Celebrate Muliebrity with Michelle Lyons

Hello and welcome to today's solo episode!
I recently came across two 2026 articles that really got me thinking about how menstrual pain may be the missing link in phase based training...and so I thought a podcast episode would be a good idea!
In this episode, I discuss the overlooked impact of menstrual pain on female athletic performance, arguing that pain may be a more significant performance variable than hormonal cycle phases that currently receive much attention in sports science.
My goal was to highlight that primary dysmenorrhea affects approximately 60% of female athletes, with 50-100% reporting performance limitations due to period pain, yet this issue is often addressed through medication rather than comprehensive treatment approaches.
I wanted to emphasise that pelvic rehabilitation should be incorporated into discussions about menstrual cycle management, as pain affects brain processing, movement, breathing, and decision-making in ways that can substantially impact sporting performance.
I propose a "menstrual audit" consisting of seven simple questions to better assess and address menstrual pain symptoms rather than focusing solely on cycle phases, and of course if you want to learn more...this is exactly why I created my online course "The Menstrual Detective" for clinicians and coaches working with female athletes - to improve menstrual literacy, to understand how to have the MC health conversation and how to identify and manage menstrual dysfunction - when it hurts, when it's too much and when it disappears.
All the info is at CelebrateMuliebrity.com - or if you have questions about the course, you can find me on instagram at @michellelyons_muliebrity
Until next time, Onwards & Upwards! Mx #celebratemuliebrity

Hello and Welcome to this episode of the podcast, where I'm in conversation with Elizabeth Davies, author of 'Training for your Old Lady Body'
We had a great chat, covering the dangers of 'skinnytok' and the mythology around 'bulking up' with strength training, as well as discussing strategies for behaviour change and strength training for women approaching menopause.
Elizabeth shared her personal journey from a non-fitness background to becoming a personal trainer after experiencing a mortifying incident of incontinence during exercise in 2016. They discussed practical strategies for overcoming barriers to gym attendance, including starting with small achievable goals, using specific scheduling rather than general plans, and implementing "domino actions" that trigger the full exercise routine.
Unsurprisingly, we discussed the importance of addressing pelvic health concerns and how to normalise the conversation around pelvic health, as well as signposting women on how to get the help they need - I was so delighted that Teresa Waser's brilliant paradigm ,TIIPPSSFC, can really help bring about change - if you're not familiar, go back and have a listen to the interview I did with Teresa in Episode 30!)
We also talked about demystifying strength training for women who may be intimidated by gym environments (spoiler - its more about asking for help and less about worrying what other people think!)
The conversation also covered how to make exercise sustainable by pairing it with enjoyable activities and being compassionate with oneself when plans don't go perfectly.
So many pearls of wisdom, not only about the benefits of strength training at menopause but also about using behaviour change strategies to make exercise realistic, sustainable and enjoyable
Make sure you're following Elizabeth on instagram @thiswomanlifts and her book is available for purchase - highly recommended!
And...if you're listening on the day this drops, you're running out of time to take advantage of my summer sale - make sure you are using the code JUNE26 at checkout to apply a €100 discount on any/all of my online courses - you can find them all at CelebrateMuliebrity.com
Until next time, Onwards & Upwards, Mx #celebratemuliebrity

