Real Talk | The Women's Health Club Podcast

🎙️ REAL TALK PODCASTEpisode 3: Jenny Powell — “I waited too long…”There’s something powerful about hearing a woman say: “I thought I just had to get on with it.”In this episode of Real Talk, Abi Owers and Dr Mahshid Amiry sit down with broadcaster Jenny Powell for one of the most honest conversations yet.This isn’t just a story about a hysterectomy. It’s about what happens when women put themselves last for too long.Jenny shares the reality behind years of ignored symptoms, misdiagnosis, and the moment she finally said enough is enough. From flooding and exhaustion to a 1kg uterus caused by fibroids and adenomyosis, this is the side of women’s health we don’t talk about enough.But it doesn’t stop there.This episode moves beyond surgery into something bigger: burnout, hormones, anxiety, social media pressure, and the shift towards slower, more intentional living.If you’ve ever normalised symptoms, delayed getting help, or told yourself “it’s probably just perimenopause”… this conversation might change everything.🔍 What we coverThe symptoms Jenny ignored for years — and why so many women do the sameThe reality of hysterectomy: before, during and afterWhy women’s health is still being dismissed and underfundedThe dangerous rise of self-diagnosisRecovery, hormones and the truth about healing timelinesBurnout, anxiety and modern life overwhelmYoga, breathwork and the shift to slower livingSocial media, comparison and confidence in the next generationWhy “you are the prize” is advice every woman needs to hear⏱️ Key moments & timestamps00:01 — Introduction What this episode is really about: more than just hysterectomy02:00 — The moment everything changed Posting from her hospital bed and reaching millions of women03:10 — “Women put themselves last” Why Jenny delayed treatment for years03:50 — The symptoms no one talks about Flooding, pain, exhaustion — and thinking it was “normal”06:49 — The system is failing women Long waits, lack of trust, and going private09:01 — The danger of self-diagnosis Why not everything is “just perimenopause”11:08 — Recovery reality check Going back to work too soon and the crash that followed13:20 — The year it took to feel ‘right’ again Hormones, mindset and true recovery15:47 — “Yoga changed my life” Why it became her number one recommendation22:27 — Burnout and modern life Why we’re all doing too much — and what needs to change25:10 — Social media & authenticity Why being real matters more than ever37:45 — “You are the prize” The advice she’d give her younger self42:15 — Slow living vs the ‘matrix’ Why we need to reconnect with nature and simplicity54:09 — Final advice When to seek help and why persistence matters

In this episode of Real Talk by The Women’s Health Club, hosts Abi Owers, Co-Founder of The Women’s Health Club, and Dr Mahshid Amiry, Consultant Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist, are joined by Professor Vaibhav Modgil, one of the UK’s leading authorities in male sexual and reproductive health.Men’s health is still an area many people find difficult to talk about openly. Yet issues such as erectile dysfunction, penile curvature and sexual health concerns affect millions of men and can sometimes be an early signal of wider health problems.In this honest and evidence-based conversation, Abi and Dr Amiry sit down with Professor Modgil to unpack some of the topics men are often too embarrassed to raise with their doctors.Together they discuss:• Why erectile dysfunction is far more common than people realise • The surprising link between erectile dysfunction and heart health • Why ED can sometimes be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease • Peyronie’s disease – what it is, why it happens and when to seek help • Modern treatment options available for penile curvature • How penile implants work and how they can transform quality of life for men with severe erectile dysfunction • Why earlier conversations about men’s health could lead to better long-term outcomesProfessor Modgil is part of the highest-volume andrology team in the North of England, specialising in advanced diagnosis and surgical treatment for complex male urological and andrological conditions, including erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease and other reconstructive urological conditions.Alongside his clinical work, he is Editor in Chief of Trends in Urology and Men’s Health and an Honorary Clinical Professor at the University of Manchester, contributing internationally to research, teaching and surgical training in andrology and reconstructive urology.This episode aims to break down stigma around men’s sexual health and encourage more open conversations between men, their partners and healthcare professionals.Because understanding men’s health is not just important for men. It matters for relationships, families and long-term wellbeing too.This episode of Real Talk by The Women’s Health Club is sponsored by HCA Healthcare UK.About HCA Healthcare: When your health matters, so does your hospital. At HCA Healthcare UK's renowned family of private hospitals, you can be seen in as little as 24 hours by leading specialists from orthopaedics to women's health, with fully personalised treatment built around you and same-day tests and scans. Search HCA Manchester to book with your local private hospital, outpatients or medical centre and get the HCA UK Treatment.About the guestProfessor Vaibhav Modgil is a world-renowned expert in male sexual and reproductive health based in Manchester. He graduated from the University of Southampton before completing higher surgical training in Birmingham and Manchester, followed by specialist fellowships in andrology in Australia and London, and advanced erectile dysfunction surgery training in Miami.He currently serves as:• Honorary Clinical Professor – University of Manchester • Editor in Chief – Trends in Urology and Men’s Health • Vice Chair – British Association of Urological Surgeons (AGUS) • Digital Strategy Lead – British Association of Urological Surgeons • Scientific Committee Member – The Urology FoundationProfessor Modgil regularly lectures internationally and has trained surgeons across the UK, Europe, Australasia and the United States.

