Hello! My name is Anne-Cecile Dingwall, founder of oyo lab.
oyo lab is starting small since it is just myself, embarking on the journey of self-employment! Want to know more about the name 'oyo lab'? oyo symbolises the female reproductive organs. lab stands for laboratory and it reflects a time in my life where I used to spend many hours per week in a lab, as a scientist! ​Let me now share a little bit about my journey.
Early Life and Menstrual Milestones
I was born and raised in France, the second of four girls. Though I wasn’t the oldest, I somehow ended up being the first to experience one of life’s significant milestones: my first period. Thankfully, my mum was always open and approachable when it came to any questions and she offered some very practical advice to me: “Get a little notebook to track the first day of your period.” It sounded simple enough, but that small piece of advice ended up being incredibly empowering. I started tracking my cycle in 1994 and believe it or not, I still use the same little notebook today. It has been my cycle tracker for nearly three decades! — a silent witness to the ebb and flow of my menstrual journey.​
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Career in Healthcare and Professional Training
With a decade of experience in the healthcare industry in the UK, I’ve built a career that combines scientific expertise in DNA sequencing technology with a passion for helping others. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working as a professional trainer, teaching and empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in their work. This blend of science and education has been incredibly fulfilling and has shaped the way I approach all of my professional endeavours.
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Motherhood and the Realisation
As a mother of 3 children, including 2 daughters, I came to realise that, despite my years of experience, the menstrual cycle was a reflection of our overall health and that only the tip of the iceberg was known to me.
Having had the privilege of a straightforward and regular menstrual cycle so far, I recognise that not everybody's experience is the same. I realise how important it is to honour and appreciate the diversity of experiences with regards to menstrual health.
I felt something had to be done to ensure that our children had the tools, language, and confidence to understand the menstrual cycle in a way I never did growing up. This desire sparked a new direction in my career.
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Becoming a Menstrual Educator
In 2023, I retrained as a menstrual educator through the Kiffe Ton Cycle program, and in doing so, I discovered a new passion: teaching others about the beauty, complexity, and resilience of the menstrual cycle. My approach is practical, pragmatic and accessible—no graphs, no hard-core biology. I use metaphors and real-world examples to make the subject engaging, relevant, and empowering. It has been an incredible experience to teach others about something so fundamental to our health, yet so often misunderstood.
New Chapter: Self-Employment and Empowerment
Now, I find myself embarking on an exciting new chapter: self-employment. I educate people about the menstrual cycle, its impact on their overall health and how they can connect with their body. I offer my services in both French and English. This journey feels both deeply personal and incredibly meaningful. It is a crazy, fulfilling ride and it is one that gives me the opportunity to empower everyone — young girls, women and their allies — to truly understand, respect and support each other.