The Science We Missed: How Menstrual Blood Is Changing Medicine

For centuries, menstrual blood was largely ignored in medicine.

Not studied.
Not prioritised.
Often dismissed entirely.

And yet — it may hold some of the most promising insights into human health, repair and disease.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is incredibly common — but the way we talk about it hasn’t always kept up with the science.

Many people are told BV is simply a bacterial imbalance that happens randomly.

While that’s partly true, newer research suggests there’s more going on.

Adenomyosis is a common yet under-recognised condition that can significantly impact daily life.

It occurs when endometrial-like tissue grows within the muscular wall of the uterus. This can change how the uterus functions — affecting its structure, contractility, and inflammatory environment.

Endometriosis is increasingly recognised as a condition that extends beyond the reproductive system.

While hormones — particularly estrogen — play a significant role, the immune system is also deeply involved in how the condition develops and how symptoms are experienced.

One area of growing research interest is the role of mast cells.

Endometriosis is a complex inflammatory condition that can affect many aspects of a person’s health and wellbeing. For those living with chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, hormonal fluctuations and digestive symptoms, effective management often requires more than a single treatment approach.

Recent national reporting has raised serious questions about endometriosis surgery in Australia — including concerns about whether some procedures may have been unnecessary or not appropriately indicated. We recognise how unsettling this may feel, particularly for those who have already undergone surgery, are considering surgery, or have spent years advocating to be heard about their pain.

For many years, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was primarily framed as a fertility disorder.

But long-term data tells a more complex story.

Recent findings from a longitudinal study that has followed women with PCOS since the 1980s reinforce what metabolic research has been suggesting for decades:

PCOS is a lifelong endocrine and metabolic condition.

We often associate “midlife health” with our 50s and 60s.
But biologically, the groundwork for future resilience is laid much earlier.

The decade between 36 and 46 represents a critical inflection point in women+ health. Many physiological shifts begin quietly during this window — long before obvious symptoms appear.

For many women+, an endometriosis diagnosis is rarely the end of the story.

Instead, it often sits alongside a growing list of other conditions — autoimmune disease, bladder pain, hormonal mood changes, connective tissue disorders, chronic fatigue, widespread pain, or gut dysfunction. Individually, these diagnoses are frequently treated as separate, unrelated problems.

If you’ve found it difficult to stay consistent with your health — skipping the morning walk, cancelling the class you meant to attend, feeling overwhelmed rather than motivated — you’re not failing.

You’re responding to the environment you’re in.

Endometriosis is often described as “tissue growing where it shouldn’t.” But this simplified explanation misses what actually drives symptoms for many women+ — especially persistent or severe pain.

One emerging area of research focuses on vascular endometriosis, where endometriosis lesions interact closely with blood vessels.

Understanding this can help explain why endometriosis behaves so differently from person to person.

Menopause isn’t an ending — it’s an evolution.

Every CIS Woman, and some gender diverse and queer people, will experience menopause, yet it’s one of the least discussed and most misunderstood transitions in health.

At Elgin House, we see menopause not as a decline, but as a biological and emotional evolution. It’s a natural process — one that deserves informed, evidence-based care and a compassionate approach.

8 Micro-Habits That Gently Support Gut Health (Without Doing Too Much)

When gut health conversations become loud, extreme, or trend-driven, it’s easy to feel like you need to overhaul your entire life to see change.

The truth is quieter — and far more sustainable.

Endometriosis and ADHD: Exploring an Overlooked Connection

Why pain, hormones, neurodivergence and diagnosis delays may intersect more than we realise.

For many women+, living with endometriosis already means navigating chronic pain, fatigue, brain fog, and emotional strain — often while feeling dismissed or misunderstood. Increasingly, research is suggesting that for some, these experiences may overlap with neurodivergence, particularly Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The Vaginal Microbiome: Why It Matters More Than You Think

And how gut health, hormones, and lifestyle shape vaginal wellbeing for women+.

For many women+, vaginal health is something we’re taught to manage quietly — a topic often wrapped in shame, misinformation, or silence. But the science is clear: the vaginal microbiome is at the centre of reproductive, hormonal, sexual, and urinary health.

Public vs Private Hospital Birth: How to Choose the Right Path for Your Pregnancy Journey.

An Elgin House guide for women+ and birthing people navigating one of the first major decisions of parenthood.

Planning a pregnancy or preparing to welcome a baby brings a cascade of decisions — and one of the earliest is where, and how, you want to give birth.

In Australia, almost all births take place in hospitals, and the vast majority occur within the public system. Both public and private pathways offer safe, high-quality care — but the experiences, costs, choices, and models of support can differ significantly.

Cervical Cancer: One of the Most Preventable Cancers — Yet Too Many Women+ Are Missing Their Screening

Why your cervical screening matters, what puts you at risk, and how we can close the prevention gap.

Cervical cancer is highly preventable — and yet thousands of women+ in Australia are still being diagnosed each year.
Despite major advances in vaccination, screening, and early treatment, one barrier remains: many people simply aren’t getting screened regularly.

And how a balanced lunch can transform your energy, hormones, and mood for the rest of the day.

An insightful look at hormonal, biological and lifestyle factors shaping brain health for women+.

Understanding the imbalance

Globally, more than two-thirds of people living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are women+. Though longer life expectancy plays a role, it’s not the whole story. Emerging research suggests that being a woman+ is itself a risk factor for Alzheimer’s, driven by hormonal shifts, vascular changes, immune-inflammation, and social circumstances.

It’s not just ageing — midlife matters.

A Whole-Body Look at Seasonal Allergies

Spring in Australia can be beautiful — but for many, it also brings itchy eyes, blocked noses, sneezing fits, headaches and that foggy, exhausted feeling that hay fever can bring.

While pollen, dust and environmental triggers get most of the blame, there’s another piece of the puzzle many people don’t consider: your diet.