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A new episode of the ‘Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This?’ podcast is out today.

Thank you to @profjoyceharper for inviting me to contribute.
#worldmenopauseday
#mht
#hrt
#menopausemyths
#mythbusting

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A few days at the GLOW 2026 conference that I’ll be thinking about for a very long time ❤️

The most moving part of the conference was taking part in the first ever GLOW (Global Women’s Health Research Society) Film Festival. The Power in Pregnancy and Bereavement screening included The Power of Words, a film I was involved in developing, and It was such a privilege to take part in the panel discussion afterwards with an amazing group of women: Nehla Djellouli, Mary Kinney, Tafadzwa Melissa, and Uchenna Gwacham-Anisiobi. The discussion ended with the 2026 Baby Loss Awareness Week Wave of Light. Coming together in that space, to remember babies who have died, and to acknowledge the families who carry those losses, was extraordinarily moving. I’m not sure how I managed to hold it together on stage but I absolutely sobbed afterwards. So much of my research is about the language we use around pregnancy loss — the words that can make people feel recognised and supported, and those that can compound grief or leave people feeling that their experiences don’t matter. Being part of that conversation, and that collective moment of remembrance in a room full of people who really care, was both powerfully hopeful and heartbreaking.

The following day, I chaired an interactive workshop asking: What do we mean by ‘medical misogyny’? Again, alongside another lineup of amazing women, NHS England’s Dr Sue Mann, Stephanie O’Donohue from @_tiger_uk and my idol and colleague @drshematariq , we explored what the term helps us recognise, what it risks obscuring, and how we can make it more useful in research, policy, clinical practice, and advocacy. More on this soon, I hope!

What connected the two sessions for me was bringing experiences to the forefront. We have to keep probing which experiences are acknowledged, how they are understood, and what happens next.

Very grateful to the organisers for prioritising these important conversations, and to Shema for taking phots when I always forget and then kick myself!

#babylossawarenessweek #waveoflight #womenshealth #pregnancyloss #womensupportwomen

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As HIV physician and researcher Shema Tariq, PhD, FRCP, reassures her patients who may be experiencing changes of menopause: "Starting hormone treatment is very, very different than antiretroviral therapy." @drshematariq breaks down the ways that menopause hormone therapy is more flexible and forgiving than a daily HIV med regimen in this month's #TransitionTuesday video clip.

The final Tuesday of each month is our time for demystifying, learning about, and celebrating #menopause and related life transitions for women and other people living with #HIV who have menstruated. We'll be back with another in October!

Learn more: bit.ly/WomenAgingPositively

#womenlikeus #agingpositively #womenempoweringwomen #transitiontuesdays

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I love my annual visit from @drshematariq and @bagtaylor (Shema and Ian) with the Fabulous Faris and Lovely Lyra. They holiday in Norfolk every year and each summer come and spend a few fun and precious hours with us. I’ve seen these Hypnobabies grow up and the yearly photos show them a wee bit bigger each visit. I entice them over with home bakes and my giant bubble machine. We also go next door and climb trees and make mayhem on swings, we even picked damsons this year. Normally we do pond dipping but that’s a bit dry after the heatwaves……hopefully next year. It’s a lovely highlight to my summer when my Hypnobirthing families come visiting. Like I’m an honorary grandmother (or Fairy Godmother as they call me sometimes!🤣).

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What should be the role of lab tests in figuring out whether a person is in perimenopause? In this #TransitionTuesday clip, HIV physician and researcher Shema Tariq, PhD, FRCP, breaks down how she approaches diagnosing perimenopause depending on the person’s age.

The final Tuesday of each month is our time for demystifying, learning about, and celebrating #menopause and related life transitions for women and other people living with #HIV who have menstruated. More to come in July!

Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/WomenAgingPositively

#womenlikeus #agingpositively

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If you want to have a child - these podcasts may help. And there’s a new series out now. Starting with Audrey Gaskins explaining nutrition. And next week @nickmacklon explaining fertility tests. There is also more information in my last book - Your Fertile Years. #fertility #ttc #pregnancy. @mr.tim.child @tobytriceracing @drshematariq @thislife_abridged @lucyvdwiel @the_stork_and_i @gatewaywomen @lifeofpoi_ @talkswithdrsesay @gynaegeek @eshre_irhec

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How do you know what perimenopause looks like when there are no data on it for people with your experience? In this month's #transitiontuesday clip, Conversations with Kim founder (and The Well Project community advisory board member) @perfectlyimperfect_kim shares about perimenopause from her perspective as a woman living with HIV since birth.

We are claiming the final Tuesday of each month to demystify, learn more about, and celebrate menopause and related life transitions for women and other people living with #HIV who menstruate. Stay tuned for more in June!

Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/WomenAgingPositively

#womenlikeus #agingpositively #womenempoweringwomen

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Welcome to #TransitionTuesday! We will use these moments to demystify, learn more about, and celebrate menopause and related life transitions for women and other people living with #HIV who menstruate.

