Professor Annalise Weckesser
Annalise came to the UK in 2007 from Canada to undertake doctoral studies in Medical and Feminist Anthropology at the University of Warwick's School of Health and Social Studies. In her previous, pre-academic life, Annalise worked in community outreach in Toronto’s family resource centres (aka Sure Starts).
From 2009 to 2011, with funding from the Wenner-Gren Foundation, Annalise undertook fieldwork on gendered care networks in the rural South Africa and the context of catastrophic illness for her PhD dissertation, Girls, Gifts and Gender: An ethnography of the materiality of care in rural Mpumalanda, South Africa.
She joined Birmingham City University's Centre Social Care and Health Related Research in 2012, where she had the good fortune of working with Professor Emeritus Elaine Denny on gendered chronic health (particularly endometriosis and epilepsy) experiences. Annalise now undertakes research on gendered experiences of reproductive, sexual, and menstrual health inequalities with the aim of shaping practice, policy, and public debate.
She co-founded and leads coordination of SEEN (Social SciencEs Endometriosis Network, formerly known as International Endometriosis Social Research Network), co-leads the Gender, Family and Health Research Cluster, leads Impact for the Faculty of Health, Education and Life Science UoA3 (Allied Health Professionals), and co-founded and co-leads The VQ Collective (a women’s sexual health public engagement initiative).
Annalise speaks to a range of academic, practitioner, government, and public audiences. Public talks include ‘The Role of Social Endometriosis Research in Addressing and Health Inequalities’ and ‘Vagina Dialogues: Challenging Stigma around Menstruation, Menopause and Female Sexuality’ for Oxford’s Evidence-Based Health Care series (both available as a podcasts) and talks for Pint of Science, the Fawcett Society, and Bloody Good Period’s Menstrual Activism International Network.
She publishes on endometriosis and gender biases in health for The Conversation. Her media engagement work includes the BBC educational video ‘C-Section Guilt: I felt like I’d failed’, The New Statesmen (Caroline Criado-Perez’s article ‘Why the “Gender Data Gap” Means Doctors Don’t Take Women’s Pain Seriously’) and The Independent (‘Endometriosis: Millions of Women Suffering from Chronic Lack of Research’).
Current Activity
Annalise leads a project for Plan International UK’s and Brook’s Let’s Talk. Period initiative, creating a series of evidence-based resources for the menstruation education, health, policy, and advocacy sector. The series entails four reports:
- Centring the Voices of Young People
- Best Practices & Latest Innovations in UK Period Poverty Initiatives
- Inclusivity & Diversity – UK Expert Views
- Evidencing & Evaluating Period Poverty Initiatives for Impact
In collaboration with Dr Stella Bullo and The Language of Endometriosis project, Annalise is undertaking a study of health professionals’ experiences of providing care for patients with suspected or diagnosed endometriosis. See the Discover Society article, ‘It’s a Challenge’: Doctors’ Perspectives on Diagnosing Endometriosis and Improving Care, for preliminary findings from the project. She is also collaborating on an ESRC funded project led by Gemma Williams on period poverty in the UK during the Covid19 pandemic.
Annalise leads two research projects for Umbrella Sexual Health. One study entails improving the return rates of STI home testing kits ordered online. The other study examines the use of the ‘mystery shopper’ method in evaluating sexual health services within community pharmacy settings.
Annalise has and is disseminating findings from a number of NIHR-HTA funded qualitative research projects. These include an examination of women’s post caesarean section recovery experiences as part of the PREPS (Vaginal Preparation at caesarean section to Reduce Endometriosis and Prevent Sepsis) feasibility trial. With Professor Emeritus Elaine Denny, she explored women’s experiences of pregnancy while living with epilepsy as part of the EMPiRE (Anti-Epileptic drug Monitoring in PREgnancy) Trial. Annalise and Denny also examined women’s experiences of medical treatments for endometriosis for the PRE-EMPT (Preventing Recurrence of Endometriosis by Means of long acting Progestogen Therapy) Trial.
