Immortal (Part I)

Our language shapes our world - and women’s health has often been defined by language rooted in bias, stigma, and myth. Why is there a growing movement to rename “hysterectomies”? What does “hysteria” really mean, and how did it silence generations of women? And why are doctors working to rename polycystic ovary syndrome today?In this episode of Anecdotal, we explore the surprising history behind gynaecological terms, from wandering wombs and “green sickness” to heavy menstrual bleeding and endometriosis. Joined by leading gynaecologist Dr. Talat Uppal, we uncover how language influences diagnoses, treatment, and even funding - and why changing a single word can change care.You can find Dr. Talat Uppal on LinkedIn, or refer to the links below for more of her incredible work: Women's Health Road Bleed Better & International Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Day Further reading: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/podcast-episode/hysterectomy-the-word-that-fails-women-suffering-heavy-periods/4e36logjg https://lens.monash.edu/@medicine-health/2025/05/30/1387624/pcos-affects-1-in-8-women-worldwide-yet-its-often-misunderstood-a-name-change-might-helphttps://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/name-change-for-pcos-under-discussion?feed=RACGPnewsGPArticles

This week on Anecdotal, I’m joined by the brilliant Dianne Morris - a midwife, advocate, and consultant with over 30 years of experience supporting women and families through the life-changing journeys of conception, pregnancy, birth, and parenting.Dianne’s career has taken her across the UK and Australia, where she’s worked within diverse communities and inside systems that weren’t always built with women - or women of colour - in mind. In this conversation, she shares the wisdom, stories, and hard-earned insights she’s gathered along the way: from helping women build emotional resilience around birth, to navigating fear, to recognising and advocating against bias in the maternity system.We also explore how to get informed without getting overwhelmed, what it really means to listen to your body in the birthing suite, and how to advocate for your needs - especially in moments when you might not feel seen or heard.Whether you’re preparing for birth, supporting someone you love, or simply curious about the future of maternal care, this episode is filled with compassion, perspective, and practical advice you won’t want to miss. Special thanks to Jonathan Skourletos for the audio production support. You can learn more about Dianne’s work or get in touch at https://www.diannemorris.com/

To wrap up the first season of Anecdotal, I sat down with Femtek Founder and CEO Olivia Orchowski to discuss the role of tech in closing the gender health gap. Olivia is not only a pioneer in women’s health tech in Australia - she is also a genuine example of values-driven leadership in action. In our chat, Olivia reflects on how her purpose-led approach has at times made it harder to secure funding. Topics include: navigating Australia’s tech industry, how tech can help solve the very problems it creates, and where to draw the line between helping women and pathologising normal parts of life. Anecdotal will return for a new season in a few weeks. In the meantime, consider rating, reviewing, or sharing the podcast with a friend.

Are breast implants safe? No one can seem to agree. On this episode, we explore the health risks associated with breast implants and we dive into the story of one company that put greed over everything, risking women’s lives to profit off poorly made breast implants for close to a decade. Also discussed: good news from the US as the Supreme Court unanimously rejects the effort to ban mifepristone. Special thanks to Jonathan Skourletos for the audio production support.

After a brief hiatus, we are back with the second part of the HeLa story. In 1990, the Supreme Court of California ruled that patients do not have a right to a share in profits made from their discarded body parts. In part II of Immortal, we explore the legal and ethical implications of the HeLa story. Also discussed: a new study reveals a reduced risk of head and neck cancers for men who have had the HPV vaccine. Special thanks to Jonathan Skourletos for the audio production support.

In 1951, doctors discovered HeLa cells and science was forever changed. In a matter of years, HeLa cells would be used to test the polio vaccine, exposed to nuclear explosions, and even sent to space. But the most incredible thing about HeLa cells is that they all came from the same woman.  In this two-part episode, Victoria discusses the science of HeLa cells (part I) and the ethical and legal implications still felt today (part II).  Also discussed: a recent update of the Women’s Health Initiative study confirms the safety of hormone replacement therapy for treating menopause symptoms in women under 60.  Special thanks to Jonathan Skourletos for the audio production support. 

Is birth control the best thing to ever happen to women, or are we guinea pigs in the world’s largest experiment? Is voicing qualms about the pill in today’s climate a betrayal to women? When it comes to birth control, the talking points - and the options - have remained largely unchanged for decades. Is it time for a change? Episode 6 of Anecdotal explores the public opinion - past and present - of hormonal birth control. From being blamed for promiscuity, to being hailed by eugenists as the cure to social ills, to accusations that it took away women’s only “morally neutral reason” for turning down sex, the pill has elicited criticism from all areas of the political spectrum for over 60 years. Also discussed: the forthcoming SCOTUS decision on mifepristone and what an AHM win could mean for the FDA’s authority. Special thanks to Jonathan Skourletos for the audio production support. Check out anecdotal.com.au for further reading and resources.

18 deaths and over 200,000 serious complications, including serious infection or miscarriage - this episode of Anecdotal tells the story of the Dalkon Shield: an intrauterine device used by millions of women in the 1970’s, despite glaring red flags throughout its development. The fallout would lead to hundreds of thousands of lawsuits and claims - including thousands from Australian women - leading to the biggest tort case since asbestos. We explore the development and testing of the device, the historical context that allowed it to acquire 10% of the US’s contraceptive market, and the catastrophic aftermath that followed the discovery of its risks - despite being on the market for fewer than five years, the Dalkon Shield’s legal and cultural legacy endures to this day. Also discussed: is Australia facing a shortage of copper IUDs? Special thanks to Jonathan Skourletos for the audio production support.

We’re back with part 2 of the Women’s History Month special, exploring the history of female doctors from the 1800’s to today. Topics include the push to allow women into medical school, the impacts of World War I (and subsequent conflicts) on women in medicine, and the story of a woman who posed as a man for decades in order to pursue a medical career. And the interview with Dr. Julia López Fuentes continues, as we discuss how the wars and conflicts of the 20th century moved women into and out of the workforce, and how the modern nursing profession can be traced back to the boredom of aristocratic women. Also discussed: President Joe Biden’s recent investment in women’s health research. Special thanks to Jonathan Skourletos for the audio production support.

Think female doctors are a recent phenomenon? Think again! For too long we've been lied to about the history of women in medicine, and it's time to set the record straight. In this two-part special, I explore the history of female doctors through the millennia - and I'm joined by Dr. Julia López Fuentes (friend of the pod, sister of the host, and holder of a PhD in history) to discuss everything from Europe's centuries-long witch hunts, to the impact of war on women's work in the 20th century. Also discussed: your lowered risk of death and adverse outcomes if your surgeon is a woman, and the disproportionate challenges women in medicine face today. Special thanks to Jonathan Skourletos for the audio production support, and to Dr. Julia Lopez Fuentes and Amy Yoshiko for their help with this episode.