Recent writing: The world’s first Vagina Musuem, and how periods affect your sleep

The back end of 2019 was a quieter period for me, at least in terms of journalism. In November I visited the world’s first Vagina Museum on behalf of Refinery29. Then, between Christmas and New Year they asked me to investigate the many ways that having a period can affect your sleep, for their sleep-themed Lights Out week in early January.

The World’s First Vagina Museum Is Much More Than One Glittery Tampon – for Refinery29:

The wait is finally over. After two and a half years, three pop-up exhibitions and a £50,000 crowdfunding campaign, the Vagina Museum is finally opening the doors to its permanent home. Situated in London’s Camden Market, it’s the world’s first physical museum space dedicated to vulvas, vaginas and all things gynaecological.

Although pre-launch events have been taking place at the museum’s premises since 5th October, its official opening is marked by the launch of its taboo-busting exhibition, Muff Busters: Vagina Myths and How to Fight Them. We had a sneak preview to find out what you can expect.

Continue reading at Refinery29…

Let’s Count The (Very) Many Ways That Having Periods Can Affect Your Sleep – for Refinery29:

Is your period keeping you up at night? From headaches, depression and anxiety, to cramps, digestive issues and breast tenderness, the rollercoaster ride of our fluctuating hormones doesn’t just switch off when we go to bed. According to research by the US National Sleep Foundation, 30 per cent of women experience disturbed sleep during their periods, while 23 per cent report sleep issues during the week before menstruation.

“I experience a multitude of symptoms about two weeks before my period,” Kirsty tells me. “As far as sleep goes, I initially go through insomnia, then in the week before I feel the need for ten hours a night – which never happens – and still find it difficult to function.”

Continue reading at Refinery29…