EKHO Wellbeing

Do you know what Lichen sclerosus (LS) is? Over half of women with LS suffer from s*xual dysfunction. Click to find out more about the findings from EKHO co-founder Lee Smith: https://www.jsm.js*xmed.org/article/S1743-6095(22)01545-4/fulltext

☁️✨ Everything you need to know about sleep…

Sleep provides our bodies with the opportunity to rest and repair at a cellular level. Sleep interacts with every aspect of our health and we have a course coming soon that explains how and why this matters.

Do you feel like you’re being supported through the menopause?

Menopause can have a staggering effect on a person’s life and significantly affect one’s work, relationships and sense of self. Discover more about menopause and make sense of symptoms, experiences and advice on wellbeing during and after this life changing event with Ekho Wellbeing.

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☁️✨ Self Love

takes you on self love journey, she will introduce you to some powerful practices that will help you create an intimate relationship with yourself on all levels - mind, body, emotions and soul!

Click the link in our bio to take the course.

☁️✨What is Mirror Work?

Mirror Work is a method that teaches you to love yourself. Because the mirror reflects back to you the feelings you have about yourself, it makes you immediately aware of where you are resisting and where you’re open and flowing.

Celebrate body-confidence in one of our courses with , who provides you with a step-by-step guide on how to like, love, enhance and flirt… with yourself. Click the link in our bio to check it out!

Did anyone ever sit you down and talk to you about what’s normal when it comes to your va**na and v***a? Where everything is, what the signs of an infection are, irritants to look out for, why pH balance matters, discharge? Learn all of this and more in our Everything you Need to Know About your Va**na course at ekhowellbeing.com

All courses are now free!

**na ***a *xeducation

At Ekho, we’re on a mission to educate everyone about women’s intimate wellbeing and how we can use knowledge to close the gender health gap and the gender wealth gap.

Hormonal wellbeing, S*xual wellbeing and Reproductive wellbeing are the three areas we cover with our courses. Our experts come from a variety of backgrounds across coaching, medicine, occupational therapy, physio, yoga and more. Basically, we’re here to take you on a “self ed” journey and help you to advocate for your body.

All of our courses are free and available now, please click the link in our bio 🐚

V***a ≠ Va**na

If you didn’t know already, the v***a and the va**na are different, even though they're often referred to as the same thing. The v***a is the outer part of the female ge****ls that includes:⁠⁠
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G***s Cl****is – often just called the cl****is – the external part of the cl****is and about the size of a pea. It’s also the most highly innervated area and therefore the primary source of female pleasure.⁠⁠

L***a Majora and L***a Minora – the outer and inner lips respectively.⁠⁠

Cl****al Prepuce or hood – sits above the g***s cl****is and is formed by the two side of the l***a minora.⁠⁠

Urethral opening – a muscular structure in the urethra that helps hold urine inside the body until it's released. The urethra opens into the vestibule.⁠⁠

Vestibule – the area between the l***a minora.⁠⁠

The va**nal opening – which connects to the cervix and then uterus internally.⁠⁠ The va**na is what’s inside. A tube of muscle that leads to the cervix.

The cervix is a spongy donut-shaped organ that joins your va**na to your uterus or womb.
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So, there’s a lot more to it than just ‘a va**na’ or ‘a v***a’ and the two are totally different things.

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*xed ***a **na

Then you realise that you have just come on your period? Yes, us too!

Join Ekho for expert insight, data and education that will support you on a journey of self discovery ✨ Click the link in our bio for three months free!

“We’ve found that when a woman is comfortable enough with herself to ma******te, she is usually better at v***a and breast check-ups too, so really it’s better for our overall health” says Cecile Gasnault of

Gasnault also compares ma********on and or**sm to a moment of meditation: “When you experience s*xual pleasure, you’re really present in the moment – it brings you back to yourself.”

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**sm ****or

In a world of ever-changing politics, the last thing on a woman’s mind should be the fear of judgement over not wearing a bra.

Many women, for a number of different reasons, decide not to wear a bra on a day-to-day basis. Some would say that it’s unacceptable to go to work without a bra on, do you feel that way? Let us know in the comments below ✨

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We’re building a community of women who feel confident in their bodies, because they understand their health and wellbeing. Why not take our free courses and join them? Click the link in our bio.

