IMAGE The Check-in

In this episode, Ellie Balfe is joined by Dr Fiona Keogh, consultant gynaecologist with Blackrock Health, to explore what is really going on when it comes to pelvic health, and why so many women are left unsure of what is normal and what is not.

Together, they talk through the symptoms women often normalise, from bladder leaks to a feeling of heaviness or pressure, and why these are not simply things to accept as part of ageing or after having children. Fiona explains what pelvic organ prolapse actually is, how it presents, and the different types of incontinence women may experience, as well as what these symptoms might be trying to tell us.

They also explore how pelvic health changes across different life stages, particularly during pregnancy, postpartum recovery and menopause, and why these can be key moments where symptoms appear or worsen.

 Importantly, this conversation moves beyond awareness into reassurance, looking at what can be done to support and improve pelvic health, from pelvic floor physiotherapy to lifestyle changes and, where needed, surgical options.

Above all, this episode is about giving women clarity, confidence and permission to seek help. These symptoms may be common, but they are not something you simply have to live with.

IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

This is an important and compassionate conversation about eating disorders, a topic that is often misunderstood, often hidden, and far more common than many of us may realise.*** Before listening, please note that this episode may be sensitive for some, so if you feel at any point that it is difficult for you, we encourage you to step away and be gentle with yourself.In this episode, I am joined by Laura Casey, Director of Services at Lois Bridges, Ireland’s only dedicated eating disorder treatment centre. Laura is an enhanced psychiatric nurse with extensive experience supporting individuals through eating disorders and complex mental health challenges. In this conversation, she shares what they are seeing on the ground in Ireland today. We explore how eating disorders are rarely just about food, but are often deeply connected to emotional wellbeing, coping mechanisms, control, identity and self-worth. Laura speaks about the signs that are often missed, the quieter behaviours that can go unnoticed, and why many women may not recognise their own experiences as disordered eating.Importantly, this episode opens up a conversation around how eating disorders can evolve across a woman’s life. This is not a conversation just about extremes; it is about understanding the nuance, recognising the signs, and creating space for more open, compassionate conversations around eating disorders.IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

Pelvic health is something many women only hear about when something goes wrong. Leaking when you laugh, run, or workout. Or a feeling of heaviness or painful sex. These experiences are incredibly common, yet they are rarely spoken about openly.

In this episode of IMAGE The Check-in, host Ellie Balfe sits down with Aoife Harvey, specialist physiotherapist at the Women's Health Clinic Dublin, for a refreshingly honest and no-holds-barred conversation about women’s pelvic health.

Together, they unpack the pelvic floor and why it plays such an important role in our wellbeing. They also discuss something many women are hesitant to raise: painful sex. Aoife explains the different reasons this can happen, how pelvic health physiotherapy can help, and why women should never feel they simply have to live with discomfort.

The conversation also touches on the life stages that impact pelvic health, from pregnancy and post-partum recovery through to the changes that happen during menopause.

This was a light-hearted, open and deeply informative conversation that shines a light on an area of women’s health that deserves far more attention.

IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

Pregnancy is often described as a natural milestone in a woman’s life. But medically, it is also one of the most complex physiological events the body will ever experience.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr Vicky O'Dwyer, Consultant Obstetrician and Director of Gynaecology at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin. Dr O'Dwyer has a special interest in preventing preterm birth and caring for women who experience pregnancy with pre-existing medical conditions.

In this thoughtful and reassuring conversation, we explore how doctors identify and manage risk in pregnancy, what preterm birth really means, and why pregnancy can offer important insights into a woman’s future health.

We also discuss the realities of modern motherhood, including pregnancy later in life and the growing number of women navigating pregnancy with chronic health conditions.

This episode offers clarity, reassurance and expert insight for women who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or simply interested in understanding more about how pregnancy shapes long-term health.

This conversation is about understanding, preparation and reassurance. Because when women have access to good information, they are empowered to navigate their pregnancy with confidence.

IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

Did you know that heart disease is the number one cause of death for women? Yet many of us still associate it more strongly with men.
Women’s cardiovascular health has historically been under-researched, under-recognised and sometimes under-treated. With hormones influencing risk throughout our lives, our symptoms can look different, and life events such as pregnancy and menopause can significantly shape our cardiovascular health.
In this episode, we are joined by Dr Róisín Colleran, Consultant Cardiologist at the Mater Private Network, to explore the reality of heart disease in women and what we can do to better protect our hearts.
Dr Colleran recently led a Women’s Heart Summit for the clinical community, highlighting that women’s heart health requires its own focus and more understanding among medics.
In this episode, we discuss why heart attacks can present differently in women, how risk develops across our lives, and what numbers and tests we should actually know. This is a thoughtful and informative conversation that aims to give women the knowledge we need to understand and protect our hearts.
IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by @boots.ireland and sponsored by @samsungireland & @waterstoneclinicireland