1. Let’s start with the classic: What’s your worst, funniest, or most awkward period story?

I was at a 21st party, living my best life, only to be told by a friend that I had a period stain on my cream sequined dress. When I went to the bathroom to see how bad the damage was,  I had (somehow) had a period explosion where most of my bum (size 14-16 bum for size reference) was covered in “spillage”, which had seeped through to the outside world! I was mortified and went home.

2. What have you demystified about your female body that you wish you knew when you were younger?

No one told me about period diarrhoea—I always thought I ate something funny the night before my period came

3. Have you been diagnosed with a women’s health condition (like endometriosis, PCOS, PMDD, etc.)? If so, how did you know something wasn’t right, and what was your journey like to get answers?

Yes, PCOS. Coincidentally, my diagnosis was purely by chance when I was in my late teens. I wanted to get on the birth control pill so I didn’t have my period for an event, and when the doctor asked details about my cycle, he realised it was irregular, ordered a blood test (to check testosterone levels) and when that came back normal, sent me for an ultrasound, which revealed I had small follicle cysts on my ovaries. Given I had follicles and irregular periods (being two out of the three factors to medically identify PCOS), I was diagnosed. Beyond this initial diagnosis, I haven’t been given too many answers other than what appears on social media and reading Monash University’s study on PCOS.

4. What was your diagnosis experience like?

It was very straight forward—I didn’t even know it was an issue until my doctor identified it!

5. How has your condition changed your daily life?

I’ve noticed the insulin resistance part of PCOS much more as I have aged, seeing how sugar in my body affects my energy levels and how my weight has fluctuated over the years. Equally, on the PCOS diagnosis overall, it is becoming more and more front of mind as I reach an age where children are a desire in the foreseeable future. Frankly, the diagnosis has made me more fearful than relieved—likely because I hadn’t experienced many issues at my time of diagnosis.

7. Have you tried anything that has helped you manage your symptoms?

Pilates has helped move my body and somewhat manage my weight, but it is a slow road

8. What’s one thing you wish more people understood about women’s health?

Actually, I wish I understood it more, rather than other people. Its taboo in my culture to speak about women’s health (even as a woman!) so I feel quite uneducated about this topic, despite being a part of the women who suffer from a women’s health condition.

9. If you could tell younger you one thing about your body, what would it be?

Don’t eat a carrot and cucumber a day just so you can lose weight! Your body is made just for you, cherish it and take care of it like you would with your most prized possession, and it will give you back that same love—tenfold!

10. When your body feels hard to live in, how do you take care of yourself?

A hot steamy bath, Sunday re-set facial or a sauna session, followed by massaging luxe oils into my body!