranger and his brave family saved my life by saying yes to organ donation.

I’ve lived with cystic fibrosis (CF) all my life. CF is a progressive, inherited genetic disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system, and other organs. There is no cure. Instead, life is filled with an extensive drug regimen, breathing treatments, and airway clearance to clear thick, sticky mucous from the lungs. Life expectancy for anyone with CF is now 56 in the UK due to major advances in treatment for the condition, but when I was born in America and diagnosed in the early 1980s, my parents were told I’d be lucky to see 18.

Before my body failed me in 2015, my life had been full to bursting. I had a happy childhood growing up in Texas. I went to university in California and did a semester abroad in London, where I met my future husband, Alastair. We married on his 25th birthday in a gondola at The Venetian casino in Las Vegas, which still feels delightfully absurd and perfectly us.

After years of infertility struggles, our incredible sister-in-law, Michelle, helped us welcome our son via surrogacy in 2014. The future was looking bright as we settled into family life in London, thrilled to be a family of three.

Life was never easy, but I coped thanks to a daily cocktail of drugs, hours of airway clearance, and weeks-long hospital stays when needed. But a bout of flu devastated my lung function and health, and sent me into a downward spiral from which I could not recover. I was left bed-bound, tethered to oxygen, and unable to care for my baby. By late 2015, I had been an inpatient in hospital for 10 months. Ten months of being alive but not living. I missed moments that never come back - big ones, tiny ones - with my son, my husband, my family, my friends. For example, I had to watch my baby’s first birthday party, which I had planned, on a computer screen, while lying in a hospital bed, shivering so violently with a high fever that the bed was shaking.

I desperately wanted to live for my little family, but there were moments I wanted to die. End-stage cystic fibrosis is an exceptionally painful way to go. Every muscle in your body hurts from the constant coughing, your body is starving to death as you become too sick to eat, you are nauseated, the inside of your nose is raw and bleeding from high flow oxygen, and your body is battered and bruised from IV therapies and blood tests. You are drowning from the inside out, fighting for every excruciating breath that never fully satisfies your body’s need for air. I was terrified to die, to miss out on all the things I still wanted to see and do. I was terrified to live, not knowing how much more suffering I could bear. Teetering between life and death exhausted my soul.

By mid- October, my lungs, riddled with bacterial and fungal infections, had completely failed and were unable to oxygenate my body. I coughed up blood, and my CO2 levels spiked, causing me to black out for several days. I was in desperate need of a double lung transplant. My family rushed back from the States. They didn’t know if I was still alive when they landed. My medical team asked my husband a question: should they let me die peacefully, or place me on ECMO - a high-risk life-support machine which takes over the job of your lungs - while we waited for organs that might never come?

The answer for him was obvious - choose the option that gave me a fighting chance to live. He chose ECMO.

That decision catapulted me to the very top of the UK urgent lung transplant list. One week later, and after a night of near-catastrophically low oxygen levels, the call came. New lungs were available because of the generosity of an organ donor and his family. To make such an emotional decision while dealing with their own grief of losing a loved one is nothing short of heroic. The gift of new lungs, of life, when I was so close to death, is still hard to comprehend.

Surgery went ahead and was successful. Recovery was brutal. I was absolutely skeletal and had lost so much muscle that I had to learn to walk again. My feet and legs were horribly swollen, and they felt like they were on fire due to neuropathy. I had a terrible tremor in my hands due to my new medications. Within four months, I faced a serious, life-threatening form of rejection and a gruelling six months of treatment to stop it. But very slowly, my life returned.

And what a life it has been.

Since my transplant a decade ago, I have skied down mountains and hiked up them. I watched New Year’s Eve fireworks from a boat in Sydney Harbour. I’ve flown in a seaplane, seen elephants in the wild, fossil-hunted on the Jurassic Coast, celebrated 20 years of marriage, travelled extensively, sung badly at countless concerts and become a qualified open-water scuba diver, something that feels almost poetic after years of fighting to breathe.

But the moments I treasure most are the small ones.

Walking the dog. Cooking dinner. Watching my son grow from a toddler into a boy, then a tween, and getting to know him as a person: his kindness, his stubbornness, his joy. He is now 11, and I saw him star in the year 6 play and start secondary school as a drama scholar.

I turned 44 in January, an age I never expected to reach. That’s ten extra birthdays. Three thousand six hundred and fifty bonus days.

