Women’s health and rights have historically been secondary to those of their male counterparts, Davina McCall has said, but “the tide is turning”.
McCall, who has presented shows like Big Brother and Long Lost Family, is known for her thought-provoking documentaries tackling women’s health issues that are seldom discussed.
When asked by Radio Times why women’s health is overlooked, McCall pointed to history. “Women in general – their health, their rights – were secondary to men,” she said. While McCall says not enough progress has been made, she concedes that “the tide is turning”.
The presenter’s most recent documentary, Pill Revolution, scrutinises the state of contraception in the UK. Her first menopause documentary in 2021, Sex, Myths and the Menopause, was watched by more than 2 million people, and one pharmaceutical company reported a 30% rise in demand for HRT products in the following months.
In the UK, there are 13 million menopausal women. With 4.5 million making up the fastest-growing demographic in the workplace, nine out of 10 say menopause has adversely affected their work.
McCall remains vocal about menopause as a new group of women enter perimenopause – when the body starts the transition to menopause. McCall said a wider menopause movement was challenging the notion of “keep calm and carry on and shut up”.
“I really enjoy it,” said McCall, who has been open about her own experiences from taking the pill as a teenager to her first hot flush at 44, and even having her own Mirena coil replaced on camera. “It’s given me a sense of purpose.”
Looking ahead, however, she is intent on shedding light on the effects of menstruation, in addition to the stigma and the lack of research surrounding periods. “Some women have horrifically heavy periods,” she said. “And we’re told to pull our socks up and get on with it.”
