Celebrate Muliebrity with Michelle Lyons

Hello and welcome to today’s episode – a bit off the normal schedule as I was teaching my Endometriosis Pain Management course over the weekend and then I was asked to come on the Claire Byrne show on Newstalk Radio to discuss the recent decision by the Spanish FA to support egg freezing for their female footballers.
Understandably, it was a brief overview on the radio but of course…I have thoughts that need a bit longer to explore so I thought – why not do a podcast episode!
In today’s episode, I’m exploring:
Why, at last, we are acknowledging that female athletes have reproductive lives!
How this should prompt a broader conversation about supporting female athletes throughout their reproductive lives rather than just focusing on fertility preservation. I believe that female-specific health is fundamental to performance and outline the need for individualized, informed decision-making regarding pregnancy and postpartum participation in sport; good resources for this include FIFA's "Stay in Play" and "Stepping into Play" decision aids. 
I want to stress that supporting women requires addressing pelvic health, but also broader physical and psychological factors, and creating systems that allow athletes to make reproductive choices without compromising their sporting careers; advocating for an approach that recognizes women's physiological stages as integral rather than disruptive to athletic performance.
But it’s about physiology across the female lifespan, not just in elite sports. I believe that female athletes (actually all women!) should receive education about menstrual cycles, nutrition, fertility, and postpartum recovery, rather than being forced to choose between a sporting career and motherhood. I believe that supporting women's reproductive choices should be part of a broader conversation about creating an inclusive sporting environment that accommodates all women's life stages and decisions, from menstruation to menopause.
I really want to rephrase the question about women in sports from "can women have it all" to "what can we change about our systems so women don't have to choose." I believe there’s the need to create sporting environments that support women's health and bodies rather than requiring women to adapt to sports, a system that’s designed to support the needs of male athletes.
And of course…if you’d like to learn more about supporting female athletes, from recreational to high performance, at every age and stage…check out my online courses The Menstrual Detective, Pelvic Health for the Younger Female Athlete, Perinatal Pelvic Rehab (Preconception to Postpartum) and Flourish! The Menopausal Toolbox – all available at CelebrateMuliebrity.com
Until next time, Onwards & Upwards! Mx #celebratemuliebrity

hello & welcome!
Today’s episode of the Celebrate Muliebrity podcast focuses on moving beyond the IC diet when working with women who have bladder pain syndrome. 

When I started working in pelvic health, I used to find IC/ Bladder Pain Syndrome a really challenging diagnosis to work with so over the years, I’ve really been focused on integrating the latest evidence into clinical practice, from asking better questions to clinical reasoning and step by step treatment strategies.What the research says AND how to come up with a treatment plan for the woman in front of you

In today’s episode, I talk about the importance of adopting an individualised, evidence-based approach rather than prescriptive food restrictions, explaining that there is no single universally applicable IC diet.
 
I outline a four-step framework: observation to understand individual patterns, simplification through targeted and temporary elimination when appropriate, stabilisation of bladder, bowel, gut, and nervous system health, and gradual reintroduction to increase dietary variety. 

I want to stress that the ultimate goal should be food freedom rather than creating anxiety around restricted food lists, and I encourage clinicians to help patients become experts in their own bodies through pattern recognition and data tracking.

I also cover:
Moving beyond a one size fits all to a bespoke approach to bladder pain syndrome
Bladder Pain Syndrome mechanisms - why we have to look OUTSIDE the bladder
Integrating a gut/bowel/nervous system approach as a current best practice approach to nurture self efficacy and empowerment 
And more…

The IC/BPS updates are now available in the online Female Pelvic Pain Rehab course and come with clinical skills, shareable breath/bladder practices and a downloadable workbook for you to work through with the women you’re working with who are struggling with IC/BPS  - all of the course info is at CelebrateMuliebrity.com
Until next time!
Live, Flourish, Thrive! #celebratemuliebrity

Hello & welcome to today's episode where I'm going to explore our role as pelvic rehab clinicians when it comes to the management of EAP
I think an important question to consider is:
'What does a woman with endometriosis associated pain actually need from us, beyond medical/surgical treatment?'
(particularly when those approaches have not been effective in reducing her pain or increasing her quality of life)
I believe we absolutely need to understand the pathophysiology of endometriosis - but it is vital that we don't stop there!
The amount of pain someone experiences does not always correspond neatly to the stage, amount, size of location of her endometriosis lesions - two women can walk into your clinic and have very different pain experiences.
EAP can be complex - we need to understand nociceptive inputs from inflammation/ tissue pathology, neuropathic and visceral components, pelvic floor dysfunction, chronic overlapping pain conditions, as well as changes in central pain processing and nociplastic mechanisms.
Our job is to figure out - which mechanisms appear to be contributing in this woman right now - AND - how can we help her build capacity?
Asking her 'what would you like to be able to do that your pain is currently stopping you from doing?'
we are not necessarily trying to achieve zero pain but rather trying to increase capacity, confidence, participation, self-efficacy and quality of life
And that means a different rehab conversation, where we are asking better questions to get better outcomes
Questions about her pelvic floor, bowel, bladder, movement (and how to prescribe and dose it), sleep, stress, sexual health, breath, her pain management toolbox and how to talk about nervous system sensitivity....
I think a really key question for us to consider might be 'how can I help her increase her capacity to live well alongside a condition that will fluctuate?' - and what does that look like in clinical practice?
If you'd like to learn more, the Endometriosis module, as well as modules on IC/Bladder Pain Syndrome, Vulvodynia, Dyspareunia and more, have all gone through their 2026 update and are available now in my online course, Female Pelvic Pain Rehab course! (already enrolled? you have access!) All of the course info can be found at CelebrateMuliebrity.com
Until next time, Onwards & Upwards! Mx #celebratemuliebrity

