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MENARCHE
Menarche (me-NAR-kee) is the term used for a girl’s first period.
In reality, menarche is only one day but the hormonal changes that cause it start a few years before and are not complete for many years after her first period. These changes are happening not only in her reproductive organs but in her whole body; especially her brain. She will start this transition as a child but by the end of adolescence, she will have acquired the physical, psychological and emotional adaptations to start her next chapter as an adult.
These major changes mean that this is also a time of vulnerability and in some girls, these shifts have an impact on their health and wellbeing.
How to Pelvic Floor: The Physio’s Guide to Leaking, Prolapse and Pain
Pelvic floor dysfunction affects millions of women, yet symptoms like leakage, prolapse and pain are often dismissed as normal. In this episode of The Women’s Handbook Podcast, specialist women’s health physiotherapists Monica Donaldson and Tamara Gerdis unpack what the pelvic floor really is, how dysfunction presents across the life course, and why evidence-based, individualised assessment is essential for effective, non-surgical care and lasting pelvic health.
Dr Natalie Hutchins
Jan 73 min read
Vaginismus: Understanding Pain with Penetration and the Role of the Pelvic Floor
Pain with vaginal penetration is common, distressing, and often misunderstood, leaving many women without clear answers for years. This blog explains vaginismus, now termed Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD), a condition involving involuntary pelvic floor muscle guarding driven by the nervous system. It explores what the condition feels like, why it develops, and why it is physical, real, and highly treatable. With evidence-based, multidisciplinary care, most wom
Dr Natalie Hutchins
Jan 63 min read
How to feed your teen: With Vanessa McNamara and Karlein Duvenage
Feeding teens isn’t just “adult nutrition in smaller portions.” In this episode, dietitians Vanessa McNamara and Karlien Duvenage unpack what growing adolescents really need — from iron and calcium to body image and autonomy. Learn how to strike the balance between structure and freedom, fuel active teens safely, spot early signs of disordered eating, and build lifelong, positive food relationships grounded in confidence and connection.
Dr Natalie Hutchins
Nov 12, 20255 min read
Understanding Eating Disorders in Teens: What Parents Need to Know
Eating disorders among teenagers are on the rise, with hospital admissions nearly doubling in the last decade. As parents and caregivers, it's more important than ever to understand the signs, risk factors, and ways to support our teens. Based on a conversation between Dr. Natalie Hutchins and clinical psychologist Anneliese Lai from the Women's Handbook podcast, here’s a comprehensive look at eating disorders in teens, how they present, and what we can do to help.
Dr Natalie Hutchins
Sep 15, 20254 min read
Understanding Teen Mental Health: A Guide for Parents
Being a parent to a teenager can sometimes feel like navigating a maze with moving walls. Rapid changes in mood, withdrawal, new friendships, and secrecy can all feel overwhelming or even alarming. But with rates of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders skyrocketing among teens—especially girls—it's never been more important to understand teen mental health and how you, as a parent, can help.
Dr Natalie Hutchins
Sep 15, 20254 min read
How to Teen Girl: A frank discussion about eating disorders
Teenagers today face unprecedented pressures — from the rise of social media and diet culture to the intensity of friendships and academic demands. In this episode, Dr. Natalie Hutchins sits down with clinical psychologist Annelise Lai, who specialises in working with teens and has a particular focus on eating disorders and anxiety-related issues.
Dr Natalie Hutchins
Sep 1, 20255 min read
Vaginal Probiotics: What Does the Science Say?
We talk a lot about balance when it comes to our bodies and in the vagina, that balance is maintained by a complex ecosystem of microbes called the vaginal microbiome. When that balance is disrupted, the symptoms can be hard to ignore: unusual discharge, odour, irritation, or recurring infections like thrush or bacterial vaginosis (BV).
In recent years, researchers have started to explore the potential of vaginal probiotics; live, beneficial bacteria that restore a healthy v
Dr Natalie Hutchins
Jun 23, 20259 min read
Connection as Medicine: How Social Relationships Shape our Health
When we think about living a long and healthy life, we tend to focus on things like food, sleep, and exercise. But the science is clear: our relationships matter just as much.
Social connection isn’t just “nice to have”; it’s a biological necessity, hardwired into our nervous systems. Growing research shows that friendships, community, and emotional closeness have a profound impact on our health and life, for women in particular.
Dr Natalie Hutchins
May 19, 20257 min read
Understanding the often misunderstood world of the teenage brain
BOOK IN REVIEW: The book is a call to shift how we, as a society, view and treat our young people during this developmental stage, one I think is well overdue. Blakemore offers a fresh perspective on what is stereotypically seen as a difficult, rebellious and irrational phase; instead reframing adolescence as a time of profound learning and adaptation. She challenges traditional ideas, debunks myths and provides a nuanced view of why teenagers behave the way they do.
Dr Natalie Hutchins
Apr 22, 20252 min read
Teens Taking The Pill: Is It Safe? A Guide For Parents
Learn about the safety, benefits, and side effects of contraceptive pills for teens. Get expert insights on teenage contraception
Dr Natalie Hutchins
Mar 24, 202510 min read
How to prep your tween for her period starting
Support your tween through her first period with clarity and confidence. Practical tips, product options & when to seek medical advice
Dr Natalie Hutchins
Feb 16, 20255 min read
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