The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health
The Lancet Group 17 episodes Oct 5, 2026
A podcast from the editors of The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health, in which they talk with the journal's authors and with researchers, policymakers, economists and politicians. Each episode explores the science, policy and practice shaping women's health and well-being around the world. The conversations aim to highlight evidence and ideas that could improve the health of more than half the global population.
Episodes
Behavioural activation for perinatal depression with Daisy Singla and Claire Kerr Zlobin
Perinatal depression affects 20–25% of pregnant and postpartum individuals. If left untreated, perinatal depression can lead to downstream effects on obstetric outcomes, child development, adolescent mental health, and long-term health expenditures. Prof Daisy Singla (University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada) and Claire Kerr Zlobin (Founder of the Life With A Baby support network) join Ben to discus
The first anniversary of WHO’s Maternal Wellbeing Framework with Allisyn Moran
Marking the journal’s 1 year anniversary, Allisyn Moran (Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health Team Lead at WHO) rejoins the show to reflect on the progress of WHO’s Maternal Wellbeing Framework published in our first issue in September 2025, the effect of climate change and increasing geopolitical instability on the wellbeing of women, the role of WHO in research facilitation and guid
WHO's new postpartum haemorrhage diagnostic criteria with Nicole Minckas
Each year an estimated 27 million women have postpartum haemorrhage, resulting in 43 000 deaths annually. In 2025, WHO introduced new diagnostic criteria based on objectively measured blood loss of 300 mL or more with any abnormal haemodynamic sign, or 500 mL or more, whichever occurs first within 24 h after birth.
Dr Nicole Minckas (University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia) joins Ben t
Patient-focused fertility care and IVF add-ons with Sarah Lensen, Jennifer Gordon, and Beate Muehlroth
WHO estimates that one in six couples are affected by infertility, with an increasing number of people turning to reproductive medicine to aid them to fulfil their family goals. However, with media narratives focusing on falling fertility rates, this episode of The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health in conversation with delves into a special theme issue focusing on placing patien
Women's experiences of menopause care with Anna Kalbarczyk
Menopause is a key life transition experienced by millions of women every year, yet health systems are failing to provide the responsive, coordinated care that women need.
Anna Kalbarczyk (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA) joins Ben to discuss her Review drawing on evidence from 89 studies across diverse populations and geographies to highlight experiences of menopause care. The revie
eBM & TLOGWH in conversation at The Society of Endometriosis and Uterine Disorders annual meeting 2026
In a special episode from the conference floor at SEUD 2026, Christina Biamis (Senior Editor at eBioMedicine) and Ben (Senior Editor at The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health) speak with Prof Charles Chapron, Dr Mathilde Bourdon, Prof Felice Petraglia, Dr Silvia Vannuccini, Dr Lydia Coxon, Dr Ludivine Doridot, Dr Tina Tellum, Dr Devon Evans, and Prof Ludwig Keisel about the lates
Bev Lawton and Jane Macdonald on HPV self-testing
Cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination and screening. Since the introduction of a national cervical screening programme, incidence of cervical cancer has decreased by 50% in New Zealand. However, more than 85% of cervical cancer cases occur in women who are not regularly screened, and Māori women are twice as likely as non-Māori women to die from cervical cancer.
Prof Bev Lawton and Dr
Liz Spry and Raquel Catalao on long term outcomes after childhood sexual assault
Content warning: This conversation is about violence and childhood sexual assault and may be distressing for some listeners. If you or someone you know is affected by these issues, please visit https://findahelpline.com/ a global database of support lines associated with the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
Globally, up to 1 in 5 women experience childhood sexual abuse. Liz Spry (
Asma Khalil on Paracetamol During Pregnancy and the risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Intellectual Disab...
Data suggest that 42-65% of women use paracetamol (also known as tylenol and acetaminophen) during pregnancy; however, concerns linking the common pain killer to childhood development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intellectual disability were reported. Asma Khalil joins the podcast to discuss a recent systematic review and meta-analysis fo
Pascale Allotey and Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent on International Women’s Day
Pascale Allotey (WHO) and Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent (International Confederation of Midwives) join Sonia, Sarah, and Ben in this special bonus episode dedicated to International Women's Day. In two in-depth interviews, Pascale and Jacqueline discuss their academic and clinical journeys, spotlight key advances in women's health from AI to HPV among many others, and highlight key works that their orga
Alex Ridout on FemTech
From its origins in fertility medicine and wellness, the field of FemTech is rapidly evolving, with new innovations having the potential to drastically improve the health of women and girls in low-income and middle-income countries. However, barriers exist preventing the true potential of FemTech interventions to be realised. Alex Ridout (King's College London, London, UK) joins Ben to discuss the
Bassel Wattar on acute heavy menstrual bleeding
Happy New Year! Sonia and Ben are in the studio to discuss the first issue of 2026, which includes and editorial on new WHO guidelines for the management of diabetes during pregnancy; insights on the sexual and reproductive health rights, original research on liver stiffness, and a viewpoint on the ever growing role of FemTech and the potential solutions it offers.
In this episodes extended inter
John Newnham on the national prevention of preterm birth programme in Australia
It is our last episode of 2025! Sarah and Ben discuss the December issue which covers a plethora of topics including COP30 and the links between the climate emergency and women's health, the use of paracetamol in pregnancy, the care of pregnant and breastfeeding women in contact with the criminal legal system, and original research on ovarian and cervical cancer, the CRADLE-5 study, and an extende
Tatjana Gibbons and Devon Evans on Endometriosis care guidelines and national action plans
Sonia and Sarah join Ben to discuss the third edition of The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health, a special issue focusing on Endometriosis. The team highlight key pieces of content including an essay on endometriosis care from a person with lived experience, an insight on the future of menopause research, and two early research papers investigating the treatment of pain in women
Hamilton Morrin on hyperemesis gravidarum and neuropsychiatric outcomes
Sarah and Ben discuss the second issue of The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health, including our Editorial on contraception, a Viewpoint on the use of mifepristone in breast cancer, and the effect on the E-MOTIVE care bundle for postpartum haemorrhage in Pakistan.
Dr Hamilton Morrin (King's College London) joins the podcast to discuss his recent publication investigating the assoc
Allisyn Moran on WHO’s New Framework for Maternal Wellbeing
Ben sits down with Allisyn Moran, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing at WHO, to discuss the newly published maternal wellbeing framework developed by WHO and collaborators and consider the supporting scoping review which investigated the definitions of wellbeing. Both papers are included in the newly published first issue of The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology,
Sonia Muliyil and Sarah Passey on how to launch a medical journal
Welcome to The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health in conversation with. In the first episode of this new podcast, Ben sits down with Sonia Muliyil and Sarah Passey to discuss how to launch a medical journal.
The team discuss all the twists, turns, and challenges faces over the past 6 months as we’ve worked towards our first issue and the official launch of The Lancet Obstetrics,
