Taboo Topics

Why 1/3 of Women Skip This Life-Saving Test | Cervical Screening & HPV | Season Finale!

This episode is kindly sponsored by @larocheposay Anthelios – recommended by dermatologists and our personal go-to sun protection brand! Apply generously and reapply at least every 2 hours, always after towelling, swimming, or excessive perspiring.It’s the Season 1 Finale of Taboo Topics ✨ and the girls are going out with their most important mission yet: breaking the stigma around Cervical Screening. Dr. Becca is in "mourning" (wearing all black) for the end of the season, but there’s plenty to celebrate. Amber is deep in DIY wedding planning for her 2027 Greek nuptials (Canva invites and all), and Becca finally has a "functioning" cycle post-coil removal! But before the season ends, we discuss why 99% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV, why it’s not a "dirty" STI, and the adjustments you can ask for to make your screening comfortable and empowered.This episode is kindly sponsored by @larocheposay Anthelios – recommended by dermatologists and our personal go-to sun protection brand! Apply generously and reapply at least every 2 hours, always after towelling, swimming, or excessive perspiring.In this episode, we cover:✅ The "Functioning Human": Becca’s period returns! We talk ovulation, cycle tracking, and being "one step closer to health." 🩸✨✅ The 30% Gap: Why a third of women are skipping screenings and the specific fears (trauma, pain, stigma) keeping them away. 🩺🩹✅ HPV Myths: 100% of your podcast hosts have had HPV. We explain why it’s common, not shameful, and why 90% of cases clear themselves. 🧬✅ The Speculum Guide: Warm water, lubrication, smaller sizes, and why you can even put the speculum in yourself. 🛠️🩺✅ HPV Vaccine: Who is eligible for free? (Hint: it’s not just 12-year-olds). 💉✅ Inclusive Screening: Why trans men, non-binary people, and those living with HIV need specialized screening schedules. 🏳️‍⚧️🩺✅ Future Tech: Can we really use menstrual blood instead of a smear? We look at the latest BMJ research. 🔬🩸Thank you for an incredible first season! We’ve covered everything from Herpes to Creatine, and we can’t wait to be back for Season 2. 💙🎙️RESOURCES FOR SUPPORT:🔹 Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust🔹 NHS Cervical Screening Information🔹 Brook (Sexual Health Support)FOLLOW THE JOURNEY:📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/tabootopicpod✨ Rate, review, and subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!Dr B & Dr A x#tabootopics #cervicalscreening #hpv #smeartest #womenshealth #nhsdoctors #healthgossip #sexualhealth #doctorlife #seasonfinale #hpvvaccine #datingstories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Creatine Just For Gym Bros? Why Women Need This Supplement | Ep 7

Welcome back to Taboo Topics! ✨ Dr. Becca and Dr. Amber are stripping away the stereotypes surrounding one of the world's most researched supplements: Creatine. We move past the "bulking" myths to discuss how this naturally occurring molecule affects ATP, mitochondrial energy, and why it might be the secret weapon for menopausal health and cognitive function!In this episode, we cover:✅ The Science of Power: ATP, Mitochondria, and how Creatine "donates" energy to your cells. ⚡🧬✅ Women & Creatine: Why the lack of research on women is "classic," and why we might actually benefit more than men. 🚺✨✅ The Gummy Con: Why Amber’s "sweet treat" was actually an under-dose, and the hidden costs of Creatine gummies. 🍬💸✅ Brain Health: Can Creatine help with depression, sleep deprivation, and neurodegenerative disorders? (The early research is exciting!). 🧠💤✅ Side Effects & Kidney Tests: Debunking the "Water Weight" myth and why you MUST tell your GP you're taking Creatine before a blood test. 🧪📉Whether you’re a marathon runner or just looking for a bit more "brain power" in the morning, this episode is your evidence-based guide to supplementation 🎙️💙FOLLOW THE JOURNEY:📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/tabootopicpod✨ Rate, review, and subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!Dr B & Dr A x*This podcast and social media content is for general information and discussion only. We’re both doctors, but we’re not your doctors, and this podcast does not replace personal medical advice. If you have concerns about your health, or anything else we talk about, please speak to a qualified healthcare professional.For full references, follow the link in our bio.#tabootopics #creatine #womenshealth #supplementscience #nhsdoctors #healthgossip #brainhealth #menopause #fitnessmyths #bodypositivity #creatinegummies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fertility 101: Egg Freezing, The "35" Myth & Improving Sperm Quality | Ep 6

