Latest news with #Feelgood
Irish Examiner
05-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Esther McCarthy: Period dignity should never be a luxury item
Auntie Flo is visiting. The painters are in. It's shark week. The things, the yokes. Code red. On the rag. The curse. Bloody Mary is in town. A visit from the red fairy. These are all euphemisms I've heard since the day I got my first period, age 12. That last one — the red fairy — I only ever heard from one girl, I knew her in secondary school. I like to believe she's now living a life full of whimsy in a cabbage patch cottage on the edge of a bluebell-filled wood. I liked her. As I type, we're getting ready for a reader event in Cork with my colleague, Feelgood editor, Irene Feighan and guest speaker Shalini Wiseman, a chartered physiotherapist in women's health at Pelvic Health Programmes. It's called Coffee & Conversation, and it's all about making your wellbeing a daily priority. We're hoping for an open, informative chat on women's sexual health. But it got me thinking about how being advocates for our own health, starts with how we're taught about our bodies. Sure, I didn't even know I had a vagina until I was in secondary school. We never called it a vagina, let me tell you. There were no hand-mirror shenanigans in the suburbs of Cork in the 1980s. And when I did get my period, I was unprepared, to say the least. It turns out tomboys are not immune to biological realities. I was in denial for a while. I thought if I just ignored it, it might just go away. And it did! For about three and a half weeks, and then whabammo! Leak week. I guess it's called a cycle for a reason. The whole vibe back then was that your period was something embarrassing, shameful, something to be hidden and endured until, like the tides (crimson or otherwise), it rolled in again the next month. It was like Thanos. Inevitable. It was something boys in school sniggered at or used as an insult. If a fella found out you had your period, it was mortifying. It became a weapon to be used against you. I was determined my kids wouldn't see it that way. Since they were tiny boys, it's been treated as a normal fact of life in our house. No mysterious red fairies for them. I'd tell them each month, or whenever I was buying those quare products with the sticky wings, that a period is when blood comes out of the vagina as part of the menstrual cycle. It happens because the uterus builds up a soft lining each month in case a pregnancy happens. If it doesn't, the body lets go of that lining — and that's what a period is. It's normal, healthy, and a sign that the body is working the way it's meant to. By the time I got to the end of that sentence, they were usually off shooting pretend webs in their Spider-Man rig-outs. 'Spinning webs is nothing compared to what the female reproductive system can do!' I'd shout after them. 'We can CREATE LIIIIIFE!' Side note: Aww! I just got a flashback to how much they adored Spider-Man. Each of them wore the costume as their main outfit for most of their early years. I can chart their childhoods by who their favourite Spider-Man was: Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland, and the best of the best — Miles Gonzalo Morales. But I digress. I may not have been well informed, but I was lucky enough to always have what I needed, there was a cupboard in the bathroom in our house where there was always a supply of pads and tampons, but that's simply not the case for everyone. Nearly one in four women in Ireland have experienced period poverty, according to the 2022 Healthy Ireland Survey. Imagine being a teenage girl in school, with those sniggering boys around you, worrying whether you're bleeding through your uniform. Dignity shouldn't be a luxury item. Back to the coffee and conversation event. Caring and sharing — it's something women do well, right? As part of the 25th anniversary of Feelgood, Irene recently initiated the Irish Examiner Women's Health Survey 2025, and wow, does it highlight the fact that women in Ireland face significant systemic gaps. And not just in reproductive health, but across the spectrum, from period pain management and fertility awareness, to PMS support, mental health, and GP care. What's both infuriating and quite sad is that, despite growing awareness, many women in Ireland still report feeling uninformed, isolated, or blocked from accessing basic health services. The survey revealed that more than 40% of women report difficulty getting a GP appointment. How can we take responsibility for our health if we are facing barriers to something as basic as routine care? Acknowledging these gaps is one way to dismantle taboos. We're crying out for information, access, and ready for better policies, better supports, better conversations. And coffee. Really good coffee. Period. Read More How wellbeing festivals have grown more popular in Ireland
Irish Examiner
03-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Feelgood's Coffee and Conversation: 'When we invest in women's health, everyone benefits'
