Struggling with Fertility and Social Media Influence
Barbora Gray, a 35-year-old from Hebburn, South Tyneside, recalls a time when she washed her hair with raw eggs in an attempt to improve her chances of conceiving after seeing a post online.
"For the first time, I approached social media from a place of vulnerability," she says. "It wasn't healthy.
"What started as something very innocent, looking at recipes, ended up with me being anxious about everything from shampoo to what I'm washing my dishes with."
Launching She Thrives: An Online Community for Women's Health
Motivated by her personal experience, Barbora has now established She Thrives, an online social community aimed at dispelling myths and breaking down taboos surrounding women's health. The platform addresses topics such as menopause, mental wellbeing, periods, and fertility, providing women in the North East with a safe space to access accurate, evidence-based information.
The mother hopes that She Thrives will "transform the way women discuss health" and foster open, informed conversations.
Inspiration from Regional Health Report
Barbora was inspired to create this resource after reviewing the Woman of the North report, published by Health Equity North in 2024. The report highlighted that women living in the North of England tend to work longer hours, experience greater ill health, and are more likely to be victims of domestic violence compared to women in other regions.
Working in healthcare communications, Barbora emphasizes that she "knew there were people that did have the answers" and sought to connect women with reliable sources.
Support from NHS and Medical Professionals
She Thrives has garnered support from the North East and North Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board, The Northern Health Science Alliance, and several NHS trusts. Additionally, individual medical professionals in the region have endorsed the initiative, expressing concern about the misleading content influencing women on social media.
Dr Katherine Gilmore, a consultant in community gynaecology and sexual and reproductive healthcare at the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, notes that she frequently encounters patients who have been exposed to inaccurate information online.
"One of the main barriers to healthcare for women at the moment is time," she explains. "Social media is the perfect place for them to go to, isn't it?"
"But she says the downside to that is misinformation.
"You can really tell the patients who are well informed versus the women who have seen lots of scare stories. And it can be a real worry."
Positive Reception from Local Women
Women in the North East have welcomed She Thrives as a valuable resource. Kate Scott, from Hebburn, reflects on the absence of such support during her own challenges.
"When I was going through stuff there was nothing like this there," she says. "What Barbora's doing is going to help my daughter and grandchildren in future."
Sarah McEwan, from Jarrow, also expresses her support, highlighting the importance of self-care for women balancing family and work.
"Women work really hard, bringing up our families, working full-time, so this is highlighting that we should focus on ourselves," she says.
Alison Quinn, another resident of Jarrow, notes the anxiety caused by misinformation online among her friends and welcomes the initiative.
"A lot of my friends have been anxious about things they have read online and I think this is really helpful."
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