Welcome back to Taboo Topics! This week, Dr. Becca and Dr. Amber are getting incredibly personal about a topic that keeps them (and most of their friends) up at night: Fertility.Between Becca being "single as f***" and Amber locking in a 2027 wedding deposit, the girls are at completely different life stages, but both are feeling the weight of the "biological clock." We’re breaking down the science of why fertility declines, the reality of egg freezing and why fertility is a "partner diagnosis" that involves much more than just the female body.From the 74-day sperm lifecycle to the "ovulation gap" we’re arming you with the clinical facts to replace the panic.In this episode, we cover:✅ The 2027 Wedding: Amber’s deposit is paid! We talk wedding costs, Airbnb disasters, and "religious" brothers. 👰💎✅ The Coil Removal: Why Becca got her contraceptive out just to see "what was going on down there." 🩸✅ The Biological Clock: The terrifying graph Amber saw in medical school and the "35" myth. 📈✅ Egg Freezing 101: Is it a privilege? When should you do it? And the legal "conundrum" of frozen embryos. 🥚🧊✅ The Sperm Factor: Laptops on laps, hot tubs, and why men need to wait 3-6 months for "good quality" sperm. 🚹💻✅ Home Testing Kits: Are AMH blood tests actually worth the money or do they just cause panic? 🧪📉✅ The 24-Hour Window: Why the egg only lives for one day but sperm can wait around for five. ⏳🕵️‍♂️✅ Red Flag, Green Flag: Legs up after sex, social media detoxing, and freezing eggs at 38. 🚩🟩Whether you're planning a family now or just want to understand your body better for the future, this episode is about empowerment through education. 💙🎙️RESOURCES FOR SUPPORT:🔹 Fertility Network UK🔹 British Fertility Society🔹 Tommy’s (Pregnancy & Fertility Information)FOLLOW THE JOURNEY:📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/tabootopicpod✨ Rate, review, and subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!Dr B & Dr A x*This podcast and social media content is for general information and discussion only. We’re both doctors, but we’re not your doctors, and this podcast does not replace personal medical advice. If you have concerns about your health, or anything else we talk about, please speak to a qualified healthcare professional.For full references, follow the link in our bio.#tabootopics #fertility #eggfreezing #ovulation #nhsdoctors #healthgossip #spermhealth #womenshealth #biologicalclock #datingstories #reproductivehealth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adult Acne & PCOS: Why It's A Medical Issue, Not A Hygiene One | Ep 5

