There are around 13 million women in the U.K are either peri- or post-menopausal. That’s the shocking finding that comes from research conducted by the Independent Nuffield Health Trust
A festival aimed at improving awareness of women’s health issues is due to return for its second year due to popular demand. The Midlife Festival is set to return this October and will feature TV Presenters Nadia Sawalha and Davina McCall as well as a number of leading menopause and women’s health experts
The event which is free to all members of the public due to the important issues it will be covering will be broadcast online on the Midlife Festival website from the 10th to the 14th of October and will coincide with Menopause and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There will be over twenty-five well known speakers and experts who will share their knowledge and wisdom on how women can lead a healthier, happier and more positive life through their forties, fifties and beyond.
The event which was well attended last year by over five thousand women had ninety five percent of the attendees stating when asked that they will definitely be joining again this year due to the amount of information and in-depth knowledge that they gained from the speakers last year.
There has been plenty of positive feedback from people who attended the event last year from people who couldn’t thank the organisers enough for the amount of information and guidance they were given from the experts to help them prepare and lead healthier lives. This way they will be more aware of the different signs and symptoms they should look out for and when they should go and seek medical advice.
The festival was originally created in 2021 by an online platform for women over forty which was founded in 2016 by Katie Taylor after her own debilitating perimenopausal symptoms were misdiagnosed as depression. She had to give up her career before she set out to ensure that no other women would suffer in the same way she did.
Katie says:
“We’re finally seeing a seismic shift in the narrative around what it means to be a woman in your 40s, 50s and beyond.
“For too long, midlife women have been made to feel invisible in society, have suffered in silence with often debilitating symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, whilst taking on their fair share of the ‘sandwich generation’ burden – juggling caring for children and ageing parents, while also trying to manage their work and home lives too.
‘”The Midlife Festival’ is about shining a spotlight on the woman in the middle, amplifying our voices, and celebrating all the positives that this next stage in our lives has to offer.”
Amongst the speakers included at this year’s event are:
Davina McCall – TV Broadcaster and passionate menopause campaigner
Kat Farmer – Fashion Stylist, Blogger and Author of The Sunday Times Bestseller – Get Changed
Nadia Sawalha – TV Personality, Actress and YouTuber
Ruby Hammer MBE – Global Makeup Artist, Brand Founder and Beauty Expert
Prof. Tim Spector OBE – Epidemiologist, Author of The Sunday Times Bestseller – Spoon Fed and Co-Founder of the Zoe app
Emma Bardwell – Nutritionist and Health Writer, Co-Author of The Perimenopause Solution
Lavina Mehta MBE – Personal Trainer & Wellness Coach
Dr Joanna Franks – Consultant General Surgeon specialising in breast and oncoplastic surgery
Jacynth Bassett – Award winning Founder and CEO of The Bias Cut, the first truly age-inclusive online style boutique and the movement ‘Ageism Is Never In Style®
Dani Binnington – Wellbeing Expert, Yoga Teacher, Podcaster and Founder of the ‘Superfood Supperclub’
Prof. Nick Panay – Consultant Gynaecologist with a special interest in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Menopause and Menstrual Disorders
Petra Coveney – Yoga Teacher & Trainer, Founder of Menopause Yoga™ and Author of ‘Menopause Yoga – a holistic guide to supporting women on their menopause journey,’
Dr Shahzadi Harper – GP, Founder of The Harper Clinic and Co Author of The Perimenopause Solution
Alison Jensen-Goodall – Clarins Virtual Boutique Beauty Coach Specialist
Dr Shirin Lakhani – GP, Award-Winning Aesthetic Dr & Women’s Health Advocate Embarrassing Bodies 2022
Dr Haitham Hamoda – Consultant Gynaecologist and Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery
Dr Hélène Menagé – Consultant Dermatologist
Prof. Philip Sarrel – Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine
Kate Moryoussef – Womens ADHD Lifestyle Coach, EFT Practitioner and Podcaster
Ani Naqvi – Holistic Transformational Coach, Survivor of the Asian Tsunami and Founder of The Ultimate Results Group
Dr Aziza Sesay – GP Educator, Mentor and a health prevention and education advocate. ‘Talks with Dr Sesay’
Dr Hannah Short – GP, Accredited Specialist in Menopause & Premenstrual Disorders & Author of The Complete Guide to POI and Early Menopause
Jane Simpson – Continence Nurse Specialist at The London Clinic and author of The Pelvic Floor Bible
Dr Aimee Vyas – Aesthetic Doctor and Educator, Cosmetic Skin Specialist & Co-Founder of the Black Aesthetics Advisory Board
Adele Johnston – Nutritionist and Positive Psychology Coach
Rosie Wilby – Award-winning Comedian, Podcaster and Author of The Breakup Monologues
Dr Tonye Wokoma – Consultant in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Community Gynaecology
If you’d like to find out more about this festival, please visit www.themidlifefestival.com
