Why Women’s Health Advocacy Matters Deeply To Me

Women’s health advocacy is close to my heart because it reaches into every part of a woman’s life: her confidence, relationships, work, family, ambitions and sense of identity. Health is often treated as a private matter, something to manage quietly behind closed doors. Yet the experiences that affect women are shared by millions, and silence can make those experiences feel isolating.

My work in television, writing and public speaking has allowed me to hear many personal stories. Women have spoken to me about symptoms they were told to ignore, diagnoses that took years to receive, and moments when they felt dismissed or embarrassed. I recognise the emotional weight behind those stories because I have experienced my own periods of uncertainty, exhaustion and change.

Advocacy, to me, is not about presenting one perfect version of womanhood. It is about making space for honest conversations, better information and compassionate support. It means encouraging women to understand their bodies, trust their instincts and seek help without feeling that they are being difficult or demanding too much.

The Experiences That Shaped My Voice

For many years, women’s health was discussed in fragments. Periods were regarded as an inconvenience, fertility as a private concern, mental health as a personal weakness and menopause as something to endure quietly. These attitudes shaped the way women spoke about their bodies and influenced whether they felt entitled to ask for care.

I have seen how easily a woman’s symptoms can be minimised. Tiredness may be blamed on a busy lifestyle. Anxiety may be dismissed as overreaction. Pain may be accepted as part of being female. When a woman repeatedly hears that what she feels is normal, she may stop asking questions, even when something clearly needs attention.

My own experiences have made me more determined to use my platform responsibly. I understand the vulnerability involved in discussing subjects that are intimate, emotional or surrounded by stigma. Speaking openly does not mean sharing every detail of private life. It means helping to create a culture in which women can find language for what is happening to them.

That is why I often encourage people to think about their values and priorities through a personal mission statement. Knowing what matters to us can make it easier to protect our wellbeing, set boundaries and make decisions that reflect the life we genuinely want.

A Wider Definition Of Women’s Health

Women’s health is sometimes reduced to reproductive care, but it is much broader than that. It includes physical, emotional and mental wellbeing across every stage of life. It involves puberty, menstrual health, pregnancy, fertility, childbirth, postnatal recovery, perimenopause, menopause and healthy ageing. It also includes the conditions that affect women differently or are frequently under-researched in women.

Endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, fibroids, autoimmune disorders, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease all deserve attention. So do pelvic floor problems, breast health, sexual wellbeing and the long-term effects of chronic stress. A woman’s health needs can change dramatically over time, which means support should be available throughout her life rather than concentrated around a few familiar milestones.

Mental health must sit at the centre of this conversation. Hormonal changes, grief, trauma, caring responsibilities, financial pressure, workplace expectations and relationship difficulties can all affect how a woman feels. Depression and anxiety are real health concerns, and asking for psychological support should be treated with the same seriousness as seeking treatment for a physical condition.

There is also an important connection between personal wellbeing and social circumstances. Access to healthcare, flexible employment, safe housing, nutritious food and reliable childcare can influence health outcomes. Advocacy must recognise those realities instead of suggesting that self-care alone can solve every difficulty.

The Harm Caused By Silence

Silence has a cost. When women do not feel able to speak about pain, heavy bleeding, panic attacks, infertility or menopause symptoms, opportunities for early support can be missed. A problem that might have been manageable can become more severe, while the individual carries unnecessary fear and frustration.

Language can be a powerful first step. Being able to describe a symptom clearly, record changes over time and explain how a condition affects daily life can help a woman feel more prepared when she speaks to a healthcare professional. It can also help her recognise that she deserves to be listened to, even when a diagnosis is not immediately obvious.

We also need to challenge the idea that resilience means coping without help. Women are often praised for carrying enormous responsibilities while receiving very little support. Strength should include rest, treatment, boundaries and the willingness to say that something is not sustainable. A woman does not have to reach breaking point before her wellbeing becomes important.

Public conversation can change those expectations. When respected voices discuss menopause, mental health, reproductive illness or workplace wellbeing with honesty, the subjects become less frightening. Conversation cannot replace medical advice, but it can encourage people to seek it sooner and to support friends, colleagues and relatives with greater understanding.