This episode is sponsored by ⁨@LaRochePosayUKI⁩ & its Effaclar anti-blemish skincare range. La Roche-Posay Cleansing & Moisturising formulas are also suitable for people who may be prone to Acne.Welcome back to Taboo Topics! This week, Dr. Becca and Dr. Amber are diving into a topic that affects nearly half of adults in their 30s but is still shrouded in "dirty skin" myths: Adult Acne.We’re breaking down why adult acne is so much more than "just a spot." It’s a condition that carries a 2x higher risk of depression and anxiety, yet is often dismissed by society (and sometimes doctors) as a vanity project. From the 5 "P's" of hormonal breakouts to the shocking link between acne and PCOS, we’re getting clinical.But first... Amber is back from Thailand! 🇹🇭🥥 We catch up on 13-hour flights, why watching Sully ruined Amber’s dreams of being a pilot, and the return of the legendary "Bum Gun." Plus, Becca shares her latest dating app "fizzle" with a 6'5" Instagrammer and her upcoming weekend of three back-to-back dates. 📱🍷In this episode, we cover:✅ The Thailand Catch-up: Breakfast buffets, spicy margaritas, and villa upgrades.✅ The "Sully" Effect: Why Amber is now a nervous flyer. ✈️😱✅ The Solo Trip Debate: Is Barbados for six days a good idea for the soul?✅ The Dating Grind: Swiping on Bumble as a full-time job. 📱🫦✅ The 43% Stat: Why adult acne is an "occupational phenomenon" of adulthood.✅ PCOS & Acne: Why 30% of women with acne have underlying PCOS. 🧬✅ Treatment Ladder: From Benzoyl Peroxide to the truth about Roaccutane (Isotretinoin).✅ The Roaccutane Myth: Does it actually cause suicidal ideation? (The research says otherwise). 📑✅ Skincare Debunked: Toothpaste, Sudocrem, and the "Semi-Skimmed Milk" link. 🥛🚫✅ Red Flag, Green Flag: Slugging, Skin Fasting, and the "Bum-Towel" debate. 🚩🟩Whether you’re struggling with your skin or just here for the dating tea, this episode is a reminder that you aren't alone and your worth isn't tied to your productivity—or your pores. 💙🎙️RESOURCES FOR SUPPORT:🔹 British Association of Dermatologists🔹 Mind (Mental Health Support)🔹 PCOS Charity (Verity)FOLLOW THE JOURNEY:📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/tabootopicpod✨ Rate, review, and subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!Dr B & Dr A x*This podcast and social media content is for general information and discussion only. We’re both doctors, but we’re not your doctors, and this podcast does not replace personal medical advice. If you have concerns about your health, or anything else we talk about, please speak to a qualified healthcare professional.For full references, follow the link in our bio.#tabootopics #adultacne #pcos #roaccutane #skincaretips #nhsdoctors #healthgossip #mentalhealth #womenshealth #datingstories #hormonalacne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emergency Contraception: Morning After Pill vs. The Copper Coil

Welcome back to Taboo Topics with Dr. Becca and Dr. Amber! This week, we are diving into a topic that almost every woman has dealt with but no one fully understands: Emergency Contraception. 🩺✨In a massive reality check, Dr. Amber explains why the "morning-after pill" is actually useless once you’ve ovulated - meaning for many women, there is a huge window where the pill won't help. We break down the three main options (Levonorgestrel, EllaOne and the Copper Coil), the side effects and why the IUD is actually the "Holy Grail" of emergency prevention 🧬🩹In this episode, the Doctors cover:✅ Epilation vs. Waxing: The armpit disaster of 2008. 🩸✅ Health Gossip: Amber’s wedding deposit and Becca’s "dating drought." 💍✅ The Morning After Pill Myth: Why it won't work after ovulation. 📉✅ Pharmacy Shame: The awkwardness of asking for EC over the counter. 💊✅ Amber’s Christmas Scare: Telling her dad she was pregnant on Christmas morning 🎄🏖️✅ The "Furball" Discovery: A very interesting trip to the sexual health clinic. 🧶🤢✅ The Three Options: Comparing the 72-hour pill, the 5-day pill, and the Emergency Coil.✅ Roleplay: Exactly what happens when you walk into a sexual health clinic. 🩺Whether you're in the middle of a pregnancy scare or just want to be prepared for the future, we’re breaking the stigma and giving you the facts 💙RESOURCES FOR SUPPORT:🔹 Find a Sexual Health Clinic: nhs.uk/service-search/sexual-health🔹 Sexwise: sexwise.fpa.org.ukFOLLOW THE JOURNEY:📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/tabootopicpod✨ Rate, review, and subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!Dr B & Dr A xNote: This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. For references for this episode head to: https://linktr.ee/tabootopicpod#emergencycontraception #morningafterpill #pregnancycare #sexualhealth #doctorlife #nhsdoctors #tabootopics #healthgossip #ellaone #coppercoil Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.