What is Endometriosis? Can it be cured with a Mirena coil, or by having a baby? Is it hereditary? Do we know what causes it?
Sit down with Oxford University researchers Dr Lydia Coxon, Dr Sharon Dixon, Dr Ana Kisovar, Dr Neda Taghinejadi chaired by Simphiwe Sesane as they aim to answers some of these questions and sort out common misconceptions about endometriosis. Submit your questions ahead of time, and together we will fact check and question different aspects of a condition all too often surrounded with unanswered questions and misdiagnosis.
This event is part of our endometriosis exhibition which is on 4 November 2023 - 3 March 2024. You can find more information here:
https://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/currentexhibition
Chaired by: Simphiwe Sesane
Simphiwe Sesane is a Contraception and Sexual Health Nurse Consultant. From 2012 to date, Simphiwe has worked as a Nurse in Sexual and Reproductive Health & HIV Services, with a passion for Women’s Health. She has been active in Health Education, training and Clinical Research. She has a special interest in Contraception, Menopause, black maternal health and improving Sexual and Reproductive Health access for marginalised and vulnerable groups. Simphiwe prides herself with the ability to empower women with choice.
Dr Lydia Coxon
Lydia Coxon is a post-doc researcher in the Pain in Women and the EndoCaRe research groups at the University of Oxford. Prior to this she did a DPhil (PhD) with these groups entitled ‘Neuropathic Pain in Endometriosis’. Her work investigates pain mechanisms in pelvic pain. She has particularly worked on endometriosis-associated pain and how stratification (subgrouping) of patients can aid our understanding and inform our treatment of women with endometriosis-associated pain. She is now working on a project investigating dysmenorrhea (period pain) in adolescents.
Dr Sharon Dixon
Sharon Dixon is a GP and NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow, researching adolescent dysmenorrhoea (period pain) in primary care, including possible interfaces with endometriosis. Her previous research explored primary care perspectives on pathways to care across a range of service needs including diagnostic tests, safeguarding, domestic violence and abuse, endometriosis, women’s health in primary care (including menopause care and utero-vaginal prolapse) and Female Genital Mutilation. She co-ordinated a collaborative partnership project prioritising areas where better technology could enable women’s health.
Dr Ana Kisovar
Ana Kisovar is a medical doctor from Slovenia. After graduating from medicine in 2019, she completed my clinical training and moved to Zurich to work as a medical writer. In 2020, she started my DPhil at the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health. In my project, she is investigating the immunological background of endometriosis-associated subfertility, specifically endometrial CD8+ T cells. Her studies as a prospective gynaecologist are inseparable from her passion for female welfare. In her free time, she mostly focuses on women’s health-related public engagement projects, such as organising a panel discussion on the ethical aspects of uterus transplantation and collaborating on an endometriosis peer support project with psychology students from the University of Zurich. Additionally, she is a member of the Expert Council and the Honourable Member of Endozavest (Slovenian endometriosis awareness and support group).
Dr Neda Taghinejadi
Neda Taghinejadi is a lecturer and Consultant in Sexual and Reproductive Health based in Oxford. In her clinical role, she works in community gynaecology, early pregnancy and contraception clinics. Her research explores lived experiences to inform improvements in quality of care for patients using gynaecology and contraception services. She is passionate about reproductive justice and trauma- informed approaches in healthcare.