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Although women spend a quarter of their lives menstruating bold and brave conversations about periods are rare. In the past women might have experienced 40 periods over the course of their lives, now - due to changes in our working and family lives - it maybe more like 400, so if you have a difficult monthly period it can have a hugely significant impact on your quality of life. Some women share stories with each other but all too often women suffer in silence and just assume that they should put up and shut up from month to month. But according to leading expert in the field Professor Hilary Critchley we need to be talking more about periods and the impact they have on our lives so we can understand them better. Until we start to share stories and open up about periods its very difficult for researchers to properly define what a 'normal' period looks like and find solutions when women have problems.

Held at the Royal Society in Edinburgh, in this Brainwaves Pennie Latin brings together Professor Hilary Critchley and a group of students and staff from the University of Edinburgh to hear about Hilary's research and share stories about this rarely discussion topic which unites us all.