110: Women’s Health Month Special: Understanding PMOS (PCOS) & Endometriosis

Welcome back to Appearance Matters: The Podcast! To mark Women’s Health Month, Ella speaks to Dr Sophie Williams, Assistant Subject Lead for Psychology at University of Derby, and Trainee Health Psychologist, Dr Laura Falconer, UK-based Health Psychologist at Reed Wellbeing, and Dr Melissa Pehlivan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the InsideOut Institute, University of Sydney, Australia about their research into the conditions PMOS (formerly PCOS) and endometriosis. They talk about how these conditions affect far more than just the reproductive system, including how they can lead to feeling a lack of control, impact quality of life and a person's relationship with their body. The conversation also covers the renewed NHS Women's Health Strategy, and how its proposed changes aim to improve research and move towards more integrated, holistic care. Finally, they discuss what approaches can help with the psychological impact of PMOS/PCOS and endometriosis, and how health professionals can best support patients by making them feel validated. If you’re interested in finding out more about the Appearance Matters Conference, hosted by the Centre for Appearance Research (9th – 11th of June 2026), click here: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/research/centres-and-groups/appearance/news-and-events/am-conference • Renewed NHS Women’s Health Strategy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewed-womens-health-strategy-for-england • Guardian article on PCOS name change: https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2026/may/12/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos-new-name-polyendocrine-metabolic-ovarian-syndrome-pmos Find out more about Laura, Melissa and Sophie’s research: • https://www.derby.ac.uk/staff/sophie-williams/ • https://insideoutinstitute.org.au/about-us/team/melissa-pehlivan • https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Laura-Falconer-2 Support with PCOS/PMOS and endometriosis: • Verity PCOS: https://www.verity-pcos.org.uk/ • PCOS AA: https://www.pcosaa.org/ • Endometriosis UK: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/ • BSGE (British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy): https://www.bsge.org.uk/ Cover image made using Canva Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com Episode developed and produced by Ella Guest