Areas of Expertise
- Reproductive, menstrual, and sexual health
- Gendered experiences of health inequalities
- Chronic health conditions (such as endometriosis and epilepsy)
- Young people and (menstrual and sexual) health
- Patient experiences and engagement
- Qualitative (applied and participatory) methods in health research
- Feminist (Praxis) Theory and Medical Anthropology
Qualifications
- PhD, Medical Anthropology, School of Health and Social Studies, University of Warwick, 2012
- Community of Practice for Doctoral Supervision, SEDA Accreditation, 2021
- Good Clinical Practice, National Institute for Health Research, Clinical Research Network, 2020
- Aurora (Training in Leadership and Gender Equality), Advance Higher Education, 2017
- Fellow of Advance Higher Education, 2016
Memberships
Critical Approaches to Scholarship in Pain Research, 2021 to present
World Endometriosis Society, 2022 to present
Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, 2020 to present
Feminist Gender Equality Network, 2020 to present
Feminist Studies Association, 2020 to present
Teaching
- Postgraduate Certificate in Research – Qualitative Research Methods
- Advanced Qualitative Research Design seminars
- Lectures in the following areas: Anthropology/Sociology of Childhoods; Feminist Theory; Gender and Health; Research Techniques with Children and Young People; Anthropology of Humanitarian Aid & Philanthropy; Global Childhood(s)
Research
Current/ongoing research:
Co-I – EpiSafe - Optimising outcomes in pregnant women with epilepsy and their babies: Reducing maternal seizure risks and assessing long-term safety of antiepileptic drugs, NIHR: Programme Grant for Applied Research, 2023 - 2028
Convener – ‘Reframing Endometriosis: Power, Politics and Potential Futures’ British Academy & Wellcome Trust Conference, July 6th and 7th 2023
Lead Investigator – Improving Maternity Services: Listening to Families and Staff, R&D Number: 288136; REC Reference: 20/YH/0256; HRA Approval:20/11/2020
PI – ‘Improving Mystery Shopper Evaluation Methods in Community Pharmacies Providing Sexual Health Services’ (Umbrella Sexual Health, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust)
Lead Investigator – Barriers to Return of Home Sampling Kits for Sexually Transmitted Infections Requested Online: A Qualitative Study (Umbrella Sexual Health, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust)
Completed projects/dissemination in process:
(2021) Lead Investigator - Plan International UK’s and Brook’sLet’s Talk.Period Menstruation Research Resources. Creating evidence-based resources for the menstruation education, health, policy, and advocacy sector:
- Centring the Voices of Young People
- Best Practices & Latest Innovations in UK Period Poverty Initiatives
- Inclusivity & Diversity – UK Expert Views
- Evidencing & Evaluating Period Poverty Initiatives for Impact
(2022) Co-I - Periods in a Pandemic: How UK period poverty initiatives are managing with Covid-19 related challenges (UKRI: Economic Social Research Council)
(2022) Co-Lead - Situational analysis of girls’ experiences of menstruation in the UK and policy and programmatic responses (Plan International UK)
(2021) Lead with Dr Stella Bullo of The Language of Endometriosis - Communicating Endo: Doctors’ Perspectives on Treating (Suspected) Endometriosis (HELS Faculty Pilot Project Scheme)
(2019) Co-Lead- Ethics & Desires: BeanFlicks - bringing academics, activists and creators for public engagement event on gender, sexuality and marginalised bodies) (Film Hub West Midlands)
(2018) Co-I - PREPS - Vaginal Preparation at caesarean section to Reduce Endometritis and Prevent Sepsis a feasibility study of Chlorhexidine Gluconate (NIHR: Research for Patient Benefit)
Postgraduate Supervision
- Avital Prais: Menstrual Cycle Monitoring and Sport Performance
- Amie Randhawa: Teenage Girls’ Experiences and Awareness of Endometriosis
- Tamara Shiboleth: Teenagers’ Experiences of Sexual Assault Support Services
- Gemma Williams: Menstrual Equity and Chronic Illness
- Louisa Clifford: Experiences of/Improving Services for Parents of Preterm Multiples
- Kate Codd: (Staffordshire University) Health Care Visitors and Improving Responses to Domestic Violence
- Andrea Anastassoui: Teen Sexting, Gender and the Individualisation of Risk (Completed)
Publications
Selection of Publications
Hughes, Weckesser, Denny, et al. (2024) Barriers and facilitators to healthcare practitioners providing care for pregnant women with epilepsy: A systematic review and narrative synthesis Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy
Perro, Seglah, Abrahams, Weckesser & Griffith (2022) Black Women’s Menstrual & Reproductive Health: A Critical Call to Action BMJ
Weckesser & Denny (2022, 2018) Qualitative Research Methods Series in Obsterics & Gyneacology’ BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Includes:
- Weckesser & Denny (2022) Qualitative Research: Role of Theory and Ethics BJOG: Research Methods Guide
- Weckesser & Denny (2022) Qualitative Research: Analysing Data and Rigour BJOG: Research Methods Guide
- Denny & Weckesser (2022) How to do Qualitative Research? BJOG: Research Methods Guide
- Denny & Weckesser (2022) Qualitative Research: Quality not Quantity BJOG: Research Methods Guide
- Denny & Weckesser (2018) Qualitative Research: What it is, what it is not BJOG: Research Methods Guide
Williams, Craddock, & Weckesser (2022) Periods in a Pandemic: How UK Period Poverty Initiatives Have Mitigated Covid19 Challenges, Report for UKRI: Economic and Social Research Council.