Last year, we celebrated the tenth anniversary of my transplant with a masquerade ball to raise money for the NHS Blood and Transplant charity. Many guests said they couldn’t think of a better reason for a party! Friends and family travelled from across the UK, the US, and even Australia, to mark the occasion and to honour my donor and his family, people who turned unimaginable loss into life. We’ve raised almost £8,700 so far, and I hope to reach £10,000 for my 10 bonus years. I’ve also been invited by the charity to join a panel to decide how funds raised will support organ donation, transplant research, and services. It’s a small way of paying gratitude forward.

But it hasn’t all been plain sailing.

I’ve faced chest infections, kidney failure, surgeries, gout, 24/7 neuropathy pain, and depression. I survived a pandemic. I’ve cancelled trips and buried far too many friends lost to CF. I carry their absence with me every single day and always will. I have felt hopeless watching a world that sometimes chooses who to hate rather than who to love.

And yet, when life feels unbearable, I remind myself of this: my chest rises and falls with ease. That simple act is proof that kindness, humanity, and love exist.

A stranger - and his family - saved my life when they said yes to organ donation. I have written to them several times to thank them for agreeing to save a life, my life.

Transplant patients are walking, talking stories of hope. We are proof of the resilience of the human spirit and the extraordinary generosity of others. Sometimes gifted to us by the people we love, sometimes by people we will never meet.

I hope I have made my donor and his family proud. I hope I have honoured both his life and his loss. I hope my journey will help others and encourage them to share their wishes regarding organ donation.

Families are nearly twice as likely to agree to organ donation if they know their loved one’s wishes beforehand, with consent rates reaching approximately 90% compared to only 47% when wishes are unknown. So please, have the conversation. Say it out loud. Write it down. Make it known.

It could save a life like mine… and that is a thing of beauty.

UK: www.organdonation.nhs.uk

USA: unos.org/transplant/

Canada: beadonor.ca/

Australia: www.donatelife.gov.au/register-donor-today

Gisèle Pelicot’s story horrified and inspired millions of women around the world when she waived her right to anonymity as the victim in the French rape case in 2024. Between 2011 and 2020, Gisèle had been drugged and raped by her husband Dominique Pelicot and dozens of other men while she was unconscious.

Now, she is telling her story and The Female Lead attended the UK launch of her book, A Hymn to Life, to hear from Gisèle in her own words.

The evening started with readings from the book from actresses Juliet Stevenson, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Kate Winslet. The audience listened in rapt silence until Kate Winslet read aloud, “Everyone needs to see the faces of the 51 rapists; they should be the ones to hang their heads in shame, not me”, which was met with a huge round of applause, the first of many moments from Gisèle that would move the audience.

It must take immense courage from Gisèle to sit and hear her trauma relived outloud for hundreds of audience members. She is very open about the fact that she hasn’t traditionally viewed herself as a feminist figure, discussing how she was happy with her husband and content with their traditional life.

When speaking about her ex-husband, Gisèle is calm and collected, referring to him always as ‘Monsieur Pelicot’, which might even seem confusing for a listener, but also speaks to her resolve that she will not let him or rage be her definer.

When he was arrested for upskirting in 2020, Gisèle initially apologised for her husband’s behaviour, embarrassed that he could do something so awful. “There was this A side to him: a benevolent, good-intentioned man with friends who admired him. And this second side B: that was the worst side of human nature. This is exactly what came out. I tried to bring him into the light, but he had this dark side,” Gisèle says.

She used the event at the Southbank Centre in London as a chance to platform and educate about the dangers of chemical submission, speaking about when she repeatedly went to the doctors knowing something wasn’t right, they said she may have early signs of Alzheimer’s, or have had a stroke.

“I hope now there’s more awareness and more knowledge about chemical submission because this is a tool of violence, and we need to make this clear,” she says.

Gisèle emphasised that this issue, and violence against women and girls, is not confined to France. The problem is universal. Young people, she warned, must be cautious online. Society, she argued, remains in denial.

“We are in a patriarchal society. We need to change this. Young generations will help to change this mindset,” Gisèle says.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG), she insisted, is not political, saying, “Some people may think it is depressing. But it is not political. It is important to talk about violence.”

Even with evidence, the courtroom experience was brutal. “The victim is considered guilty, and the defendant wants to be victimised,” she explains. The presumption of innocence persisted, despite proof. She describes photographs of her abuse being referred to as “sex scenes” rather than rape scenes, and how this was something that made her incredibly angry.

Gossip around her family has been rife in the media, and Gisèle used the evening as an opportunity to speak out on it in her own way.

“All of this was very, very painful for my children. This trauma didn’t bring us together. It’s not true that trauma always brings a family together. It really pushed us apart. We are trying to get our family back together. I spent time with my grandson yesterday. We are speaking now a lot. I spoke to my daughter before I came here. She gave me encouragement. So it’s great that we are coming back together. I’m so proud of her because she has created her own association now to support victims of chemical submission. I’m proud of this,” Gisèle says.

