Why a Reproductive Science Expert Ditched the Lab to Fight Fertility Myths

Professor Joyce Harper spent decades as a clinical embryologist and researcher, but her most important discovery happened outside the lab: even highly educated women don't understand their own reproductive health. After realizing she herself didn't truly grasp her menstrual cycle despite having two degrees, Harper shifted her entire career focus from laboratory research to public education and myth-busting.

What Sparked This Career Transformation?

Harper's journey began in 1987 when she started working as a clinical embryologist in one of the UK's busiest fertility clinics. Despite her scientific background, she was shocked to discover how little she understood about her own body at age 25. "I was a 25-year-old woman who did not really understand my menstrual cycle or fertility," Harper explains.

This realization prompted her to start writing a book for women like herself - one that wouldn't be finished until 2021, more than three decades later. The delay wasn't due to procrastination, but rather Harper's dedication to getting the science right and her parallel career in laboratory research.

Why Did She Leave Laboratory Research Behind?

Harper's transition away from hands-on research happened gradually over several years. Around 10 years ago, she made the decisive move to close her preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) programme and step away from lab work entirely. The field had become increasingly commercialized, with large diagnostic companies taking over much of the work that her team preferred to keep research-focused.

This shift allowed Harper to return fully to what had always been her passion: educating the public about reproductive health. Her current work spans the entire reproductive lifespan, from puberty through menopause, addressing critical knowledge gaps at every stage.

What Misconceptions Is She Fighting?

Harper's research across multiple countries reveals consistent patterns of misinformation and knowledge gaps. Her team has conducted extensive studies in the UK, Japan, Belgium, and Greece, speaking with everyone from school children to postmenopausal women. The message is always the same: education needs to start much earlier.

Through her work with the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration (IRHEC), Harper has identified key areas where myths persist and accurate information is desperately needed:

• Menstrual Cycle Understanding: Basic knowledge about fertility windows and ovulation timing remains poor even among educated women
• Reproductive Conditions: Critical conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis are poorly understood by the general public
• Fertility Timing: Misconceptions about age-related fertility decline and optimal conception timing are widespread
• Menopause Preparation: Women approaching perimenopause often lack basic knowledge about what to expect and when

Harper's approach involves developing free teaching resources and structured educational sessions that can be delivered online or in person. She believes that providing reliable, evidence-based information at key life stages - during school years, when trying to conceive, and approaching menopause - could dramatically improve women's reproductive health outcomes.

"For many intelligent, educated women, understanding what is evidence-based and what is not is empowering," Harper notes, emphasizing that her book 'Your Fertile Years' represents the resource she wished she had access to as a young woman.

Harper's work extends beyond individual education to policy and curriculum development. She's currently reviewing school curricula in different countries to identify gaps and define what should be included in reproductive health education. Her goal is to ensure that topics like PCOS, endometriosis, miscarriage, fertility, and menopause are covered appropriately at different educational stages.