From Personal Stories To Public Advocacy

As a broadcaster and journalist, I have always believed in the value of a well-told story. Personal experience can make a complex issue understandable, but it must be handled with care. Advocacy is strongest when it combines lived experience with accurate information, qualified expertise and respect for individual differences.

No two women experience health in exactly the same way. One person may move through menopause with mild symptoms, while another faces debilitating insomnia, hot flushes, mood changes or difficulties at work. One woman may find therapy transformative, while another needs medical treatment, community support or practical changes at home. Good advocacy leaves room for that variety.

My role is to help bring subjects into the open, connect people with useful conversations and encourage a more compassionate response. This includes speaking to audiences about resilience, leadership, personal growth and women’s wellbeing, whether in the media, on a stage or within a workplace. These topics are closely connected because people cannot lead effectively when their health is ignored.

For organisations, supporting women’s health is also a matter of culture. Policies around menstrual health, menopause, parental leave, flexible working and mental wellbeing can influence whether talented women remain in the workforce. A supportive employer does not ask women to hide normal health experiences; it creates practical conditions in which people can do their work with dignity.

Turning Awareness Into Everyday Support

Awareness is valuable, but it should lead to action. The most helpful changes are often practical: making appointments easier to arrange, allowing time for medical care, providing trustworthy information and creating spaces where people can speak without ridicule. Support should be available before a crisis, not offered only after someone has become exhausted.

The following comparison shows how different forms of support can work together:

Individuals can contribute by listening carefully and avoiding assumptions. A friend may need practical help rather than advice. A colleague may need privacy rather than public praise for coping. A partner may need to learn more about a health condition instead of expecting the woman to explain everything while she is unwell.

Healthcare professionals, employers, families and public figures all have a role to play. The aim is not to create fear or encourage self-diagnosis. It is to make it normal for women to ask informed questions, request appropriate care and keep seeking answers when their concerns have not been addressed.

Building A Culture That Supports Women

Women’s health advocacy becomes meaningful when it changes everyday behaviour. It asks us to pay attention to the language used in homes, schools, clinics, studios and boardrooms. It asks whether people are being heard, whether information is accessible and whether systems are designed around real lives rather than unrealistic expectations.

There is also a responsibility to make conversations inclusive. Women differ in age, background, ethnicity, ability, sexuality, income and family circumstances. A single story cannot represent everyone. Listening to a broad range of experiences helps us identify gaps in healthcare and develop support that reflects the communities it is meant to serve.

For women who want to protect their wellbeing and support others, these principles can provide a useful starting point:

• Learn the basic signs and symptoms associated with the health issues that affect you or your family.
• Keep a record of recurring symptoms, treatments, questions and changes that may be useful during an appointment.
• Choose trusted sources of medical information and treat social media stories as personal experiences rather than universal guidance.
• Speak to employers, friends or relatives about practical support instead of waiting until your health reaches a crisis point.
• Share credible resources with compassion, without pressuring anyone to disclose more than they wish.

My platform, This Girl Is On Fire, grew from a belief that women deserve encouragement, honesty and the freedom to redefine what strength means. That message applies to health as much as to ambition. Being on fire does not mean being endlessly available or pretending to feel fine. It can mean recognising your needs, recovering from difficult seasons and using your voice to make life better for someone else.

The events and conversations I host allow me to explore these themes in a direct and human way. Through my television and event work, I have seen how a room can change when people realise they are not alone. A shared experience can open the door to empathy, and empathy can lead to better decisions, better leadership and better care.

Women’s health advocacy remains close to my heart because every conversation has the potential to remove shame. It can help a young woman understand that painful periods deserve attention, reassure a new mother that recovery matters, or remind someone approaching menopause that she should not have to disappear from her own life. It can also encourage men and organisations to become informed allies rather than silent observers.

This work is ongoing. It belongs in healthcare, education, workplaces, families and public life. By speaking with honesty, listening without judgement and supporting access to reliable care, we can help create a future in which women’s wellbeing is taken seriously at every age.

Join me in keeping these conversations visible through the This Girl Is On Fire community, my books, broadcast work and live events. When we share knowledge and stand behind one another, advocacy becomes more than a message: it becomes a practical commitment to women’s health, confidence and freedom to live fully.