People settled into Here's Health Café at Douglas Court Shopping Centre on Thursday morning for a relaxed morning of chats, insights, and expert advice on making health and wellbeing a daily priority. The Irish Examiner's Coffee and Conversation event saw Feelgood editor Irene Feighan and Lifestyle editor Esther McCarthy share their tips, listen to women's experiences, and answer questions, alongside special guest Shalini Wiseman, a pelvic health physiotherapist. Wiseman, who is a member of the UK's Pelvic Obstetrics and Gynaecological Physiotherapy Association and delivers pelvic health education to women, GPs, and healthcare professionals in both Ireland and India, spoke openly and informatively about women's health. Panellists Esther McCarthy, Shalini Wiseman, and Irene Feighan pictured addressing attendees at the Feel Good Coffee and Conversation morning in Here's Health Café, Douglas Court Shopping Centre. Picture Chani Anderson. She spoke about the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, what to look out for and how women can take control of their sexual health. Wiseman also acknowledged the challenges women can face when accessing healthcare. Shalini Wiseman speaking at the Feel Good Coffee and Conversation morning. Picture Chani Anderson. She spoke about the importance of choosing a GP who specialises in menopause, but highlighted the high cost of private consultations as a barrier for many women. She suggested a government subsidy for private healthcare to alleviate the burden on the health service, noting that 50% of the population will need to address menopause-related issues, making it a significant public health concern. Shalini Wiseman speaking at the Feel Good Coffee and Conversation Morning, held at Here's Health Café in Douglas Court Shopping Centre. Picture Chani Anderson. 'It's good to go to a GP who specialises in menopause. So they need to have an accreditation from the British Menopause Society,' she said. 'The problem with private healthcare is that some of us might be much more privileged than others. Not everyone has €250 to spare [for a private consultation]. Guests mingling at the Feel Good Coffee and Conversation morning hosted at Here's Health Café. Picture Chani Anderson. 'I think if we can get a subsidy for going private, your health insurance will give you a certain amount, but if the government can give a subsidy for going private to offload it from the health service, that might be a good thing.' Jennifer Earle, Karen Falvey, Elaine Counihan, and Saundra Walsh pictured at the Feel Good Coffee and Conversation morning at Here's Health Café. Picture Chani Anderson. Feelgood editor Irene Feighan spoke at the event about the National Women's Survey, which was published on June 19. More than 1,000 women were asked about their experience of the healthcare sector, from fertility to pregnancy and childbirth, to perimenopause and menopause. Esther McCarthy and Irene Feighan pictured on stage during the Feel Good Coffee and Conversation Morning at Here's Health Café. Picture Chani Anderson. Among the main findings of the survey were: The majority of women are taking responsibility for their health and actively seeking solutions to their concerns Women are increasingly embracing science, whether it's for in vitro fertilisation (IVF), egg freezing, hormonal changes, or weight management One in five experienced fertility issues, 80% sought advice, 52% considered fertility treatment, and one in three went on to get fertility treatment One in four will delay having children until they reach financial goals 35% said they were not in a financial position to have a child or another child Three in 10 would consider egg freezing One in four women have had a miscarriage, with miscarriage supports deemed very poor Irene Feighan speaking at the Feel Good Coffee and Conversation morning held at Here's Health Café. Picture Chani Anderson. The survey also found that about 80% of women experience menopausal symptoms, while 20% don't. Of those who do, approximately one-third experience severe symptoms. One in five said professionals' understanding of hormonal issues was poor, and almost the same number criticised the quality of care received. Esther McCarthy speaking at the Feel Good Coffee and Conversation morning at Douglas Court Shopping Centre. Picture Chani Anderson. 'Feminists were right to say biology is not destiny. But if we ignore women's biological realities — especially their health and reproductive needs — we risk failing them. When we invest in women's health, everyone benefits — families, communities, and future generations,' Feighan said. Guests listen during the candid and open discussions at the Feel Good Coffee and Conversation Morning held at Here's Health Café in Douglas Court Shopping Centre. Picture Chani Anderson. The event wrapped with a Q&A session with Irene Feighan and Shalini Wiseman, where those in attendance had the opportunity to have their questions relating to women's health answered. Pelvic health physiotherapist Shalini Wiseman's list of recommended products: Shalini Wiseman's list of chartered physiotherapists in pelvic health in Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford: Read More How wellbeing festivals have grown more popular in Ireland
Irish Examiner
19-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
The Mick Clifford Podcast: What have Irish women been saying about their health?