Check out this clip from our powerful 2025 HIV and Menopause Roundtable, and hear @thewellprojecthiv stakeholder liaison Bridgette Picou, LVN, ACLPN, talk with a group of experts about a common concern for women: whether troubling symptoms of perimenopause mean their #HIV is no longer under control. And stay tuned for more, as we continue to roll out TransitionTuesday in the coming months!

More ➡️ bit.ly/WomenAgingPositively

#WomenLikeUs #AgingPositively

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Meet our Mum of the Week, Dr Shema Tariq ✨

Nominated by her friend Milli Richards 💙 Who used to host these amazing Motherly Love support groups, where they first met. Shema had her seven month old Faris with her that day, having just found out she’d conceived naturally after years of fertility struggles. Some meetings are just meant to be.

Shema is a doctor, academic, researcher, mum of three and someone who has used her platform to talk openly about IVF, baby loss and infertility at a time when those conversations were rarely had. She’s also writing a book exploring what the speculum tells us about society’s attitudes to women’s bodies and anyone with a cervix (we can’t wait to read it).

As Milli puts it: “Shema has done so much in the infertility space through her channel. She’s also a doctor working in menopause research and so much more. And now she’s writing a book about the speculum!!! Just an all round inspiring woman. Well worth celebrating.”

Mums get it done and Dr Shema Tariq is more proof!

Follow her at @drshematariq and if you know a brilliant mum we should feature next, message us 🫶

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This is an event I look forward to every single year 💛

Our Paths to Parenthub Virtual Summit is back on Sunday 26th April to mark International Donor Conception Awareness Day & I’d love for you to join us.

Whether you’re just starting to explore donor conception or further along the path, this afternoon is designed to hold space for all of it. It’s fully online which means you can join from anywhere in the world, from the comfort of your own sofa & with a partner if you have one. If you can’t make it all live, you’ll have 2weeks to watch back after.

Here’s what we’ve got packed into one afternoon:

A recipient parent panel sharing lived experiences across egg, sperm & embryo donation. You’ll also hear from an egg donor & sperm donor with their stories, hopes & perspectives. Plus, what is always the highlight, our donor conceived panel sharing what it means to grow up donor conceived through egg & sperm donation.

On the professional side, we have an incredible session on epigenetics & bonding with two absolute powerhouses - Julianne Boutaleb, Perinatal Psychologist, & Dr Helen O’Neill.

There are breakout sessions to choose from: one for those navigating the solo path to parenthood with Mel Johnson & Natasha Williams, & one for couples, where Julianne will guide you through how to navigate donor conception together at every stage.

We’ll also have a keynote looking ahead to talking about donor conception with your child & wider network, with guidance & support for conversations that can feel daunting.

Plus our virtual resource vault, input from this year’s supporter Avenues &, at the end of the afternoon, an optional connection & drinks session where you can meet others on this path & catch up with Hayley, Eleanor & me 🥂

We have just a handful of early bird tickets left. That means you can access all of the above for just £27 as a Paths to Parenthub member, or £37 as a non-member. Every year the feedback blows us away &, with all of us leading such busy lives, it’s such a unique opportunity to spend an afternoon immersed in these stories, perspectives & conversations.

Follow the link in my bio to grab your early bird ticket before they go 🔗

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Part 2 of @drshematariq’s epic wardrobe declutter. Clothes are size 12-16 and shoes are size 6/39. Shop Shema’s rail at @the.reloved.club Sat 21st March at @sohotheatre Walthamstow.

📆 Saturday 21st March 2026
🕚 11am - 4pm
📍 Soho Theatre Walthamstow, 186 Hoe Street, London, E17 4QH
Wheelchair accessible
Dog friendly
🎟️ FREE ENTRY

#therelovedclub #E17 #prelovedfashion #walthamstow

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💫 Shema

Where to start with this powerhouse! Shema is a Principal Research Fellow at UCL, a clinician academic, researcher of Pandemics, HIV and menopause and a leading voice in women’s health.

She is currently working on her book about the history and present state of women’s health and has recently signed with renowned literary agent Curtis Brown who will now be supporting her through this exciting journey!!

The images we created will be used to support this venture as well as to elevate her vast expertise and show the world what an absolute QUEEN she is!!!

The session was so much fun! The conversation was flowing, no topic left unturned of course! The outfit choices were a plenty, our favourite being her stunning ‘Vampires wife’ dress with her signature bold red lip, she just looks absolutely sensational!

The hint of vine green sofa offsets the red and a bare plaster backdrop for a neutral warmth to bring all the focus to Shema.

I love the challenge of showing the many sides of one human. It’s not always easy in a still. I really wanted to show her incredible intellect and the seriousness of her work alongside her delightful playful nature and approachability, which I think we have achieved.

Spending time with women like Shema is hands down the best part of my job. I learn so much from each client and it’s always so interesting hearing about another woman’s experiences and expertise.

It was a privilege to create these with you @drshematariq x x

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