Your Fertile Years - What You Need to Know to Make Informed Choices by Professor Joyce Harper
Your Fertile Years - What You Need to Know to Make Informed Choices by Professor Joyce Harper

Your Fertile Years

When Joyce was in her twenties she started working in the field of fertility and she often had conversations with friends about their bodies and their fertility.  At this time she read ‘Ourbody, ourselves’ and felt it was a book that every woman should read…

Your Joyful Years

In Your Joyful Years, Professor Joyce Harper provides an empowering, evidence-based guide to thriving beyond 50. Moving past the menopause, this book reframes later life as a vibrant new beginning—a time to rediscover purpose and prioritise self-care. Combining 40 years of scientific expertise with the candid wisdom of 50 inspiring women, Professor Harper offers a reassuring roadmap to health, happiness, and living authentically. This is the essential second book in her life-stage trilogy, proving that your best years are still to come.

Season 3 / Episode 2 – 22 January

Dr. Aziza Sesay: Understanding the vulva, vagina and cervix

In this podcast Professor Joyce Harper will be interviewing guests to discuss all things health related and debunking some of the many myths around our health.

Dr. Aziza Sesay is a GP, GP educator, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, Host, Speaker and a well-regarded health content creator. Aziza is particularly noted for her work in health education, awareness, advocacy, and empowerment through her platform, “Talks with Dr. Sesay.” This platform shares evidence-based health information, with a focus on women’s health, cancer awareness, mental health, and health inequity.

Aziza has been a GP for the last 10 years. She is the Vice Chair and Creative Director of Black Female Doctors UK and serves as an Ambassador for multiple health charities, including The Eve Appeal, Wellbeing of Women, FSRH, Hatfield Vision and Keep it Fax.

Aziza is regularly featured in the media such as on BBC News, The Guardian, and Women’s Health UK. She has played a pivotal role in several national public health campaigns. Her commitment to improving health outcomes and addressing health inequities has earned her recognition and respect including receiving a Point of Light Award.

Instagram: @talkswithdrsesay

YouTube: Click here

It’s no surprise that misconceptions about the vulva, vagina, and cervix are so common, given how basic and limited education on these topics is in schools. The word vulva is still frowned upon by many, treated as if it’s inappropriate or taboo. This needs to change. In this discussion, Aziza explains the anatomy of the vulva, vagina, and cervix, covering what they look like, their functions, what can go wrong, and how to keep them healthy.

Did you know women actually have seven openings in the genital area? These include the urethra, vagina, anus, and four openings from glands that secrete fluids.

Aziza highlights the importance of understanding the “4 Ps”: protection, passageway, pleasure, and policing. And yes, let’s make full use of the 10,000 nerve endings in the vulva designed for pleasure!

We also tackle the problems with porn, particularly its portrayal of unrealistic vulvas, which can distort perceptions. Aziza dives into the vaginal microbiome, the implications of genital surgery, and how these structures change throughout the menstrual cycle and across life stages, from puberty to menopause. Throughout her career, Aziza has been asked countless questions about these topics—it’s time everyone truly understands their reproductive anatomy.

 

 

 

Professor Joyce Harper

Podcast Episodes