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Irish Examiner's Feelgood supplement, a major survey of women's health in Ireland was undertaken by the newspaper. Some of the results were surprising, some worrying, and a couple were quite shocking.
Irish Examiner
19-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
What is the current state of women's health in Ireland? We found out
The majority of Irish women feel they are in good physical and mental shape, exercise regularly, and want to drink less. The snapshot of women's health was captured by an Irish Examiner Ipsos B&A nationwide opinion poll. Among the main findings are: Two out of three have children — the average is 2.29 — but there are signs that family size will continue to fall (less than half of mums with a single child would like to have a second); Some 4% of the 1,000 women surveyed are pregnant; Three out of four women over age 35 have experienced menopause, but only half of women in perimenopause or menopause seek medical/healthcare professional advice or support; Evidence of differences in treatment related to the gender of a GP, with women who saw a male GP three times as critical (17% vs 6%) of quality of care as opposed to those who saw a female GP; There is large support for State-funded hormone replacement therapy programme, but 48% of women in menopause have used it (38% of women currently in menopause); 38% have been to a healthcare professional about mental health in recent years, and there are difficulties accessing qualified professionals; One in three feel positively about Ozempic and a quarter would consider using it. 41% feel it is difficult to get a GP appointment. Some 65% said they felt prenatal care access was good or very good, with just 33% saying the same about breastfeeding supports. Women entering menopause now are far more likely to get medical advice than those over age 60 were. Almost half the 1,078 women surveyed said it is easier to talk about mental health struggles now, but 13% said access to help was very good in their experience. Learnings So what can we learn from the overall findings? Analysing the results by age shows the positive impact of better information, better education, and women feeling empowered to ask more about their own health. While 31% of women who answered on experiences of postpartum care in pregnancy described their experience as poor or very poor, the Ipsos analysis showed this was 'more so for women in their 50s and 60s'. It is very sad those women still carry that trauma with them, and that is remains vivid enough to be shared during a survey undertaken only last month. Feelgood editor Irene Feighan reflected on the findings, noting the mix of positive and negative areas. She said: 'The survey revealed that some healthcare developments are reaching younger women, including easier access to lactation consultations and breastfeeding support services. I hope such improvements will continue to expand to a point where women in Ireland will experience the world-class healthcare they deserve. She welcomed the evidence that 'the majority are taking responsibility for their health and actively seeking solutions' for themselves. However, she also said the responses highlight what is missing from services for many women. 'Three in 10 said information provided about postpartum recovery and self care was either poor or very poor, while almost 25% said support received for infant care was lacking,' she said. Other less health-focused questions revealed changing attitudes to ageing and to family. One in 10 said their GP offers cosmetic treatments and one in seven said that their dentist does. Looking at treatment, 10% has had Botox, and one in 16 had lip fillers, with Ipsos finding one in eight have had either treatment. Interestingly, more women think their peers are having work done than the data shows is really the case. However, 43% said they would not use the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic, and only 11% said they would really think about taking the drug. The data also shows a continuing decline in alcohol-use, with 36% of women aged 25 to 34 saying they want to reduce the amount of alcohol they drink. Only 5% of women of all ages said they drink everyday or nearly every day. Family When Feelgood launched 25 years ago, the fertility rate in Ireland was 1.9 births per woman. It is now 1.5. This was reflected in women's answers, with the average family size reported at 2.29 children per family. Struggles with infertility were reflected throughout the survey, between women talking about the cost of treatment — only 9% said it is reasonable in Ireland — as well as limited access to care. Some 76% said they were in favour of the State funding fertility treatment. Many people will have seen the excellent Housewife of the Year documentary recently in cinemas or on RTÉ. Today, just one in eight of the women who answered described