Early pregnancy can feel confusing, intense and far longer than anyone warns you about. From that first positive test to the weeks of waiting, Googling and second-guessing everything your body does - it’s a lot.

In this episode, Between 2 Ovaries takes an honest, steady look at those early weeks. We talk about what’s happening behind the scenes before anything can be seen on a scan, why symptoms can feel so overwhelming so early on, and how to tell the difference between what’s common, what’s normal, and what deserves checking out.

This isn’t about perfect pregnancies or rigid rules. It’s about context, reassurance and cutting through the myths that make early pregnancy more stressful than it needs to be. Whether you’re newly pregnant, trying to conceive, or supporting someone who is, this is a calm, evidence-led conversation designed to help you feel a little less alone.

Listen when you’re ready, take a breath, and remember - early pregnancy doesn’t come with one “right” experience.

Links:

⁠⁠https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/pregnancy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/trying-for-a-baby/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/⁠

We talk a lot about hormones, periods, pregnancy and menopause, but hardly ever about what they’re doing to our mouths. And yet women experience oral health very differently to men, across every stage of life.

In this episode, we’re joined by dentist and researcher Janine Tazdi-Doughty to unpack why women can brush better, floss more, and still end up with worse oral health outcomes. We explore how hormonal shifts affect gums, teeth and saliva, why pregnancy and menopause can be turning points for oral health, and how pain conditions of the jaw and mouth disproportionately affect women.

We also zoom out to look at the bigger picture: stigma, inequality, access to care, and why certain groups of women face far greater risks, from single mothers and carers to survivors of abuse, sex workers, and LGBTQ+ communities. Along the way, we tackle myths, social media trends, dental tourism, and the things women are told to just “put up with”.

If you’ve ever wondered why no one warned you about bleeding gums, dry mouth, jaw pain, or why oral health is so rarely included in conversations about women’s bodies - this episode is for you.

Further reading & listening:

NHS – Oral health: ⁠https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/⁠

NHS – Pregnancy and dental care: ⁠https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/teeth-and-gums/⁠

NIHR – Oral and dental health research: ⁠https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/specialties/oral-and-dental-health.htm⁠

Find Janine:

Crown Bank Dental – ⁠www.crownbankdental.co.uk⁠

Instagram – ⁠https://www.instagram.com/doughty_janine/⁠

Women’s health is full of myths. So many, in fact, that it can feel like the truth is hiding somewhere under a pile of misconceptions, old wives’ tales, and outright nonsense. In the first episode of Season 2, we dig into why so much of what people “know” about periods, fertility, sex, and hormones isn’t actually true - and why that matters.

We separate fact from fiction, shine a light on the stigma that keeps misinformation alive, and explore what science really says about our bodies. It’s myth-busting, yes, but also a reminder of how little is actually taught, understood, or celebrated about women’s health.

Think you know your body? You might be surprised.

NHS – Menstrual health, contraception & fertility – ⁠https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods/⁠

Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG) – patient information – ⁠https://www.rcog.org.uk/patients/⁠

World Health Organization (WHO) – sexual and reproductive health resources – ⁠https://www.who.int/health-topics/sexual-and-reproductive-health⁠