Welcome to Real Talk, the podcast from the Women’s Health Club, hosted by Abi Owers and by Dr Amiry.Abi Owers is Co-Founder of The Women’s Health Club and an advocate and activator for women’s health, dedicated to inspiring women to live healthier and happier lives. She is joined by Dr Mahshid Amiry, Consultant Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist with a specialist interest in menstrual irregularities, hysteroscopy, hormonal health, adenomyosis, fibroids, abnormal uterine bleeding, menopause & HRT. She is passionate about women’s health and committed to improving women’s wellbeing.In this first episode, Abi and Dr Amiry are joined by entrepreneur Tanya Bardsley for a raw, honest and deeply human conversation about women’s health and the realities many women face behind closed doors.Tanya shares her journey through adenomyosis and fibroids, years of debilitating period pain, feeling dismissed by the healthcare system, and the impact this had on her mental health, identity and relationships. She speaks openly about breakdown, late ADHD diagnosis, sobriety, perimenopause, HRT and her decision to have a hysterectomy, alongside the mindset shifts, manifestation practices and lifestyle changes that helped her rebuild her life.Together, the conversation explores period health, cycle tracking, menopause, hormonal care, sobriety, mental resilience and why listening to symptoms matters just as much as test results.This episode is for anyone who has ever been told it is just your period, felt unheard, overwhelmed or disconnected from their body. It is about understanding what is normal, advocating for yourself and finding the right support at the right time.Because when women talk openly, change happens. This is Real Talk.Real Talk Episode 1 - Chapters:00:00 – Welcome to Real Talk00:39 – Tanya’s Diagnosis Journey02:59 – “It’s Just a Period”05:36 – What’s Normal and What’s Not07:37 – Breakdown and ADHD09:43 – Sobriety and Confidence10:59 – Mindset and Manifestation12:23 – Menopause Reframed13:26 – HRT and Hormone Care14:09 – Considering Hysterectomy15:46 – No Quick Fixes17:01 – Routines and Resilience18:22 – A Wake-Up Call19:52 – Mental Load and Burnout22:38 – Technology and Comparison24:04 – Alcohol After a Reset25:05 – Women’s Health Club Directory26:24 – Food and Hormone Changes27:25 – Types of Hysterectomy30:50 – Recovery and Healing32:39 – Hormones After Surgery33:56 – Manifestation in Practice36:09 – Social Life Without Alcohol38:29 – Redefining Midlife42:02 – Period Education43:56 – Advice to Younger Women45:12 – Alcohol and Identity46:30 – Confidence and Opportunity49:01 – Role Models Matter50:10 – Music and Motivation52:16 – Closing ThoughtsReal Talk is brought to you by The Women’s Health Club - a community connecting brilliant practitioners with brilliant women to enhance health, wellbeing and happiness.Disclaimer: This podcast is for information and discussion purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised medical guidance.Produced by: Snap and Natter© 2026 Real Talk, The Women’s Health Club. All rights reserved.