If you suffer from hormone-related health issues, like acne, bloating, PMS, heavy or irregular periods, PCOS, ovarian cysts, hair loss, mood swings, fatigue, or low libido, it’s likely that your hormones are imbalanced.

Hormone health is linked to the health of your gut. A balanced microbiome can help with balancing hormones. Poor gut health can exacerbate hormonal issues so it’s essential to eat and drink in a way that supports your hormone health.

Vitamin B12 plays an important role in shaping gut microbial communities, according to research.

Studies show that Magnesium deficiency changes the amount of bifidobacteria in the gut.

Research suggests that Vitamin D deficiency changes the microbiome in ways that can trigger inflammation.

Zinc deficiency is associated with a less diverse microbiome and less bacterial activity, say experts.

Studies show that having sufficient levels of Selenium is associated with increases in bifidobacterium in the gut.

It’s important to note that even if you eat a healthy diet, you may still be deficient in these key micronutrients and changing your diet isn’t a miracle cure for hormonal issues. However, eating foods rich in these nutrients can certainly contribute to maintaining good hormone health and provide a firm foundation for good cellular health.

If you’d like more information on diet and hormones, tap the link in our bio to explore our courses.

Heart racing, putting on a brave face, hiding a tampon up your sleeve, checking your underwear, checking again, concealing cramps, nausea, headaches, brain fog, GI issues, panic. Wouldn’t it make all the difference if talking about menstrual health in the workplace was normalised? We all spend too much time at our jobs to feel anxious about what our bodies are doing and how they feel while we’re working.

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Female su***de peaks in menopause and perimenopause.

Changes to women’s moods, emotions and state of mind during perimenopause and menopause are extremely common – these symptoms are often the reason menopausal women first visit their doctor.

Suicidal thoughts can be very frightening and confusing. You may not understand why you’re getting them or feel powerless or like a version of yourself you don’t recognise. These intrusive and unsettling thoughts can range from fleeting ideas to persistent dark clouds and long-term issues that make living life normally a challenge.

If you’ve reached an impasse but don’t feel comfortable reaching out to a close friend or family member, call Samaritans] on 116 123 to talk. They will help you get through the moment and point you to other places to get help the next time you experience these sorts of thoughts and feelings.

Many women find their low mood and anxiety symptoms improve with the right dose and type of HRT and you can find more information about this on the and websites. Our hormones can sabotage us, especially at this stage in life, but that doesn’t mean we have to suffer.

You are not your thoughts and more importantly, you are not alone. Other resources below –




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Samaritans]

It's and did you know that one in five women have a common mental health problem such as anxiety or depression. Women's health such as perinatal depression, menopause and hormonal changes are one of the biggest causes of mental health issues in women. So why is this not more openly spoken about? At Ekho our aim is to change the conversation, data, lack of education and support around women's hormonal, s*xual and reproductive health. To find out more click the link in our bio.

Let's talk STI's, and yes they're much more common than people make out and no they are not shameful. STI's are very common and most are viruses, like the common cold. However, we’ve been sold a myth that only reckless, promiscuous, and therefore dirty and unsavoury people contract s*xually transmitted infections. This isn’t true. So if you think you may have one, want to learn more or unsure how to process your emotions once being told you do, click the link in our bio to find out more 🤍

According to – a creator in our EKHO cohort – Our womb, as womb-en is the seat of our feminine power, the seat of creation.

It is a portal for life, the space within us that brings the non-physical into the physical.

So often we don’t take the time or create the space to connect with our womb, yet she is the key to our magnetism & radiance.

This simple ritual can be done daily to start to build a relationship with her, to anchor into her wisdom & gnawing that will guide you effortlessly in life.

Even if you do not have a physical womb, we ALL have an energetic womb space.

Begin by finding a comfortable seat or lying down on your back with your knees bent & your feet flat on the floor.

You can place both hands on your womb, or one hand on your womb & one on your heart, whichever feels the most comfortable.

Bring your awareness to your breath.

Descend your conscious awareness to your womb & anchor your breath there.

Relax your belly completely, feeling your belly expand as you inhale.

(Most of us breathe from the chest, not using the fullness of our inhale, this invites deeper & more conscious breathing.)

