My Books
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…

Buy a copy of Your Fertile Years here

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.

Buy a copy of Your Joyful Years here
Professor Joyce Harper
Professor Joyce Harper

Menstruation and fertility education resources

I have written a book where this information is covered in detail – Your Fertile Years: what you need to know to make informed choices. Sheldon Press, 2021.

I am co-founder of the UK Fertility Education Initiative and the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration (IRHEC)

Both web sites contain a number of information leaflets and videos about reproductive health and fertility. Below I have included some of the key resources that I helped co-design with young people through a series of focus groups which you will find on the IRHEC web site.

I am an ambassador for Wellbeing of Women and we are working on resources for teachers on difficult periods

A great summary document of women’s health has been produced by the Royal College of Nurses – the Women’s Health Pocket Guide

Some of my podcasts about general menstruation and fertility

Anatomy, puberty and reproductive cancers

It is important for everyone to understand their reproductive anatomy. It can become very confusing when the incorrect words are used. In females, the vulva is the external genitalia which includes the clitoris and labia. The vagina is the tube that runs from the outside up to the cervix. Further information about reproductive anatomy can be heard on my podcasts.

Information leaflets on puberty and periods

My podcasts on anatomy and reproductive cancers

For any questions about gynaecological cancers – please visit The Eve Appeal.

Podcasts on the gynaecological cancers are coming out summer 2026.

The menstrual cycle, menstruation and related issues

I have done a lot of research discussing menstruation with women. I think it is essential that everyone understands about the menstrual cycle and menstruation, and that there should be several lessons given in schools, with boys present – but it seems that most people have only one lesson in primary school and one at secondary school and unfortunately some schools still separate boys from girls to give these lessons.

In school you were probably taught that women have a 28 day cycle and ovulate on day 14 – but our big data study and several other recent studies, show that only 13% of women have a 28 day cycle and they can ovulate from as early as day 10, with an average day of day 16, not day 14.

It is really key that we teach in schools that females experiences of having a period really varies. Some will have no issues, but there will be those who have heavy or painful periods which may affect their quality of life. They should seek medical help if this happens.

It is also important to teach everyone that 1 in 10 women have endometriosis which can hugely affect quality of life and can cause much pain. Currently it takes years for women to be diagnosed with endometriosis and this can lead to long term issues. There is a lot being done to improve this.

Another important condition is polycystic ovary syndrome which can result in irregular or no periods. See the information leaflet below.

The Wellbeing of Women menstruation hub and symptom checker

A video summary of the menstrual cycle

Our IRHEC web page on menstruation and information leaflets

A video by IRHEC about endometriosis

Further information about endometriosis can be found at Endometriosis UK

Why understanding about your menstrual cycle is important

My podcasts relating to the menstrual cycle and menstruation

Fertility – If you want to get pregnant in the future – what you should know

Whether we want children or not, and if we are sexually active or not, I think it is important to understand fertility and the fertile window.

The best way to determine the fertile window is to use ovulation sticks which measure a hormone called luteinising hormone (LH) which rises about 24-40 hours before you are going to ovulate. If you are trying to get pregnant – it is important to have a lot of sex around this time to increase your chances. Once the egg is ovulated, it is only viable for about 24 hours. But sperm can stay viable in the female genital tract for several days – so having sex before and on the day of ovulation gives the best chances.

If you are trying to get pregnant – both the man and the woman should ensure they have healthy lifestyles to improve their chances of getting pregnant and to get the woman ready for pregnancy. A healthy lifestyle for the man and the woman will also benefit the health of the future child. See the preconception checklist below.

A woman’s fertility decreases with age, and when she reaches menopause – she will no longer be able to get pregnant with her own egg. Men’s fertility does not decrease to such an extent, but the sperm can become less healthy over the age of 40. There is further information in the fertility poster.

Fertility education poster in a variety of languages

Preconception health for women

Preconception health for men

IRHEC have produced a number of information leaflets on fertility

My podcasts relating to getting pregnant

Egg freezing

Since a woman’s fertility decreases with age, if she wants to have children but does not have a partner who is willing to start a family, she may consider freezing her eggs. However, it is a complicated procedure, is very expensive and does not guarantee that she will have a baby from the frozen eggs.

My podcast on egg freezing

Infertility

If a couple have tried to get pregnant for one year but not been successful – they are classed as infertile. There are a number of fertility treatments available but they can be difficult to go through and expensive. In vitro fertilisation – IVF – has a low success rate, especially as the woman goes over age 35.

The World Health Organisation Guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility

My podcasts relating to infertility

We have produced a number of information leaflets and videos on infertility through IRHEC

Some useful videos on infertility

Lifestyle

If we want to look after our reproductive health, and overall health, we need to look after our lifestyle. This includes eating healthy food, exercising regularly, sleeping well, looking after our mental health and having friendships and community.

My podcasts on lifestyle

I have done many – here are a few.

The use of tech

There is a lot of new tech that is being developed with the aim of helping people understand their fertility. Some of it is useful but some is misleading and not evidence based. I hope that this changes in the future but for now, please be aware of spending money on unproven treatments.

My podcasts on tech relating to fertility