Hello and welcome to today's conversation where I'm delighted to chat with my new friend and colleague, Dr Suzanne Scott
Suzanne's early background in physics and data science, progressed to her work in modeling human movement data, spanning over 20 years in high-performance sports. She noted how the field has evolved to enable real-time measurement of performance changes through tracking devices and heart rate data. 
Suzanne now wears a variety of hats, including her part-time lectureship at the University of Bristol Anatomy Centre and her work as a movement coach in high performance sport, particularly with football, rugby, and cricket teams. She shared her recent experience attending the World Cup in the US, describing the emotional journey from high expectations to the disappointing semi-final loss, though she noted the overall positive and unifying atmosphere throughout the tournament.

We also chatted about Suzanne's work with female athletes and the gaps in knowledge regarding pelvic health issues in women, especially young athletes. She explained the concept of "deconstructing the female pelvis," which aims to explore the structure, biomechanics, and endocrine physiology elements involved. 
Our discussion also included the planned event on September 4th, which aims to bring together experts to discuss current issues and potential solutions in pelvic health for female athletes. I have a LOT of enthusiasm for this event, about the evolution in understanding pelvic health beyond just muscle weakness and the importance of considering factors like RED-S, hypermobility, and lower limb injuries. There are some amazing presenters on the day, including keynotes from Grainne Donnelly and I'm part of a panel discussion with Ros Cooke, Emma Brockwell and more AND there's a cadaver lab to see pelvic dissections in person!Although we have had different backgrounds, Suzanne & I are definitely on the same wavelength when it comes to the importance of addressing pelvic health issues, particularly how they impact women's physical activity and overall well-being.
The need for evolving evidence-based approaches and effective communication to help clinicians and the public make informed decisions about pelvic health is ever present and I'm sure the conversations we will have in Bristol on September 4th will advance the cause!
Here's the link for the study day in Bristol on September 4th:
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/anatomy/vesalius/courses/deconstructing-female-pelvis/
Hope you can join us there!
Until next time, Onwards & Upwards, Mx
(and of course....if you are looking for online options in continuing education in women's health that's evidence based, biopsychosocial and clinically applicable, from pelvic pain to oncology to menstrual, maternal or menopausal health- I've got you covered - all of the course info can be found at CelebrateMuliebrity.com )

Hello & Welcome to the Podcast! In today's solo episode, I want to explore how asking better questions can lead to better outcomes for women dealing with GSM, via a COLLABORATIVE approach - let's jump in!
In the episode I'll discuss why GSM is more than just dryness, why tissue health is super important but..it doesn't function in a vacuum because healthy tissues don't necessarily lead to healthy movement
So what can pelvic rehab offer here? We need to move beyond a focus on keeping women dry, and move to emphasising keeping women MOVING!
The goals are to Live, Flourish & THRIVE!
I outline my clinical framework focusing on four key areas: healthy tissues, healthy function, healthy movement, and helping women achieve their life goals; I'm arguing that success should be measured by more than just symptom relief but by women's ability to participate fully in life. I want to encourage healthcare professionals to shift from asking which intervention is best to asking which combination will give women the best chance of thriving, and I want to stress the need for collaboration between different medical specialties rather than competition.
I'm talking about plans to teach women healthier pelvic floor muscle training, emphasizing the importance of a bespoke approach tailored to each individual rather than using the term "Kegels." I outlined a comprehensive program that extends beyond just pelvic floor muscles to include breathing, pressure management, hip mobility, glute strength, and various other physical components. The goal is to help women regain confidence in their bodies through a holistic approach that addresses their specific goals and activities - and how we can put this bespoke approach together for the women we serve.
And yes...there's some homework for you to think about - considering Capacity before Complexity!
What do you think - can we think about a 'philosophy' rather than a treatment plan? Let me know what you think!
And if you want to learn more...my online course, Flourish, The Menopause & Hysterectomy is available at CelebrateMuliebrity.com. Questions? You can find me on instagram @michellelyons_muliebrity
Until next time, Onwards & Upwards! Mx #celebratemuliebrity