Hello and welcome to today's episode where I'm delighted to share my conversation with Dr Rachel Selman, all about better pelvic health conversations with athletes.
Rachel is a physical therapist and coach, who shares her experience integrating pelvic health into sports medicine practice and discussed her upcoming book aimed at educating athletes about pelvic health issues.
We explored challenges in communicating with athletes about pelvic health topics, including the need for sport-specific subjective questionnaires and annual in-services (for sports AND pelvic health pro's) to normalize these discussions. Rachel explained her approach to making complex pelvic health concepts accessible to athletes and coaches, emphasizing the importance of connecting pelvic health to overall performance rather than treating it as a separate specialized field.
We discussed the role of stress and anxiety in exacerbating pelvic floor symptoms, particularly during high-stakes competitions. Our conversation also highlighted the need for better integration between pelvic health and sports medicine professionals, emphasising the importance of training coaches and athletes to recognise and discuss these symptoms preventatively, comparing it to how they would address other orthopedic concerns. Rachel is doing her part to change the narrative, and is planning to release her first book, Floor It, this autumn and it is available for pre-order now!
Make sure you're following Rachel on instagram @dr.rachelselman for her amazing anatomy education and exercise strategies
Aaaaand...don't forget, my Summer Sale is still on for a few more days, so if you're interested in helping female athletes with their pelvic health, check out The Menstrual Detective, which includes the course 'Pelvic Health for the Young Female Athlete' for free! The code JUNE26 can be used for a €100 discount on ALL of my online courses, from Perinatal Pelvic Rehab, The Menopausal Toolbox, Female Pelvic Oncology and more - but only until June 30th!
All of the course info is at CelebrateMuliebrity.com or you can find out more on my instagram feed, a haven for women's health nerds, @michellelyons_muliebrity
Until next time, Onwards & Upwards, Mx! #celebratemuliebrity

'Why Do I Still Have Pain After My Endo Surgery?' This can be such a frustrating (and complex) situation that so many people with endometriosis find themselves in...but why?
I'm sharing this excerpt from the endometriosis updates in my online Female Pelvic Pain Rehab course - mainly because I've heard it so many times over the years, both from patients and the clinicians who are trying to help them.
There's actually been some interesting new research looking at why this happens and how we can actually help people restore quality of life and improve THEIR functional goals, so I really wanted to make this available even if you're not a student on this course (but if you work with people who have pelvic pain diagnoses like endometriosis, vulvodynia, dyspareunia...I hope you'll consider joining us!)
There are so many potential drivers of abdominopelvic pain that can amplify endometriosis associated pain, along with central sensitisation and pelvic floor dysfunction, including issues like IBS, neuropathic pain, hernias, hip problems and more.
I hope you find this excerpt from the course helpful AND if you're listening to this episode before the end of June... you can use the code JUNE26 at checkout for a €100 discount on any of my online courses, from Female Pelvic Pain Rehab to The Menstrual Detective, The Menopausal Toolbox and more. All of the course info is at CelebrateMuliebrity.com or if you have questions, you can send me a DM on instagram (@michellelyons_muliebrity) or email me at michellelyonsphysio@gmail.com
Enjoy the episode and if you found it useful, I would love it if you can rate, review and subscribe to the podcast!
Until next time, Onwards & Upwards! Mx and don't forget to #celebratemuleibrity

Hello & Welcome To Today's Episode! Today's guest has a unique perspective as she's both a high performance athlete AND a pelvic physio who is passionate about keeping girls and women involved in sport.
Clodagh McIntyre is a rising star in physiotherapy who is both an inter-county camogie player for Tipperary and a pelvic health physiotherapist. Clodagh discussed her journey from UCD graduate to working in private practice, her experiences with stress incontinence as an athlete, and the lack of pelvic health education in physio training programs.
We explored how pelvic health issues affect female athletes, with statistics showing 7 out of 10 athletes leaving sport due to bladder leakage, and discussed the taboo nature of discussing these topics within sporting teams.
We discussed the importance of education and support around pelvic health issues for female athletes, highlighting the lack of standardization in GAA and potentially LGFA, as well as emphasising the need to normalize conversations about these issues and prevent them from deterring athletes from participating in sports.
Clodagh shared her upcoming trip to Kenya with Warriors for Humanity and Self-Help Africa, where she plans to plant trees and help communities, for which she is fundraising.
Please see linked below to her fundraiser! https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/clodaghmcintyre 
Our shared passion is definitely showcasing the conversation and embedding pelvic health into female athlete wellbeing : there's SUCH a need for better education about pelvic health at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as within sporting organizations, to support female athletes and prevent them from dropping out of sport due to pelvic health issues.
Want to learn more about supporting the Female Athlete, and promoting pelvic and menstrual health? The Menstrual Detective online course comes with FREE access to the course 'Pelvic Health for the Young Female Athlete, where we look at all the potential drivers for pelvic health dysfunction, beyond isolated strengthening for the pelvic floor muscles. All the details at CelebrateMuliebrity.com
Until next time, Onwards & Upwards! Mx #celebratemuliebrity