Bodies in Motion: Muscles, Menstruation, and Reproductive Health

Approximately one child in every primary school Australian classroom will develop scoliosis. Each year in Queensland >200 adolescents have up to 12 vertebrae fused as conservative treatment has not stopped their curve progression. Tuckers group have identified unique, targetable muscle features, that can be non-invasively detected early in curve progression. She hopes this work will provide new options for targeted interventions – stopping curve progression, before it’s too late.

New research shows that our muscles ‘talk’ with reproductive organs and play a key role in fertility. We will discuss Adam's team’s current research exploring how physical activity, like exercise, might impact female fertility and overall reproductive health.

Many people would assume that elite athletes have an in-depth knowledge about their body and how it works. But what about the menstrual cycle? Athletes have high rates of menstrual disorders and are more likely to use hormonal contraception than the general population, yet they know surprisingly little about these topics. Tune in to explore why knowing about periods is important for athletes (and anyone who menstruates)!