themselves as working full time in the home. Some 60% are in workplaces, with the overall figures showing 36% working full time and 21% working part time. Only 2% of the overall numbers said they were self employed and this figure included farmers. Students made up 6% of those who answered overall, and accounted for 41% of women aged 18 to 24 years old. The survey does not delve into reasons why some areas of women's health have seen so many changes in recent years, but there are hints. Analysis of the data on whether women had a good or poor experience in seeking perimenopause treatment shows 24% who felt their treatment was poor had seen a male GP versus 15% who had been to a female GP or healthcare professional. It is not to suggest all male doctors are indifferent to these symptoms, but it clearly has made a difference to many patients that the majority of GPs are women, according to the Medical Council of Ireland. It is noteworthy many services women want more of — mental health care, post-natal hubs, fertility clinics — are non-hospital services. Access to these services is changing, as the HSE creates essentially a second healthcare system in parallel to hospitals under Sláintecare. New mothers living near Listowel, Kerry, can get post-natal care in a clinic there without going to Tralee maternity unit. Older women living near Nenagh, Tipperary can benefit from menopausal and other women's health care from the clinic. If you are giving birth in a small number of counties including Cork, Kerry, and Waterford, you can opt for home birth under schemes such as community midwifery or integrated hospital system. What this survey shows is how localised some of these improvements are, with women in a number of areas not seeing the changes on the ground yet. The survey was carried out by Ipsos B+A for Feelgood, with a nationally representative sample of 1,078 women aged over 16.
Irish Examiner
19-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Women putting off having children until they feel they can afford it
A quarter of women surveyed will delay having children until they've reached certain financial or career goals. This jumps to 65% of women aged between 18-24. An Irish Examiner Ipsos B+A survey also found that just under half of mums would like to have more children. Younger mums and those from less affluent backgrounds were most keen to extend their families. Some 70% of women aged over 35 were not keen to have more children. The survey of 1,000 women also found differences in experience for pregnant women between pre-natal services and care after they have their baby. It found attitudes to pregnancy services were broadly positive, with good information and accessibility. However, feedback on postnatal care was more mixed, with one in three saying they had inadequate access to breastfeeding help, for example. Pre-natal care includes GP visits, hospital or community clinic care, and other supports. Some 65% of women said access to these supports was good or very good in their local area, with women from across Ireland surveyed. Similarly, 59% said the information they received was good or very good. However, some women raised concerns about limited options in terms of giving birth, referring to homebirths or birth doulas. Some 36% of women questioned said access to those alternatives, including delivery without pain medication was poor or very poor. In answering questions about birth, 68% of women who have given birth rated support and guidance given throughout labour as very good or good. Communication, however, was raised as a concern, with 10% of women rating communication at this time as poor or very poor, and only 20% saying this was very good. Gaps were reported in care after pregnancy, despite changes in how these services were offered now. While 60% of women said care in hospitals just after birth was good or very good, this dropped to 33% when asked about access to breastfeeding or lactation consultant services after returning home. Some 39% of women said the quality of follow-up care at home from any healthcare worker was fair, poor or very poor. Just under half (45%) of women aged 25-34 reported concerns about postpartum care, compared to 55% of this age group having positive experiences. Poor or very poor care after birth was more likely to be reported by women in their 50s and 60s now looking back, the survey showed. These findings reflect those in the National Maternity Experience Survey in 2020, which identified gaps nationally in postnatal care. The HSE set up a pilot scheme of post-natal hubs, including in Listowel, Co Kerry, in response to that survey. The Irish Examiner's Feelgood supplement celebrates 25 years this year. The survey was carried out by Ipsos B+A for Feelgood, with a nationally representative sample of 1,078 women aged over 16. Read More Financial constraints and housing putting people off having children, survey finds