Bullo & Weckesser (2021) Addressing Challenges in Endometriosis Pain Communication Between Patients and Doctors: The Role of Language, in Frontiers in Global Women's Health
Randhawa, Tufte-Hewett, Weckesser, et al. (2021) Secondary School Girls' Experiences of Menstruation and Awareness of Endometriosis: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol.
Weckesser, Randhawa, Williams & Hewett (2020) Let’s Talk. Period Research Briefs. Brook and Plan International. A series of evidence-based resources for the menstruation education, health, policy, and advocacy sector, entailing four reports:
- Centring the Voices of Young People
- Best Practices & Latest Innovations in UK Period Poverty Initiatives
- Inclusivity & Diversity – UK Expert Views
- Evidencing & Evaluating Period Poverty Initiatives for Impact
Abbott, Weckesser & Egan (2020) ‘“Everyone knows someone in an unhealthy relationship”: Young people’s talk about intimate heterosexual relationships in England,’ in Sex Education
Weckesser, Hodgetts-Morton, Wilson, et al. (2019) ‘Women’s Perspectives on Caesarean Section Recovery, Infection and the PREPS Trial: A Qualitative Study,’ BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth, 19 (245).
Denny & Weckesser (2019) ‘Women’s Experiences of Endometriosis’ in Ussher, Chrisler, & Prez (eds), Routledge International Handbook of Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health.
Hodgetts-Morton, Hewitt, Wilson, Farmer, and Weckesser, et al. (2019) ‘Vaginal preparation with chlorhexidine at cesarean section to reduce endometritis and prevent sepsis: A randomized pilot trial (PREPS)’ in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.
Denny, Weckesser, Jones, G, et al. (2018) ‘Women’s Experiences of Medical Treatment for Endometriosis and its Impact on PRE-EMPT Trial Participation: A Qualitative Study,’ Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 4 (1).
Hodgetts-Morton, Wilson, Hewitt, Weckesser, et al. (2018) ‘Chlorhexidine vaginal preparation versus standard treatment at caesarean section to reduce endometritis and prevent sepsis—a feasibility study protocol (the PREPS trial).’ Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 4 (84).
Jørgensen, Weckesser, Turner & Wade (2018) ‘Young People’s views on Sexting Education and Support Needs: Findings and recommendations from a UK-based Study’ Sex Education, 19 (1).
Thangaratinam, Marlin, Newton, Weckesser, et al. (2018) ‘AntiEpileptic drug Monitoring in PREgnancy (EMPiRE): a double-blind randomised trial on effectiveness and acceptability of monitoring strategies,’ NIHR-HTA Final Report: Health Technology Assessment, 22 (23).
Weckesser & Denny (2017) ‘Reworking Biographies: Women’s Experiences of Pregnancy Whilst Living with Epilepsy,’ Social Science and Medicine, 185.
Middleton, Daniels, Weckesser, & Bhattacharya (2017) ‘Preventing Recurrence of Endometriosis by Means of Long-Acting Progestogen Therapy (PRE-EMPT): Report of an Internal Pilot, Multi-Arm, Randomised Controlled Trial Incorporating Flexible Entry Design and Adaption of design Based on Feasibility of Recruitment,’ Trials, 18 (21).
Weckesser &. Denny (2013) ‘Women Living with Epilepsy, Experiences of Pregnancy and Reproductive Health: A Review of the Literature,’ Seizure, 22(2).
