Dr Jackie Maybin is a Reader and Consultant Gynaecologist at the Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian.

She runs a specialist menstrual disorders service offering medical and surgical treatments. Her research team aims to develop better preventative and therapeutic strategies for problematic menstrual bleeding, a common and debilitating symptom.

She holds a Wellcome Clinical Career Development Fellowship to investigate the role of hypoxia in menstrual physiology and pathology. She is also examining the potential link between COVID and menstrual disturbance.

Jackie is also president of the RCOG Blair Bell Society, a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Young Academy of Scotland and Chair the National Menstrual Clinical Network for the Scottish Government.

reproductive-health.ed.ac.uk

In this podcast, we delve into menstrual disorders, including heavy menstrual bleeding and its significant impact on women’s health. Jackie explains the importance of understanding what constitutes a normal menstrual cycle: a typical cycle lasts 24 to 36 days, with bleeding lasting fewer than eight days. She highlights the urgent need for better menstrual health education, particularly in schools. At present, most girls receive only two lessons on periods—one in primary school and one in high school. In some schools, boys are still separated during these lessons, resulting in men having little to no understanding of menstruation.

Jackie discusses the critical importance of addressing heavy menstrual bleeding to prevent conditions such as anaemia. She explores the role of hormones in regulating menstrual cycles and examines the complexities of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). She discusses her work on the impact of COVID-19 on menstrual health. We also discuss the need for improved workplace policies for menstruating women.