Welcome to the first Owning Space Women’s Health Weekly, a new short-form episode bringing you a snapshot of the latest research, news and developments shaping women’s health.
For this first episode, I’m looking back across August at some of the stories and research that caught my attention, from HRT and dementia to at-home HPV testing, changes in heart attack diagnosis, birth trauma and England’s growing gynaecology waiting list.
Going forward, Women’s Health Weekly will be released every Monday morning, giving you a quick way to start the week informed about what’s happening in women’s health, both here in the UK and globally.
IN THIS AUGUST ROUNDUP
- HRT and dementia research
- At-home HPV testing and cervical screening
- Heart attack diagnosis and women
- Birth trauma and childbirth-related PTSD
- England’s growing gynaecology waiting list
RESEARCH & FURTHER READING
HRT & dementia
Alzheimer’s & Dementia - peer-reviewed research
https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.71679
UK Biobank - research overview
https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/research-stories/menopause-hrt-cuts-dementia-risk-if-started-early/
HPV self-testing & cervical screening
NHS England - HPV home-testing rollout
https://www.england.nhs.uk/2026/08/nhs-rolls-out-discreet-home-testing-kits-against-cervical-cancer-for-millions-of-women/
NHS London - cervical self-swabbing rollout
https://www.england.nhs.uk/london/2026/08/27/self-swab-cervical-screening-now-offered-at-every-gp-in-london/
Heart attack diagnosis & women
American College of Cardiology - updated Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction
https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/journal-scans/2026/08/25/13/59/global-cv-societies-release-updated-universal-definition-of-mi-esc-2026
Birth trauma & childbirth-related PTSD
Midwifery - childbirth-related PTSD research
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266613826002627
Gynaecology waiting lists
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists – latest waiting-list figures
https://www.rcog.org.uk/news/gynaecology-waits-worsen-for-third-month-as-demand-rises-rcog-warns/
Follow Owning Space wherever you’re listening so you don’t miss the next Women’s Health Weekly, released every Monday morning.
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And if there’s a story, study or development you think I should cover in a future episode, send it my way.
Until next week, keep taking up space.