(Academic) Media Articles
Boylan, Weckesser & Dixon ‘People with endometriosis and PCOS wait years for a diagnosis – attitudes to women’s pain may be to blame,’ The Conversation, March 23rd 2022
Weckesser & Bullo ‘Endometriosis: understanding how sufferers describe pain could lead to faster diagnosis,’ The Conversation, Nov 21st 2021
Weckesser ‘Endometriosis: three reasons care still hasn’t improved,’ The Conversation, March 25th 2021
Weckesser ‘“It’s a challenge”: Doctors’ perspectives on diagnosis endometriosis and improving care’ Discover Society, June 3rd 2020
Bloom, Galpin, Weckesser (2020) ‘Focus: Interrogating ‘A Woman’s Curse’ – What endometriosis tells us about politics & society’, Discover Society
Selection of Conference Papers and Talks
(2022) Invited paper ‘Endometriosis and the global menstrual equity movement’ Global Period Poverty Forum Share the Dignity, Brisbane, Australia, Oct 10-12th
(2022) Invited paper, ‘The role of social endometriosis research in addressing and understanding health inequalities’ Oxford Talks: Evidenced-Based Health Care Programme, University of Oxford, June 30th podcast available: http://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/evidence-based-health-care
(2022) Invited talk, Weckesser & Williams ‘Periods in the Pandemic & Current Responses to Period Poverty in England’ Menstrual Health Day Event, Irise International, online, May 28th
(2022) ‘We know what good care is, but we can’t deliver it: Maternity staff experiences in context of ongoing crisis’ Centre for Social Care and Health Related Research Annual Conference, Birmingham City University, May 10th
(2021) Invited series of talks for Menstrual Activism International Network, Weckeser & Williams, ‘Then: Periods in the Pandemic: findings from the frontlines,’ Sept 15th ‘Now: Let’s Talk. Period – Best Practice & Assessing Impact,’ Nov 16th ‘Next: Let’s Talk. Period – Inclusivity, Diversity & Centring Young Voices,’ Dec 7th
(2021) ‘They think we think they’re mad: UK Clinicians’ experiences of providing care for those with suspected endometriosis’. Conference presentation. Chronic Living: An Interdisciplinary Conference. University of Copenhagen, Denmark, (hybrid, online conference) March 4th -6th
(2020) Conference Co-Convener Interrogating a ‘Woman’s Curse: What Endometriosis Tells Us about Politics and Society Sociology of Health & Illness Foundation, University of Birmingham (Moved Online as virtual series due to Covid)
(2020) Co-Convener: ‘Ethics & Desires’ Bean Flicks Feminist Porn Festival, Film Hub West Midlands and Birmingham City University, Birmingham, Feb 14th -15th
(2020) Invitedtalk, ‘Towards Diversity & Inclusion in the Menstruation Movement: Key Experts’ Insights’ Periods and Beyond, Brunel University, London, Feb 10th
(2019) ‘The VQ Collective: A women’s sexual health public engagement initiative’ University of Manchester’s Research Engagement Network, Manchester, June 25th
(2018) Invited paper, ‘Vagina Dialogues: Challenging Stigma around Menstruation, Menopause and Female Sexuality’ Oxford Talks: Evidenced-Based Health Care Programme, University of Oxford, Jun 20th Podcast: https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/people/annalise-weckesser
(2018) Invited talk ‘Communication Taboos Around Menstruation, Sex and Menopause,’ Pint of Science: Let’s Talk about Sex, Birmingham, May 14th
(2018) ‘“Doctors Don’t Live with the Consequences”: Women’s Negotiations of Medication in Pregnancy while Living with Epilepsy’ 17th European Society for Health and Medical Sociology Biennial Congress, Lisbon, Portugal, 6-8th June
(2018) ‘Women’s Views on Ceasarean section Recovery, Infection and the PREPS Trial’ British Maternal & Fetal Medicine Conference, Brighton, 28-29th March
(2017) ‘Women’s Decision-Making around Anti-epileptic Drug Management’ British Sociology Association (BSA) Medical Sociology Annual Conference, York University, 11-13th September
(2016) ‘Sextually Active: Lessons from an Inter-disciplinary Pilot Study with Young People on the Digital Mobility of Sexual Images’ Im/mobile Youth: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Spatial and Temporal Change in Young People’s Lives, University of Manchester,1st April
(2014) ‘Re-Working Biographies: Women’s Narratives of Pregnancy whilst Living with Epilepsy,’ BSA, Medical Sociology, Aston University, 10th -12th September
Media Work
Dr Weckesser is available to speak to the media about her research and public engagement work.
Examples of previous work:
- The Guardian (2021) ‘Covid Drug Could Reduce Heavy Menstrual Bleeding’
- BBC News (2020) BBC Video ‘C-Section Guilt: I felt like I’d failed’
- Refinery 29 (2019)‘Every Single Reason Why Women Aren’t Taken Seriously about Endometriosis’
- The New Statesmen (2018) ‘Why the “Gender Data Gap” Means Doctors Don’t Take Women’s Pain Seriously’
- The Independent (2017) ‘Endometriosis: Millions of Women Suffering from Chronic Lack of Research’
Links and Social Media
@EndoSRN (Twitter handle for SEEN – Social SciencEs Endometriosis Network)