Do this for around 5 minutes, just focusing solely on breathing from your womb, filling your pelvic bowl with breath.

Then, start to invite a gentle rocking of the pelvis that comes solely from the breath.

You may feel called to move your hips in a circular motion or in an ♾ loop.

This doesn't have to be a big movement, but allowing your full consciousness to be in your womb& pelvic bowl.

Then you can gently whisper any questions you may have to her, ask for any guidance, or simply just feel her, feel her energy, feel for any sensations that arise or even any emotions that may surface.

Trust that the answers you receive, are the answers you need.

It may not always be what you want to hear, but she always has your best interest at heart.

How was your experience with this womb connection practice? Let us know in the comments below.

“About a quarter of women or**sm reliably during [P in V] in*******se. The other 75 percent sometimes, rarely, or never or**sm with in*******se…

A woman might or**sm lots of other ways – manual s*x, oral s*x, vi****ors, breast stimulation, toe sucking, pretty much any way you can imagine – and still not or**sm during [P in V] in*******se. That’s normal.” – Come As You Are, by Emily Nagoski Ph.D.

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**smgap #

How will you this year? Our mission is to close the gender health and wealth gaps. Want to know how bias plays a role? Swipe for the facts about the gap…

The wonderful and our CEO and co-founder E M I L I E L A V I N I A] are back with another special edition of All Being Well for International Women’s Day.

This year the theme is so they’ll be discussing women’s health issues, inequalities and biases. Tune in for a conversation about the gender health gap, access to education, resources and research. Why women suffer disproportionately in times of societal unrest and how improving women’s health has a ripple effect, impacting all communities for the better.

Join Dr Jane and Emilie Lavinia today on E M I L I E L A V I N I A] LIVE at 12:30 GMT for the conversation.

Our CEO spoke with .official about attitudes to s*xuality, the effect and how toys are the new celebrity perfume. Read the whole piece by tapping the link in our bio.

Did you know? Our co-founder and CEO hosts a weekly conversation with wellbeing experts, femtech founders and people making waves in the wellbeing universe 🐚

Tune in to all episodes of on Emilie’s IGTV or on our IG at instagram.com/ekhowellbeing

Help us end health discrimination and win £1K of wellbeing prizes. We’ve just launched a major UK study in partnership with our research team at Anglia Ruskin University. We’re calling on women aged 25+ to take part in an anonymous online study by answering simple questions on health, wellbeing and lifestyle.

SURVEY >> https://angliaruskin.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/ekho-s*xual-wellbeing-survey?fbclid=IwAR3bVcbII7VWJEZQkhLNCF_GrCmX_V0dzXj78q0M-l3Ez2FByskb9Pt53Es

By taking part you’ll be contributing to a major study that aims to support educational and wellbeing interventions and resources for the UK population. By opting in you’ll also be entered into our prize draw to win wellbeing subscriptions, products and experiences from leading women’s health and FemTech brands.

If you believe you have suffered from health discrimination at work or in the doctor’s office, not had your wellbeing concerns understood or have suffered with the effects of poor intimate health, your feedback will help us to make a difference.

Giveaway T&Cs
All entrants must be over the age of 18, must live in the UK and must complete the EKHO UK survey in full. Entrants must opt in to take part in this giveaway. A winner will be announced by 20-12-21. Prize is non-transferable and comprises products and services to the value of £1,000. This giveaway is not sponsored by or associated with Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

It’s but when 58% of women don’t know how perimenopause and menopause affect the body, something has to change.

The more we know, the more we can discuss, treat, normalise the effects and symptoms of menopause. Some are easy to live with, some are entirely debilitating.

We work with and champion an incredible cohort of experts dedicated to making menopause matter, educating women on the process of perimenopause and menopause, campaigning for access to resources and pushing conversations about something that affects every woman into the mainstream.

We recommend following these educators, experts, activists, authors and resources and sharing their knowledge with your own communities, friends and families –







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You can also join our private Facebook group via the link in our bio to discuss everything we talk about here with other women in a private online space.

It’s the final day of FemTech Week ⚡️ But it’s not all over yet. Head to Femtech Media] for the chance to win a year’s EKHO subscription and start your “self ed” journey.

Remember you can also watch our co-founder ’s free talk on health discrimination and the gender wage gap with Femtech Media] by tapping the link in our bio.

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Today shared a beautiful piece on why she decided to continue taking antidepressants while pregnant with her daughter and what it meant to her to do so. You can read it via the link in her IG bio 🐚

Today is 🐚

According to a study by .the.lowdown 87% of women felt they weren’t listened to or weren’t taken seriously when discussing s*xual health, reproductive issues or contraception with a healthcare professional.

This year has seen positive news where access is concerned, with contraceptive pills made available over the counter in the UK. However, in the rest of the world, bans on abortion threaten women’s wellbeing.

People with pen*ses refuse to use condoms or engage in acts like stealthing – a form of s*xual assault in which a condom is removed without the knowledge or consent of a partner.

IUDs are still being inserted and removed without pain relief, with women left traumatised and unable to engage in pleasurable s*x after the event.

And the pill is still offered as the number one form of contraception in the UK, despite debilitating side effects that are brushed off as ‘normal’ by doctors.

Despite all this, women are expected to weather the consequences of these conditions with no complaints. Women are expected to take responsibility for their bodies while their bodily autonomy is simultaneously controlled by external forces of pressure, bias, privilege and lawmaking.

What’s your experience of this? Remember, you can request to join our private Facebook group if you’d prefer to discuss your experiences somewhere less public.

It’s critical to highlight the incredible progress of femtech – now an industry projected to be valued at over $1 trillion by 2027 – and to broaden access to the femtech tools available to women around the world. Femtech solutions often fill gaps in care that have been unaddressed by the traditional healthcare system, so informing women of what’s available to them can, in the worst cases, be quite literally a matter of life or death. ⠀
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Femtech Week, happening October 5-12, 2021, is a curated selection of events, content, and activities designed to engage women with the femtech industry and provide them with the tools they need to be active, empowered participants in their own healthcare. We’re thrilled to be taking part, delivering a talk in collaboration with .
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The mission of Femtech Week is to support women in discovering femtech solutions and other resources that will help them play an active role in their own health and healthcare, media and other partners are encouraged to spread the word about Femtech Week 2021 through email and social media. Femtech Week offers attendees a week full of free events, a robust women’s health resource library, giveaways from incredible brands, and the opportunity to connect with a community of other women who have similar interests and health experiences in a safe, inclusive, and friendly digital environment.⠀
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Sign up for free now and get early access – https://bit.ly/2XACAJb

Stories like this are why we do what we do. Sharing helps too. If you’re not comfortable sharing your experiences on main, or posting on a public forum, you can request access to our private Facebook group. Just search EKHO wellbeing on Facebook.

“We come from a model where relationships, in our village lives, in our communal structures, were very clear. The community gave you your sense of identity. You knew who you were. You knew what was expected of you, and you knew how to behave. You had a lot of certainty, a lot of belonging, zero freedom.

And we have urbanized, and we have moved, and we have taken on radical individualism and aspirational materialism, and all of those things have created a playing field in which relationships are undergoing rapid changes. We have no idea how to handle them. Rules have been replaced by choices. But at the same time we have massive uncertainty and massive self-doubt. Every second book about relationships these days is about belonging and loneliness.

So I think that’s the big thing that is changing: what used to be defined by rules and duty and obligation now has to take place in conversation. And so everything is a freakin’ negotiation! You negotiate with your partner about what matters, where you want to live, if you want to have children, how many children do you want to have, if this is the right time to have children. It’s an absolute existential smorgasbord. But at the same time it’s very difficult to have to define everything ourselves. We are not just in pain for no reason, is what I’m trying to say.” – relationship expert Esther Perel from an interview with The New Yorker.

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We’ve partnered with trailblazing platform GUIDED BY GLOW] for their latest Writing Competition. Loved by the likes of the editors and s*xual wellbeing coaches and practitioners worldwide, Guided By Glow offers soothing and stimulating audio meditations and erotic stories and now, the team is giving you the chance to pen the platform’s next featured story.

The winner of the writing contest will see their piece come to life on the Guided By Glow platform and will win a bundle of prizes including a year’s free subscription to our own EKHO s*xual wellbeing courses.

Follow the instructions and enter your submission or head to GUIDED BY GLOW] for more information 🤍

Blushes #82 by Wolfgang Tilmans. Created in 2021 and shared by