About the Lecture:

Understanding reproductive health is key for everyone, whether we want children or not. Since writing a book called Your Fertile Years, Professor Harper has been researching into all aspects of reproductive health education and heads the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration who aim to deliver reproductive health education to everyone. She created a survey to ask teenagers around the world their attitudes and knowledge to reproductive health.  So far data has been obtained from the UK, Belgium, Greece and Japan. And she asked UK teenage girls how they feel about having a period. She has also surveyed over 6000 women to ask their attitudes and knowledge of their periods and menopause. Through this research, resources have been created to help teachers and health professionals provide education and she is heading the development of the UK Menopause Education and Support programme, so that all women in the UK can understand what happens during menopause.

About the Speaker
Joyce Harper, Professor of Reproductive Science at UCL

Joyce Harper is an award-winning educator, author, podcaster, academic, and scientist. She is Professor of Reproductive Science at University College London in the Institute for Women’s Health where she is Head of the Reproductive Science and Society Group.

She has worked in the fields of fertility, genetics and reproductive science since 1987, written over 240 scientific papers and published three books.

She is leading the development of a UK Menopause Education and Support Programme with support from key organizations.

She is co-founder of the UK Fertility Education Initiative (www.fertilityed.uk) and founder of the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration (www.eshre.eu/IRHEC). She is working with schools in the UK and globally to help deliver reproductive health education.

Her latest book, Your Fertile Years, What you need to know to make informed choices, was published in 2021 by Sheldon Press.

Her podcast is called Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Is available on all podcast channels.

Further information – www.joyceharper.com

Follow on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Tiktok and Linkedin - @ProfJoyceHarper

Why We Need To Teach Everyone About Reproductive Health

UCL (University College London) is consistently ranked among the world's top ten universities (QS World University Rankings 2010 - 2021). Our excellence extends across all academic disciplines, from one of the world's foremost centres for research and teaching in the biological sciences to world-renowned centres for architecture (UCL Bartlett), education (UCL IOE) and fine art (UCL Slade School).

UCL is London's leading multidisciplinary university, with more than 13,000 staff and 43,000 students from 150 different countries. Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, UCL was the first university in England to welcome students of any religion and the first to welcome women on equal terms with men.

UCL Minds brings together UCL’s knowledge, insights, and ideas through events, activities, and digital content open to everyone. Find out what’s on UCL Minds: www.ucl.ac.uk/minds