Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Breaking the Silence, Building Awareness
Heavy menstrual bleeding affects millions of people globally and is often underdiagnosed, misunderstood, or dismissed as a “normal” part of life. Left unaddressed, it can severely impact quality of life, mental health, work productivity, and long-term physical health.
This WoW webinar, supported by funding from Bayer, seeks to break the silence surrounding heavy menstrual bleeding and foster an open, informed dialogue grounded in science.
By bringing together voices from across the healthcare ecosystem, including research, health technology, consumer product innovation, and clinical practice, the event will spotlight the latest evidence, elevate real-world perspectives, and promote a whole-person approach to care. Through this collaborative conversation, we aim to drive greater awareness and empathy for those affected by heavy menstrual bleeding.
Agenda:
Welcome words and Introduction from the WoW team
Panel discussion
Q&A
Closing words from the WoW team
The panel brings together a diverse group of speakers, each offering a unique perspective:
Amanda Shea, fractional Chief Science Officer at Clue
Amanda Shea is the fractional Chief Science Officer at Clue, where she leads research strategy and partnerships to advance understanding of menstrual and reproductive health. With over a decade of experience spanning women’s health research, digital health, and innovation, she brings both scientific expertise and a people-centred approach to closing the gender data gap. Clue is the #1 women-led period and cycle tracker loved by over 100 million women and people with cycles worldwide.
Amy Gaston, VP of Strategic Growth at OhmBody
Amy Gaston drives strategic growth and brand visibility at OhmBody, leading initiatives in partnerships, advocacy, and market expansion. She is the public-facing representative for the company, cultivating key relationships and directing all public relations efforts. With a proven track record in entrepreneurial ventures, Amy founded and managed her own company, demonstrating a strong ability to build and lead. Her experience extends to implementing critical operational systems and fostering positive internal culture. Notably, as Director of Experiential Marketing at Magnolia, she successfully revitalized event strategies post-COVID, showcasing her expertise in delivering impactful results in challenging environments. As the women’s wellness division of Spark Biomedical, a leader in wearable neurostimulation, OhmBody is pioneering a new approach to menstrual health, using advanced wearable neurostimulation to support the body’s natural rhythms. The full OhmBody team of experts is dedicated to creating solutions that work with women’s bodies, not against them.
Michael Recht, MD, PhD, MBA, Chief Medical and Science Officer (CMSO) of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF)
Michael Recht, MD, PhD, MBA is the Chief Medical and Science Officer of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF), where he guides the organization’s scientific strategy and research priorities to improve care and advance new treatments for people with inheritable bleeding disorders. A Professor of Pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine, he cares for children and young adults with bleeding and clotting disorders at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. Dr. Recht has led or participated in more than 110 clinical trials, including pioneering research in gene therapy for hemophilia.
Olivia O'Brien, Head of Brand at Mooncup
Olivia O'Brien is a brand marketer and women’s health advocate on a mission to close the gender health gap. With experience spanning fertility, reproductive care, and menstrual health - from Hertility and London Women’s Clinic to her volunteering work with Delivering Better - Olivia has seen firsthand how stigma and silence continue to shape women’s health outcomes. Now Head of Brand at Mooncup, Olivia uses her platform to challenge stigma, spark conversation, and demand better care for people with periods. Living with fibroids herself, she brings both clinical insight and personal perspective to the conversation around heavy menstrual bleeding. In 2002, Mooncup launched the world’s first medical-grade silicone menstrual cup, proving period care can be safe, sustainable, and stigma-free. Over two decades later, Mooncup continues to set the standard with science-backed, planet-friendly products that put health first.
Karli Büchling, founder and CEO of Blake Health
Known as the Period Dealer, Karli Büchling is a multi-award-winning women’s health advocate and innovator. Through her latest founding, Blake Health, she is spearheading critical menstrual research that challenges the status quo in medical studies. She collaborates with leading institutions to develop pioneering solutions that help researchers unlock the scientific potential of menstrual blood - a vastly untapped resource that could revolutionize women’s healthcare from diagnosis to treatment. Blake Health is a biotech start-up breaking new ground in women's health research. They are building the world’s most comprehensive menstrual blood biobank, empowering women to transform a natural cycle into a crucial resource for research and diagnostics.
Supported by funding from Bayer
About Women’s Healthcare at Bayer
Women’s Health is in Bayer’s DNA. As a global leader in women’s healthcare, Bayer has a long-standing commitment to delivering science for a better life.
Additionally, Bayer intends to provide 100 million women per year in low- and middle-income countries by 2030 with access to family planning by funding multi-stakeholder aid programs for capacity building and by ensuring the supply of affordable modern contraceptives. This is part of the comprehensive sustainability measures and commitments from 2020 onwards and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.