Despite the trauma she’s endured, Gisèle wanted to impress that she’s living a happy life, on her terms. She’d repaired a friendship with an old friend that had crumbled due to her ex-husband’s behaviour. She discussed meeting the security guard who had originally caught her ex-husband upskirting, and told him how his actions had saved her life. And she’s found love again. “I did not imagine falling in love or even, like, wanting to fall in love because, you know, when you go through what I’ve been through, I thought my life as a woman was over,” she says.

In a lighter tone, Gisèle laughed about how she binge-watched The Queen’s Gambit. “I really managed to sort of go back to my life as a young woman, if you like, living alone, and I could watch this series. It was a kind of freedom for me. I think I stayed up until five o’clock in the morning watching,” she says.

Gisèle chooses to live her life without regrets, which, like many statements said in the evening, led to thunderous applause. “I think it’s very important not to have any regrets, life is like this. I just think that today, I’m very lucky to be with you today, and he has been sent to jail. That’s my positive side.”

She wrapped up the event, speaking about what she wants next for her life:

“I am now 73. I hope I can continue my life serenely, quietly. I’ll be here to always listen to women who need support. I’ll always be here.”

What followed was a standing ovation that lasted three minutes, and likely would have lasted ten more had Gisele not left the stage, waving and blowing kisses to her audience.

A Hymn to Life is out now.

Some resources for survivors of violence:

Rape Crisis England & Wales: 0808 500 2222

USA National Sexual Resource Violence Resource Center: TOLL-FREE 877-739-3895

International support resources: takebackthenight.org

During our interview with the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street, we asked questions about the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy directly from The Female Lead community, including:

• Making misogyny a hate crime in the UK

• The need for men to call each other out for sexism and misogyny

• Investigations into the British men named in the Epstein Files

• What action is being taken to deal with the increase in domestic violence during men’s football matches

• The influence of Andrew Tate on boys and young men

The Prime Minister on the new law which demands tech platforms to detect and remove intimate images shared without consent

“This is really important stuff. You might think that platform providers would want to do it really quickly, but we have to keep pushing.”

“We have to be very tough with platform providers. This is not an area where you can say everything that needs to be done has been done; we’ll be constantly looking at what more we can do. One of the most worrying aspects is the age of some of the victims here, and tragically, the age keeps going down; every time you look at it, it’s gone down a bit and down a bit.”

“I remember being profoundly depressed when I gave up being the chief prosecutor, and there was a piece of research out at the time which showed that the group of young women most at risk of violence were 16-19 year olds in relationships, which really took me aback.”

“We’ve got a government commitment, my personal commitment that we are going to half it [VAWG], which is a really big challenge but one I absolutely intend us to rise to.”

The Prime Minister on Reform’s plans to scrap the Equality Act

“I was really shocked by the news that Reform, the political party, want to tear up the Equality Act. This is an act that goes to our core values, one of which is women should be treated equally with men.”

The Prime Minister on the investigation of British men accused of criminal behaviour in the Epstein files

“We have to start with the victims. And one of the great tragedies of a lot of the coverage and discussion in the last few weeks has been that it hasn’t been focused on the victims. It’s been focused on others. I very strongly believe that all of those that have got any information in relation to Epstein or any of these cases, should come forward and tell the appropriate authorities what they know. And equally, that the law should go wherever the evidence is.”

On influencing boys and young men to disrupt the influence from the likes of Andrew Tate and others

“Firstly, I’m really worried about this. The amount [of misogyny] that is aimed at young boys and men now, Andrew Tate is an example of that. On the one hand, this apparently successful man but coming with absolutely bags of misogyny and young boys look at that, and it’s a confusing world for them. That’s just an example. We need to work doubly hard with our young boys at the moment who are being bombarded with these messages. Much more than in the past.”

The Prime Minister on misogyny in politics

“In politics, there’s a lot of misogyny. You only have to look at the abuse all politicians get and then put it into two categories, men and women, and there’s far more abuse for women than there is for men. I feel like it’s a daily duty to call it [misogyny] out in politics.”

“Why is it that women get so much more abuse than men? It’s not rocket science, but we need to discuss it. Having the discussion is part of the answer.”

“We have to call it out. We have to be clear about our responsibility as well, the way we behave. Constantly checking one’s own behaviour. If you want to change culture, then you have to lead from the top. If people hear you saying you want change but you’re not modelling it, you’re giving license to them.”

Watch the full interview on our YouTube here: