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With so many vaginal lubricants for menopause dryness and feminine moisturizers for sex to choose from, it’s no wonder people are a little confused.

The truth is, different types of products serve different purposes, and one product may not fit your every need. And of course, it’s important to use the lubricant properly to ensure you get the full benefit. So, how do you find the best lubricant for women? Here are 10 answers to show you exactly how to pick the right one for your own needs.

If you are looking to reignite your sex life, a menopause-certified health coach can be helpful. Book 30 minutes for your personal consultation with a health coach.

10 answers for picking the best intimate lubricants for women

We put some of your frequently asked questions to our product-formulation team, and here’s what we found out:

Question One: Is the lubricant safe to use internally?

You’d be surprised how many products women use for vaginal dryness that aren’t actually approved for intra-vaginal use; they’re only intended for use outside the body. Additionally, lubes with flavors, warming or tingling elements, scents, etc. can cause reactions, and added sugars for flavoring can increase your risk of a yeast infection, so check the label and proceed with caution.

To be sure you’re OK to insert the product vaginally, check that it’s certified for intra-vaginal use, like Gennev Comfort for painful sex and vaginal dryness. Internally safe lubricant can alleviate painful sex experienced after pregnancy, or symptoms often experienced throughout menopause due to estrogen dominance or estrogen loss.

Question Two: Is the lubricant safe for masturbation?

We’re really glad you asked that question! Many women we’ve talked to don’t really get why you need lubrication for solo play. First, to answer your question, yes: If it’s safe for sex, it’s certainly safe for masturbation. But again, check the label if you intend to use it internally.

The bigger question here may be, why use lube when you’re alone? For the same reasons you use it when you’re with a partner: it enhances your pleasure and protects delicate tissue, especially if you’re enjoying sex toys like the Lioness vibrator, etc. It’s common to apply personal lubricant for feminine dryness, and it’s also a great way to discover how much you need, how best to apply it, etc., so you can feel confident when there’s someone there with you as and what’s sexier than that?

As with any other intimate activity, your purpose (yes, you can have more than one) may help you determine the best feminine lubricant to use. If you want to rejuvenate vaginal tissue with some healthy vibration, for example, you may want a silicone-based lubricant that lasts longer.

Note: if your toys, vibrators, etc. are made of silicone, opt for a water-based lubricant as more on that in a moment.

Question Three: Will it hold up in the shower?

Some women have asked if water is naturally lubricating. It’s not as water will actually wash away your natural moisture, so you’ll definitely want to add a lubricant to your friskier showers. Water-based lubricants may not have much staying power under a direct stream of water; products with silicone will likely hold up better.

And this may sound silly, but we suggest giving your lubricant a test run in the shower on your own a time or two as when the moment arises, you don’t want to be fumbling with an unfamiliar cap! Plus you’ll get a good idea of how long your lubricant lasts before being washed away.

Question Four: Which products work with condoms?

Lubricants must undergo condom compatibility testing to obtain 510k certification, so you can use products with this cert, like Gennev Comfort, with confidence. The general rule is to stay away from oil-based lubricants like petroleum jelly, which can degrade condoms.

Natural lubricants for female dryness, menopausal or not, are an appealing choice, but be cautious also of “natural” oils like olive oil, avocado, or coconut oil, as those can degrade a condom to the point of tearing during intercourse.

Question Five: What’s the best personal lubricants for female with toys?

Generally, it’s wise to avoid silicone-based lubricants with silicone toys, as the lube can break down the material of the toy. Water-based lubricants like Gennev Intimacy Lubricant are probably the better choice for use with silicone-based toys. Hard plastic toys aren’t vulnerable to silicone-based lubricants, so having an assortment is never a bad idea!

Question Six: How should I clean up after?

Water alone or soap and water work best, according to our gals, so keep it simple! And certainly personal hygiene wipes like our Cleansing Cloths can be used when soap and water aren’t immediately available.

Check the label or product description for “non-staining,” if you value your sheets and bedspread. Lubricants with colors, flavors, etc. can be messy. Non-staining lubricants and moisturizers like all Gennev products in our shop tend to be healthier for your body anyway, so”¦bonus!

Question Seven: How to apply lubricants for females?

Learning how to apply lubricants for females is often an onus unfairly foisted upon the female partner in the relationship, but it doesn’t hurt to have a good understanding of the process. “Apply generously” got a lot of head nods from our team. While lubricants combat women’s vaginal dryness and the resulting pain, men can suffer from too much friction too; customers have told us that a few drops inside the condom solves the problem nicely.

Don’t want to interrupt to reapply? We get it: it can be a little awkward. However, vaginal tissue is delicate, and extended play without lubrication can damage that tissue. Make it part of the whole sexy experience by applying it one another. Just warm it up in your hands first to avoid chilling the moment.

Question Eight: Which is best for a woman who is susceptible to urinary tract infections (UTIs)?

Everyone’s sensitivity is different, and no vaginal moisturizer or feminine lubricant can guarantee it won’t cause a reaction. However, a product formulated to closely mimic a woman’s natural moisture and osmolality is least likely to trigger a UTI. In lay terms (pun intended), a healthy body has a healthy amount of moisture in tissue cells. The wrong lubricant can, ironically, dry out skin cells, making them more susceptible to infection. Our Intimacy Lubricant is formulated to help the body maintain normal moisture levels, so your most sensitive tissues are protected from damage.

Question Nine: Is it best to avoid glycerin?

According to our formulation team, concerns about glycerin are overblown. Yes, some people have sensitivities to glycerin, but millions of people use glycerin-based lubricants without issues. It’s important to know your body and respond to its signals. If you want or need to avoid glycerin, there are plenty of good options when it comes to natural cures for female dryness, including Gennev Intimacy Lubricant.

Question Ten: How should I store my lubricant after opening?

It’s best if lubricants are kept at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. You don’t need to refrigerate, but it’s probably best to use it up or replace it when it reaches its expiration date. And again, this may sound silly, but take a look at the packaging your lubricant comes in. You don’t want to be embarrassed to pull it out in front of your partner. Is it classy enough to have on the nightstand, ready when you are?

Only You Can Know Your Best Personal Lubricant

Knowing your habits, preferences, and sensitivities will make it easier to make the right decision. Do you always use condoms? Do you tend to be sensitive to certain ingredients? Answers to such questions can help you narrow down the array of options.

And if you’re still not certain which vaginal lubricants are right for you, test out several (see? research can be fun!). 

If you have other questions to ask or suggestions to make to our product team, please do. You can email them to info@gennev.com. We’ll ask the team and include their answers in a future blog. Meanwhile, let’s hear about your experience with lubricants! Share your stories with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or in the comments on this blog.

 

Freeze.

Check your posture. How are you sitting or standing right now? Is your body neatly aligned with your spine, joints stacked squarely on top of one another, head in a neutral position?

Or are your shoulders and back rounded, head jutting forward to see your screen, chest caved in?

One of the most important things we can do to eliminate pain, avoid doing damage to our bodies, and exude a confident, vibrant air is fix our posture.

Back, shoulder, neck, hip, knee, foot, and pelvic pain, plus incontinence and prolapse can all be caused or made worse by chronic poor posture. But fixing it is hard; as soon as we stop being aware of how we’re standing or sitting, we revert back to our slouches, leans, and locked knees.

To learn what proper posture is and how to improve our standing (so to speak), we turned to our awesome DPTs, Brianna from Four Pines Physical Therapy and Meagan of Orthopedic & Spine Therapy.

The posture problem

What does poor posture look like? According to Meagan, the problem starts, literally, from the ground up.

When you’re standing, where are you bearing most of your weight? How you stand translates all the way up, so it’s important to be sure your body is in proper alignment.

“I find a lot of people hang out on their heels, and that sets up a cascade for lazy standing,” Meagan says. “When we do that, we’re not relying on active muscles for support but instead locking our joints. When we stack up locked ankles, knees, hips, and spine, it passes the burden of holding us upright to our ligaments and skeletal structure. At some point, we can’t get away with that anymore, and things start to hurt.”

She went on to describe the posture of someone who isn’t stacking their body correctly: “Typically, the most common crummy posture I see is weight on the heels, knees locked and slightly hyper-extended [bending the wrong way], pelvis thrust forward with hips locked, bum tucked under into what we call a posterior pelvic tilt, and then, because we know we should have good posture, shoulders thrown back. Or they’ve given up on good posture and are hunched in a forward slouch.”

When we try to “fix” our incorrect posture, we tend to do it “from the rib cage up,” she says. “But just squaring our shoulders and keeping our head straight really only contributes to the neck and back pain.”

And posture problems are increasing in younger folks too, thanks to a screen-saturated culture, Bri adds. “I’m working with three teens right now who have that forward-head posture with their chin jutting at their screen, looking at phones or tablets which are down low on a desk or in their lap. Their heads are forward, chest caved in, shoulders rounded. A gentle mid-back cue to push things up and forward is all they need, but pretty soon they get tired and sore and go back to slouching.”

“Of course, when your muscles aren’t used to stabilizing you, they get tired,” she says. “But if you keep at it, they get stronger, just like any muscle you exercise.”

Check you out

A big part of fixing your posture is being aware of how you’re standing and sitting, and correcting what’s wrong.

So, check in with yourself. How?

According to Bri, one great test for those with breasts is to check out your personal “¦ um “¦ trajectory. “Physical Therapist Julie Wiebe suggests you check yourself out in a mirror or a window as you pass by, and notice where your boobs are pointing. Are they pointing at the ground, or up above the horizon? Or are they nicely horizontal, stacked neatly over your ribs, and leading you straight ahead? It’s an easy, quick way to connect with your posture and be aware of how you’re aligned.”

Another check, Meagan says, is to stand with your back against a wall. “Be sure your heels, hiney, the backs of your hands, and back of your head all come in contact with the wall. Keep your nose and “˜headlights’ (for those with headlights) level. If you can’t rest your head against the wall, you might want to talk with a PT for help to get that range of motion back. But this is something you can do several times a day, just to remind yourself what “˜straight’ feels like.”

There’s a sitting version of this too, for those long car commutes: “Don’t be a floating head over the steering wheel,” Meagan says. “Use your headrest, check in with it, press your head against it, use the supports for your back, and get a lumbar roll for longer trips. The support is there for a reason, so use it!”

And speaking of range of motion, when your body is in a healthy “neutral” stance, you should have range of motion available both forward and back. Can you tilt your pelvis forward and backward? It doesn’t have to be a big move, just small shifts, but you should have “room” to go both forward and back. If you can’t move one way, chances are you’re already too far in that direction.

And it’s not just standing and sitting when you need to be aware of your posture, Bri says. When you’re in the gym, take full use of the mirrors around you. Don’t lock your knees, don’t tuck your bottom up, don’t suck your stomach in. Find that nice, neutral position that allows your muscles and joints to do their job as stabilizers and shock absorbers.

OK, my posture needs work. What do I do?

Says Meagan, “When people say they get tired in the correct body position, that’s when I’ll go all the way to the floor. Yes, you’re clinging for dear life above, but if your pelvis is arriving to the room a full minute before your head does, you’re not lined up. Save your muscles by stacking your body correctly: shift your weight forward to the base of your big toe or the front of your foot’s arch. Bring your pubic bone over your shoelaces to unlock the joints below. Lift your sternum, don’t just shove your shoulders back. Open your chest and rib cage to straighten up from the slouch.”

Other suggestions include getting good shoes that fit your feet and your needs (probably NOT high heels). If you’re on your feet all day, consider inserts or custom orthotics, and get shoes that support your feet and ankles (or better yet, work on strengthening your feet and ankles).

Chest-opening exercises can make a big difference, Bri says: “If a motion of a joint is painful, it may take something as simple as fixing your posture to alleviate the pain. If you have shoulder pain, it may be because of a cramped, impinged posture that’s limiting your range of motion. Open up your chest with pectoral stretches. We do an exercise called the “˜open book‘ that helps you rotate and open your spine and stretch your chest muscles, thoracic spine, and pectorals.”

Also, get a good foam roller. Even just lying on it can help open you up and loosen tightness in your chest and thoracic spine (the part of your spine that runs from the base of your neck to your abdomen).

Change your posture periodically. Both PTs like adjustable desks because you can sit for a while, stand for a while. But it’s important to do both correctly and stay in alignment. If you start to shift your weight to one hip, it’s time to sit again.

Just be aware of what your body is doing, what you’re asking from it, Meagan says. Try to be aware that most of us stand with our knees locked, and try not to do that. You don’t have to stand with bent knees, just don’t lock them.

What does good posture look like?

Imagine a little creature that stands on your head and drops a plumb line down the side of your body. The line should run straight from your earhole to the midline of your shoulder (and remember, that’s with the rib cage up and open, not just shoving your shoulders back). From your shoulder, the line should run to the bony part of your hip, to the bony fibular head on the side of your knee, to the bony part of your ankle. Fortunately, your body leaves a sort of topographical map of bony bits to guide you.

Stacking your body properly allows gravity to work for you. Think of cultures where people carry heavy loads on their heads. “If your body is correctly aligned, it’s possible to carry quite a lot of weight safely. Gravity compresses and stabilizes you in a good way,” Meagan says. “But if you’re all out of alignment like a Jenga construction, you’re asking your muscles to take too much of the load.”

Fixing poor posture doesn’t happen overnight, especially when we’ve spent years hunched over our computers, books, or food, but as the PTs tell me, fixing your posture starts a cascade of so many other good things: better breathing, better sleep, less pain, reduced incontinence and prolapse risk, and more. Plus, consider the message your body language is sending into the world ““ do you appear withdrawn, isolated, and unwelcoming? Or confident, open, and ready for anything?

Go stand in front of a mirror and do the plumb line test. Pull your body into the best alignment you can manage. Really feel how straight and confident and strong you can be. Do this anytime during the day when your body hurts, when you’re tired or feeling insecure, or when you’ve just been sitting or standing too long. Then come back here and let us know how the simple act of correcting your posture changed your world ““ even if, for now, it’s just for a few minutes at a time.

Have you had help to improve your posture? How did you do it (other than joining the military…)? We’d love to hear more, so please feel free to comment here, or start a thread in our community forums. You can also reach out to us on Gennev’s public Facebook page or in our closed Facebook group.

 

Menopause, marriage and mood swings. Those three Ms don’t always mix well. Moodswings in menopause seem somewhat inevitable — but add marriage to that combo? It’s hard enough to deal with your own emotions, never mind your partner’s feelings about your feelings (here’s our tips for menopause help for husbands).

Why menopause and marriage problems might happen

We hate to break it to you, but there’s more than one reason that menopause might have an impact on your most intimate relationship. Below is just the shortlist of the menopausal problems that have been known to get in the way of romance:

If you haven’t entered the glorious phase of menopause, we promise: we’re not trying to scare you. We just want you to be prepared for what you could expect. (To be honest, nothing is written in stone, so don’t go out shopping for a bigger marriage lifeboat just yet.)

But if you are menopausal and are experiencing any of the above, we’ve got some hot tips to help you over the hump (but not so hot they’ll cause night sweats).

The link between menopause and mood swings

Why does menopause cause mood swings? Researchers believe there is a correlation between the fluctuation of hormones and the resulting sharp changes in mood. 

Some researchers believe that mood swings are related to other factors of menopause. If you can’t sleep because you’re awakened each night drenched in sweat, you might be a little cranky the next day. 

Some studies have suggested that female hormones may help regulate stress, and losing them could also affect the body’s ability to deal with stressors. 

And of course, your mood might not just affect your marriage. Northwest University found that menopause also forces women to take sick days at work. When mood swings are high, productivity drops. And stress over worrying about your job certainly doesn’t make things easier at home.

Irritability symptoms

If you’ve already entered perimenopause or menopause, you’ve probably already started experiencing one or more of these symptoms of irritability (though not all women do).

Sometimes these symptoms are tied to each other and sometimes they arrive a la carte. The important thing to remember is that you aren’t going crazy. All of these emotions are completely normal.* 

The bad news is that your partner might not care if they are normal or not. If you’re in a relationship with a man (or a woman who hasn’t experienced menopause yet), your partner might make you feel like you’re being irrational or oversensitive. And accusations of overreacting have never, in the history of relationships, actually helped someone to calm down.

It’s not me, it’s you

We’re going to let you in on a little secret: sometimes “mood swings” aren’t your fault at all! They might be a completely understandable reaction to a situation or stressor. However, because you’re going through menopause, your partner may be more likely to blame every argument or spat on your hormonal fluctuations. This is not OK.

Do you remember when you were a teenager and everyone assumed your meltdowns were the result of your changing hormones? (OK, maybe that had something to do with stomping to your room and slamming the door).

Yet just because your body is going through some changes, that doesn’t mean your partner gets a free pass to assume you’re simply overreacting.

In fact, some doctors believe that women often downplay situations, staying calmer than the situation warrants, thanks to the calming effects of estrogen. Menopause might actually balance out your hormones enough to help you see what’s “really going on here.”

So the next time you’re so mad you feel your head is going to pop off, first check that head-popping anger really isn’t necessary. If it’s not, take a deep breath and try one of the below exercises.

How to keep emotions and mood swings in check

Whether or not your emotions are justified, in most circumstances, you probably want to keep them in check. The tumult of the menopause transition isn’t forever, but it can do lasting damage to a marriage if ignored. Plus, your actions are still your actions. You’re the only one in charge of your reactions and emotions (not your partner or even menopause for that matter).

1. Take a deep breath – Before doing anything, just stop and take a deep breath when you feel your mood starting to shift. Our brains are wired to think that being attacked by a tiger and being on the receiving end of a few poorly chosen words deserve the same reaction. An adrenaline-fueled response may be more than you need.

We also sometimes mis-hear or misinterpret things. A sticky note on the fridge asking you to do the dishes doesn’t mean, “you’re a lazy bum, why don’t you ever do anything around here?” Probably it just means, I need you to do the dishes. 

So before you react, choose to act by taking a deep breath to calm the flood of chemicals that is pulsing through your body.

When we’re in fight-or-flight mode, our breath gets very shallow. This only intensifies those “out of control” feelings. Taking a deep breath can lower blood pressure and reduce stress hormones.

2. Don’t do anything – Don’t react to anything. In fact, don’t do a thing. Sometimes the best reaction is no action at all. Instead, skip to the next step.

3. Repeat what just happened – You’ll never find out what actually just happened if you react in anger or aggression. The best way to get someone on the defensive is to position yourself on the offense line. 

Repeat what the other person just said or say something along the lines of, “So what you’re saying to me is”¦” and then repeat what you’ve heard. Try to do this with as much curiosity and as little judgment as possible. Be open to the response “” you might not get the one you expect.

4. It’s OK to cry – Women are often “expected” to cry. While men may feel as though they can’t be vulnerable enough to cry, women are shamed because we’re doing the thing everyone expects us to do. But, if you need to cry, go ahead and cry. 

That being said, if crying all the time is just too much for you and you find your lip quivering at everything (in front of your boss, in line at the grocery store and when you see a photo of puppies crawling over babies), you might want to consider booking an appointment with a doctor to help you through the menopause symptoms rough patch.

When mood swings kill the mood

In addition to your mood swings, you might also find yourself struggling with a tired libido or vaginal dryness. We don’t know about you, but the terms “tired libido” and “vaginal dryness” are two sure-fire ways to kill the mood. Add a mood swing to that? Kiss intimacy goodbye!

If you’re having a hard time feeling the desire to connect sexually with your partner, you might try:

What experts don’t recommend? Faking interest or suffering through painful intercourse. Both of these methods generally lead down a one-way street of disaster. Instead, talk to your partner to discover some positions that make both of you feel good. 

After all, if it’s too painful to listen to your favorite songs, what better excuse is there to throw some new ones into the playlist?  

Generally, strong emotions around menopause are normal; however, if you feel your emotions are rising to the level of clinical and could have lasting impacts on your life or the lives of others, please get professional help. 

We can help you get the answers you need

 

The information on the Gennev site is never meant to replace the care of a qualified medical professional.  Hormonal shifts throughout menopause can prompt a lot of changes in your body, and simply assuming something is “just menopause” can leave you vulnerable to other possible causes. Always consult with your physician or schedule an appointment with one of Gennev’s telemedicine doctors before beginning any new treatment or therapy.

 

 

So, you didn’t sleep so well last night, you’re feeling a little irritable today, lunch left you with the ole’ menopause bloat and you’re seriously eyeing the space under your desk for a little snooze. Want to hit the gym?

Yeah, me neither. But you might want to drag yourself in anyway. Menopause is a time when a lot of women gain weight. That may partly be due to a slowing metabolism as hormone levels decline, but it may also be that at this time we tend to eat more (due to decreased sleep and increased anxiety) and exercise less (thank you, bloating and fatigue).

First, we want to say we think you look terrific. Seriously. And a little extra weight may actually be protective. But if you want to get more fit for health reasons, or just stay in shape for the coming zombie apocalypse, we’re here to help.

Why worry? Comparing apples to pears

Why worry about your weight? It’s a legitimate question. Many women embrace aging as it puts less emphasis on their looks and figure and more on their wisdom and experience. But the truth is, too many extra pounds in midlife can be hard on your health because of the way our bodies accumulate fat as we age. Before menopause, fat tends to be stored on hips, thighs, and buttocks, resulting in a pear shape. During and after menopause, fat is more likely to accumulate in the midsection, turning pears into apples.

And apple shapes are more likely to suffer from heart disease, making it a very good idea indeed to avoid gaining too much weight in midlife.

Finding your weigh

So how much should you weigh? Excellent question to which science has no easy answer. Your weight can vary significantly from day to day depending on hydration, and, if you’re still having periods, on where you are in your cycle. You can use BMI (body mass index) to give you a ballpark figure (ha ha), but BMI doesn’t take into account your fat-to-muscle ratio, and it measures excess weight, not excess fat.

Better indicators of ideal weight may be as simple as gauging how you feel. Are you able to walk and talk comfortably without gasping? Can you climb stairs, garden, chase children or grandchildren? Are your clothes comfortable or snug? Instead of fretting over numbers on a scale, decide as in consultation with a doctor or physical trainer as what your fitness goals are, and shoot for those instead.

PEBGAW

You’ve assessed your fitness level, determined some healthy goals, and you’re ready to shed some unhealthy pounds.

Now what?

You know “now what” as boost the fruit and veggie intake, get your full allotment of sleep, drink plenty of water, reduce low-nutrient foods like white breads and processed foods, cut back on sugar, and exercise. While human bodies are way too complex and variable for the reductive “calories in/calories out” idea, I’m guessing most of us have an idea or two how we can improve our diet and make lifestyle changes.

But here’s the issue: getting it done.

Perhaps it’s different for you, but for me, the problem isn’t necessarily knowing what to do as it’s having the discipline to do it. Tech support folks use the acronym “PEBKAC” (“Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair”) for when the issue isn’t the software or hardware, it’s the user. I’m going with “PEBGAW”: Problem Exists Between Goals And Willpower.

Again, the idea of “willpower” is too simplistic as there’s so much more going on than simply strength of will as but let’s concentrate on that portion we can control.

Rethinking the shrinking

Part of the mental and emotional problem of dieting is the notion of subtraction, of doing without, and that can be demoralizing. What if, instead, we focused on adding in, on increasing fullness and richness and variety?

  1. Add in gut-friendly foods. Kombucha, sauerkraut, miso, kimchi, kefir and yogurt, natto beans”¦ all of these are great for the digestion, which can help you feel better generally. Probiotics may play a very significant role in weight management, and when digestion is easier, life is easier, including exercise.
  2. Feast on fiber. Not only does fiber fill you up and keep you feeling fuller longer, it also helps reduce risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Fiber helps people control their diabetes and may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. On a personal level, I had roasted broccoli for dinner last night, and it was a revelation.
  3. Embrace water. It’s just good for you. While upping your water alone may not promote weight loss, if you’re subbing water for sugary soda or juice, that’s a great way to trim out extra pounds. And there’s some evidence that gulping a glass of H20 before a meal reduces the amount you eat, but the jury is still out on that. Consider adding a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar if you want to try something trendy.
  4. Gorge on camaraderie. Friends can be a great support system as you work to lose the weight. They can help you stay accountable, join you in exercise that would be lonely or boring otherwise, advise you on great recipes or restaurants that won’t wreck your progress, and break out the pompoms when you reach that next milestone.
  5. Find your sweaty passion. The best exercise is the one you’ll do. Consistently. OK, so running’s not your thing, but walking or hiking might inspire you, especially if you have a dog or camera to take along. Love problem solving? Consider rock climbing. If your body mechanics are better for low-impact, swimming and biking can be great fun. The trick is to find that thing that doesn’t feel like punishment. Personally, when I get bored with my routine, I get a new (or used but new to me) piece of gear. Gear is fun and more motivating than you might expect.

Weight gain in menopause isn’t inevitable. And combating it can actually be a pleasure, with the right ideas and attitude. Most importantly, don’t beat yourself up. Beating yourself up does not burn calories or build muscle, so cut it out (if you can). Perfection is not the goal; taking steps toward feeling better tomorrow than you do today is. Defeat PEBGAW by focusing on adding, not subtracting, and celebrate the victories as they come, whatever size they come in.

We’d love to know what you’re doing to be healthier, so please share triumphs, fails, and everything in between on Facebook and Twitter!

 

Grip strength: it’s not just about handshakes and pickle jars. The strength of your hands and forearms is actually a pretty decent predictor of future health.

Grip strength defined

According to Ruth Litchfield of Iowa State University, “Grip strength is a measure of muscular strength or the maximum force/tension generated by one’s forearm muscles.”

If you have your grip strength tested by your PT or doc, chances are they’ll hand you a device called a dynamometer. Squeeze the device three times, as hard as you can, and your result is the average of those three squeezes.

A good result for women over 40, according to a 2010 article in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, was at least 44 pounds of squeezing strength. (For comparison, human gecko free climber Alex Honnold squeezed over twice that at the Oscars).

Be aware that conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis can impact grip strength, so if you have either or both of those conditions, your numbers may well be lower.

Why do we care about grip strength and longevity?

Turns out, grip strength is cheap, quick, and pretty accurate predictor of future health.

A study done in the UK from 2007 to 2010 followed over half a million participants to see how well grip strength did as a measure of overall health and wellness. Participants ranged in age from 40 to 69 at the outset, were 54% female, and included a range of ethnicities, body mass indices, socioeconomic statuses, pre-existing conditions, and lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, physical activity, and diet.

Translation: it was a pretty good as though not perfect as sampling of the general population.

 

 

The aim of the study was to see if there was a correlation between grip strength and mortality and disease. Researchers wanted to determine if poor grip strength was associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, COPD, all cancers as and in particular breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancers as and mortality overall.

Turns out, as a predictive measure, grip strength is pretty accurate. For both men and women, they found, a lower grip strength of 5 kg (11 pounds) “was associated with a higher hazard for all cause mortality and incidence of and mortality from cardiovascular disease, all respiratory disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, all cancer, and colorectal, lung, and breast cancer.”

The association between grip and wellness declines a bit with age, perhaps because other factors can weaken muscles as we age, not just illness.

Why does this measure work?

It’s probably not the strength of hands and forearms that determine longevity; instead, it’s that grip strength is a good stand-in for overall health and wellness. Retaining muscle strength overall often leads to better health outcomes.

As Darryl Leong of McMaster University told The Washington Post, “Muscle strength is an indicator of your ability to withstand diseases. When you are stronger and you become ill, you have reserves that you can draw on to help fight the disease. Without muscle strength, your odds are significantly poorer.”

I struggle with pickle jars. Am I doomed?

Of course not, unless you depend on pickles for survival.

There are lots of factors that can impact grip strength. It has a strong hereditary component, according to the authors of the UK study (about 52%), but grip strength may also be a reflection of lifestyle.

So if a go at the dynamometer shows you have sub-optimal grip strength, there are things you can do to improve your overall health. (Just an FYI, though; simply improving grip strength probably won’t change your risk of developing certain diseases.)

Get at least 10-15 minutes of physical activity a day. Cardiovascular workouts such as swimming, biking, running, and walking are great, but try to add in some weight and resistance training. Not only is exercise good for muscles mass, it’s good for your bones, weight, and mood, all of which can increase longevity.

Improve core strength and balance. Falls and injuries due to falls are one of the leading causes of death among older Americans.

Eat a healthy diet. Older adults may need to keep an eye on their protein intake to be sure they’re getting enough protein to maintain muscle mass.

Don’t smoke. In addition to all the other negative impacts, smoking also affects strength. Even if you exercise, you’ll retain less muscle or add muscle more slowly if you’re a smoker.

Sitting around squeezing a stress ball to increase hand strength probably won’t help you live longer if you’re not also eating well, sleeping sufficiently, and exercising. (Though if it actually relieves stress, keep it up!)

The truth is, crashing fatigue, busy lives, mood issues such as depression, or menopause symptoms can all lead us to give up on those truly healthy lifestyle choices, like getting out for a walk or cooking our own meals. If you need a little encouragement, testing hand strength might be a good incentive, since you can actually see progress over time.

The next time you see your doc or PT, ask if you can take a grip test. Write down your numbers, left and right hand. In 3 months, test it again: have all those good, healthy changes you’ve made shifted the needle?

If you’ve tested your grip, or if you want to take us up on the challenge, let us know how it’s going. Please join us in our public forums, leave us a note on the Gennev Facebook page, or join our community in Midlife & Menopause Solutions, our closed Facebook group. 

 

Darcey Steinke has written a wholly original book about menopause. And it’s wonderful.

She starts with her own experience, then leads us on a journey that explores the biological, sociological, and cultural realities women have faced and continue facing during this part of their lives.

And how it’s time those “realities” underwent some real scrutiny.

Flash Count Diary with Darcey Steinke

In Flash Count Diary: Menopause and the Vindication of Natural Life, Darcey Steinke argues that menopause can and should be transformative as a unique opportunity to embrace a new, rich, potentially very altered self.

Once Gennev CEO Jill Angelo heard Darcey on NPR’s All Things Considered, she was eager to meet the woman who spoke so openly and honestly about the changes menopause can have on bodies, sex, relationships, and our own identities as women.

When she learned Darcey was coming to Seattle (home to Gennev HQ) to speak about her book, Jill reached out.

What follows is an incredibly lively, fun, and inspiring conversation. We hope you enjoy it!

Buy the book.

 

Have you read Darcey’s book yet (we hear it’s awesome for book clubs) or will you attend any of her events? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Please join us in our public forums! 

 

Would you characterize yourself as a do-it-yourself type of person when it comes to your health and wellness? If you’re like me, you’ve maxed out your free article options on Medium and The New York Times in an attempt to soak in every suggested treatment or women’s story that will help normalize what you’re going through.

Or, are you the type of person who wants to rely on the knowledge and care of a coach, a trainer or a very hands-on doctor? Someone who can walk you through understanding why you’re feeling lousy, then hold your hand through the behavior changes required to get on the other side of it?

I’m a DIYer. I’m super disciplined about what I need to do to adjust a lifestyle behavior for better health, and then I just do it. Some call it Type A. It comes with its pluses and minuses for sure. Sometimes I can be a little impatient and I’m not always coachable”¦not things that I’m proud to admit.

What type are you?

With the way the health coaching industry is booming, I’d guess that there are a lot of women who want an approach to getting healthy where you don’t have to go it alone. You’ve got a coach, a trainer or a concierge doctor who is there for you when you need someone to keep you accountable and who helps with wellness adherence.

A menopause-certified health coach can be helpful. Book 30 minutes for your personal consultation with a health coach.

Or are you a combo?

You start DIY in the early days but flip to a much-needed relationship (coach, trainer, doctor) to give you  a plan and see you through it?

While I’m typically a DIY when it comes to perimenopause (at this point!), I took the combo approach to running. For my first marathon, I skillfully ripped out the Less is More training from Runners World. And with every marathon thereafter, I would try another plan.

Then I hit a wall. I was super tired and had been diagnosed with Celiac (for a carb-loading runner, hearing that you could not eat pasta or bread prior to a race 10 years ago was sock in the stomach”¦but then eating pasta and bread was a sock in my stomach, literally).

I knew I had an uphill battle to qualify for the Boston marathon so I enlisted my first running coach. He pushed me to the limits; it was painful, and I dreaded the weekly run I had to do with him, because he’d know if I’d been accountable to the plan.

But I got faster. I got healthier. I hit my goals. And I learned to trust the plan.

There isn’t “a plan” for menopause, but I believe there could be a personalized plan for every woman based on her needs.

Do you agree?

How many of you have a plan related to your menopause symptoms or something similar for weight, strength, mental health or even sleep management? And are you working with a coach, a trainer, or a menopause doctor specialist who is keeping you accountable?

I’m intrigued by the idea of taking the idea of a “running plan and/or coach” and applying it to women’s health in menopause.

If it sounds like something you’re already doing or you’ve seen something like it in the glossy world of menopause solutions, send it my way. jill@gennev.com

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so let’s take a look at a little known, and little-understood, brain disorder: schizophrenia… especially with regard to what often happens to women with this condition during midlife, including potential improved effectiveness in treatment.

Details about schizophrenia

Though treatable, schizophrenia is not curable. When active, symptoms can include some combination of delusions, hallucinations, exaggerated or distorted perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors, challenges in thinking and concentration, and lack of motivation. When this disorder is active, people with schizophrenia are often unable to distinguish between real and unreal experiences. There are several additional symptoms that can occur, and as with any illness, the severity, intensity, and frequency of symptoms can vary. Also, while people with this illness can lead rewarding lives with the help of treatment, some cases of schizophrenia can be disabling.

It’s important to note that suicidal thoughts and behaviors are common among those with this illness, as are high rates of co-occuring medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

It’s a complex condition, for sure. Affecting less than 1% of the U.S. population, misconceptions about this disorder include the ideas that people with schizophrenia:

 

Causes and symptoms of schizophrenia

Per the Mayo Clinic, precise causes for schizophrenia are unknown. Researchers believe that a combination of genetics, brain chemistry, and environment contributes to this disorder. Continued neuroimaging studies show differences in the brain structure and central nervous system of people with this condition, but researchers are not sure about what the significance is of these differences at the time of publishing this post. 

Also, per the Mayo Clinic,  there are risk factors that are thought to increase the risk of developing or triggering schizophrenia.

These include: 

 

Middle-age onset schizophrenia: MAOS

This paper from 2009 is particularly interesting as it shares details about middle-age-onset schizophrenia. It gathered and reviewed several studies targeting early-onset and middle-age onset of this illness. Findings share that there is a higher proportion of women among MAOS patients and that there is a tendency for MAOS patients to have “…less severe negative symptoms and better neuropsychologic performance (particularly in learning and abstraction/cognitive flexibility)…” This isn’t to say that what’s called “positive psychotic symptoms” are not present, only that the symptoms categorized as “negative” are less severe.

It’s thought that while middle-age-onset schizophrenia is predominantly neurodevelopmental, it is also a distinct neurobiological subtype of schizophrenia. It seems that more research and shared findings are called for on this front.

 

Connect with medical support while at home with our online clinic. Learn more about having a better menopause.

 

Women with schizophrenia entering menopause

There is a hypothesis that endogenous (growing or originating from within an organism) estrogen may have a protective effect against schizophrenia. This has to do with the difference in when men and women experience peak onset. In men, the age of schizophrenia onset peaks between ages 15-25 years. 

In women, peak onset is between 20-35 years, with an additional smaller peak around the time of menopause. We already know (and continue to discover) fluctuating and decreasing levels of estrogen, that mighty hormone, affects the skin, vasomotor function (hello hot flashes and night sweats), sleep, and mood. It seems this could be more intelligence about how estrogen works throughout the entire body, and most definitely affects the brain.

 

Preexisting schizophrenia? 

This is critically important for health and wellbeing: 

“Women with preexisting schizophrenia frequently experience a postmenopausal exacerbation of psychotic symptoms and a resultant need for an increase in antipsychotic medication.” 

Consider proactively checking in with your doctor as you’re approaching perimenopause or menopause, and absolutely call into the office for a video call or appointment if your symptoms are increasing and/or worsening. Ask about potential needs for a change in your medication, including potential mode of your medication delivery.

In an interview with Amnon Brzezinski, MD, from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Hebrew University – Hadasssah Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel:

“Around the time of menopause, women with schizophrenia often require antipsychotic dose increases. This is because several changes occur in the absorption and metabolism of drugs at the time of menopause. It has been reported that the variability in drug response that exists among individuals with psychosis increases at menopause and is greater for the oral route that goes through the liver than for intramuscular injection. This may be why, for some women with schizophrenia at this time of life, oral medications appear to lose effectiveness, whereas depot injections of the same antipsychotic continue to be effective.”

When you connect with your doctor, try to make it a collaborative, solution-finding conversation. Consider asking about potential increased adverse effects if a higher dosage of antipsychotic medication is needed too. 

Absolutely! Ask about hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and note how it may either work or react with your existing, personal treatment medication. Uncovering and discovering more information and avenues to better wellbeing during steady, consistent treatment is key.

 

Same but different

Changes in sleep, mood, and changing body temperatures (both hot and cold flashes) may happen in menopause whether a woman has schizophrenia or not. A sense of loss may be felt with the loss of infertility  and the perceived loss of sexual desirability may compound already-challenging feelings.

There may be additional impacts and challenges if a woman is going into perimenopause or menopause while living with aging parents who require more or different care. Children moving away, parents passing away may also introduce challenges and feelings of loss or grief at this time. 

Staying with your medication and protocol for treatment is important, now more than ever. If you’ve got a sense that it’s less effective or that symptoms are worsening, it’s time for a call to your doctor. Let them know what’s going on: more support (even if temporary) may be really helpful, necessary, and a good source for care and encouragement at this time.

 

Our Gennev Community Forums may prove both useful and supportive if you’re entering perimenopause or menopause. Learn from other women about their experience and how they are taking control of their menopause. 

 

Does using birth control delay menopause? Does it increase the risk of breast cancer or heart disease in menopausal or perimenopausal women? After many years on the Pill, how will I know it’s safe to go off it?

Birth control and menopause: what do we need to know?

For answers to our birth-control-and-menopause questions, we turned to Dr. Sherry Ross, award-winning OBGYN and author of the book >She-ology, a look into women’s health beyond the doctor’s office.

talk with Dr Sherry

Dr. Sherry Ross

For those in perimenopause, should we stop taking the Pill?

“First,” Dr. Sherry told us, “be sure you understand this: until you’ve had no periods for a year, you can still get pregnant.

“Part of the confusion is around definitions: The true definition of “˜menopause’ is when you don’t have a period for one full year, but many women suffer from disruptive symptoms for a few years leading up to full cessation of periods””that’s called “˜perimenopause.’ As I said, until you are officially in menopause””meaning no periods for a full year””you can potentially get pregnant, so be sure to use some form of contraception. If you are single and dating while in menopause, you may not have to worry about getting pregnant, but you do have to protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections, so make sure your partner wears a condom.”

So, re: birth control, keep on keeping on until one year with no periods, and re: condoms, always always always outside of committed, monogamous relationships. Check.

Do birth control pills or using a hormonal IUD help with perimenopause?

” Oral contraceptives and an IUD like Mirenacan mask some of the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause,” Dr. Sherry told us. “That’s one of the benefits. Women on the Pill may have fewer, less-intense hot flashes, more “˜normal’ periods when other women are all over the menstrual map, and they might have more modulated emotional swings, which can be a huge benefit in their personal and professional lives. That’s why many doctors””myself included””prescribe low-estrogen birth control pills women having a rough menopause and don’t smoke or to make the transition into menopause easier.”

Does birth control delay menopause?

Short answer: No. Here’s why:

“Menopause is a time when your ovaries stop producing estrogen and your female hormone reserves are depleted. Known factors that can affect what age you enter menopause include your genetic predisposition, knowing when your mom went through the change, chromosomal abnormalities such as Turner Syndrome, very thin or obese women, long smoking history, needing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, those with autoimmune diseases and epilepsy.

“It’s clear that short- and long-term stress, such as extreme weight loss and weight gain, can offset your hormones, causing irregular periods. The extent this type of significant stress has on your endocrine system, causing hormone adrenal depletion and possibly affecting menopause, is not as clear.

“There is an association between extreme and long-standing exercising causing weight loss which can offset your hormones and cause early menopause. Excessive exercising creates a hormonal imbalance, causing irregular ovulations. It’s less likely short-term exercising mixed in with months of not exercising could cause a cascade of events leading to an early hormonal depletion.

“So there are some things that can bring on early menopause, but being on the birth control pill does not affect when you begin menopause. The Pill can mask the symptoms of menopause and, as I said, many women depend on it to help ease the transition into menopause.”

If we’ve been taking oral contraceptives for 20+ years, how will we know if perimenopause has started?

“The best way to know if you are in menopause while taking the birth control pill is to check your hormonal levels at the end of the pill-free week. Some women may even notice hot flashes during the pill-free/placebo week since they are not taking estrogen that’s normally in the active pills. Your doctor can conduct a simple blood menopause test that determines if your follicle-stimulating hormone level (FSH) has reached menopausal levels.”

If you need a trusted opinion, determine if medication is right for you, and possible prescription support. Book an appointment with one our Gennev menopause-certified gynecologist doctors here.

“

Are there health risks to continuing to take the Pill?

Says Dr. Sherry: “As long as you’re not a smoker over the age of 35, and you don’t have any contraindications of being on the Pill (high blood pressure, a history of blood clots, liver disease, breast or uterine cancer, strokes or migraine headaches), there are no health risks to taking the Pill during the first couple of years of menopause. The birth control pill stabilizes your hormones and keeps you physically and mentally balanced.”

And, according to Dr. Sherry, there’s even more good news.

Wait. There’s good news? About menopause?

“There’s evidence that taking birth control pills reduces the risk the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers. It may also help with rheumatoid arthritis.”

OK, that’s all terrific, but there have to be drawbacks.

What are the risks?

Said Dr. Sherry: “As I said, hormonal birth control is not for women who smoke, particularly if they’re 35 or older. Birth control pills may increase your risk of strokes and blood clots, and that risk is exponentially higher for smokers over 35. Yet another reason to quit!”

We completely agree. Anything else?

“Studies are still being conducted into hormonal birth control and breast cancer. But unless a woman has a history of breast cancer or other factors that make her high risk, she should feel comfortable taking low-dose birth control pills to control perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms,” Dr. Sherry told us.

“The best first step is to have a frank and open discussion with your menopause doctor. And don’t be embarrassed or shy””I can tell you from personal experience that almost nothing shocks a doc! Menopause is a normal, natural process and part of life, though women may experience it differently. Your doctor is here to help you understand what’s happening and alleviate symptoms that are interfering with your quality of life. There are solutions. You can feel better. And that’s the best news of all.”

Sheryl A. Ross, M.D., “Dr. Sherry,” is an award-winning OBGYN, author, entrepreneur and women’s health expert. The Hollywood Reporter named her as one of the best doctors in Los Angeles, Castle Connolly named her as a Top Doctor in the specialty of Obstetrics & Gynecology, and she was selected as a 2017 Southern California Super Doctor. Dr. Sherry continues the conversation of women’s health and wellness in her monthly newsletters and on DrSherry.com.  

Dr. Sherry Ross blogs for Huffington Post, Maria Shriver, Greatist, SheKnows, HelloFlo, Today Show, All Things Menopause, and Gurl, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Gennev community!

We can help you get your questions answered about menopause

 The information on the Gennev site is never meant to replace the care of a qualified medical professional.  Hormonal shifts throughout menopause can prompt a lot of changes in your body, and simply assuming something is “just menopause” can leave you vulnerable to other possible causes. Always consult with your physician or schedule an appointment with one of Gennev’s telemedicine doctors before beginning any new treatment or therapy.

Seldom does a podcast recording stick with me like the one I recorded this week with Darcey Steinke.

Author Darcey Steinke is the author of the memoir Easter Everywhere and five novels: Sister Golden Hair, Milk, Jesus Saves, Suicide Blonde, and Up Through the Water.

In her latest book, Flash Count Diary; Menopause and the Vindication of Life, she chronicles her personal journey through menopause.

Our pre-podcast routine started like most of my interviews. Questions are emailed in advance, instructions given for the video-based zoom meeting, and mics readied for recording.

After a few minutes of figuring out the tech, our interview got underway. But not in the sort of formulaic intro I often use to warm up the conversion. We just dove right in. Like I was talking to a friend about her journey through menopause”¦and not just menopause, but life.

I inquired into aspects of the book I found peculiar or even overly assuming with regards to “women’s identity being tied to our fertile selves.”

I, for one, have never birthed a child nor do I long to, so I haven’t thought much about the importance of my fertility. I realize I’m probably in the minority on that one. Nonetheless, I was deeply curious about this departure of identity and how post-menopausal women reported feeling like neither female or male, or in some cases 100% male.

The book stretches from Darcey’s personal menopause stories of experiencing an orb pre-hot flash, to how whales experience menopause, to changing identity, sex, and social acceptance, to a dedicated chapter on anger.

I loved this most about her expression of an angry woman [and I paraphrase], “”¦an angry woman is scary and un-professional, while an angry man is just being a man.”

To say the least, I’m underselling the complexity with which she has researched and documented her spiritual journey through “the change,” and I recommend giving it a listen.

I highly recommend downloading the e-book. Hearing Darcey herself read her account of menopause brings a poetic, intimate feel to the story. It lessens the darkness and emphasizes the human.

In The New York Times review of Flash Count Diary, Jennifer Szalzi comments, “”¦the book still left me wanting more: more voices, more works about this transformation. The subject feels truly fresh and transgressive, while nubility is beginning to seem like, well, old hat.”

I think the conversation around menopause and this transformative part of our lives is just beginning. Thanks to women like Darcey for having the courage to approach it in the fullest expression of themselves.

Jill

P.S. Did you know Gennev has an entire podcast series that highlights interesting people working with women in menopause? Check it out here.

 

Yesterday was the day; my day for experiencing what decades of women have shared, grieved and suffered through for years.

I had my first hot flash.

I was out for a morning run. It was 46 degrees, overcast and windy. I headed up a slight incline. The same path I take every day.

I suddenly burst into a raging sweat, oddly on my back. I felt faint. Thought I was going to pass out, and that my heart was going to explode out of my chest.

I kept running, thinking that I just had to “run it out,” (like most runners, I assume this is an effective means of addressing a bad cold, chest cough, or even a temperature).

But this was different. The flash lingered on for about a block, and just as I was about to stop and take a walk break, it disappeared.

It was sort of like a sweaty, high feeling. I didn’t like it one bit. Fortunately, it was nothing like the topless woman at book club in the latest article on menopause in Oprah’s O Magazine.

But I did feel like I had crossed the chasm. Like I’d earned a right of passage into perimenopause as the thing that I talk about daily in my life as Gennev CEO and founder.

I sort of smiled. Remember when you got your first period? It was an experience you’d likely prepared for. Many young women search and look for the first signs of blood, and when it comes, it’s almost a mark of womanhood. I had to wait till I was 15 years old before I earned my womanly stripes.

And with yesterday’s hot flash moment, I felt like I had reached another milestone. While I’m years from menopause, the hot flash felt slightly epic.

I’m not trying to romance something that so many of you suffer from. I’ve never had a hot flash in front of an audience, a work meeting, or someone I’m trying to impress.

In fact, my virgin experience occurred when I was going to get sweaty anyways”¦on a run, no less.

But it did mark a milestone in my womanhood. And rather than feeling like my sexy was being stripped away, I kind of felt like I was more woman than ever.

The hot flash came at another interesting crossroads at Gennev. We’re starting to produce programs related to the symptoms of menopause, programs that will bring education, solution options and lifestyle behavior recommendations to help women find relief. Think 6-week programs designed to help you manage things like Hot Flashes, Insomnia, Weight and Fatigue.

Our first program is all about Hot Flashes, and we’re currently testing it with a small group of women steeped in hot flash flux.

If you’re interested in being part of a select group of Gennev community members who will receive FREE access to the inaugural Hot Flash program, send an email to info@gennev.com, and we’ll put you on our list for a Nov/Dec launch.

Till then, my hot flash sisters, send me your remedies for managing the flash, and I’ll post up your recommendations in the Gennev community.

Jill Angelo

 

We’re doing some celebrating at Gennev!

This week we announced a major investment in the company from investors who believe women’s health in menopause and the second half of life is worth investing in.

They care. We care. And there is a lot of work to be done to bring real solutions to you.

BlueRun Ventures, Maven Ventures, Startup Health and one awesome angel investor came together to invest $4 million in Gennev to improve how we care for you.

I can’t get the smile off my face as not only because we get to grow the team of people working to deliver better products and services to you as but because women’s health in the second half of life is on the map!

No longer are “post-baby” women assumed to be invisible or irrelevant. Rather, we’re a hot investment “¦ and we matter when it comes to being the best we can be.

However, money only works when you put it to use the right way.

This is where you come in.

Regularly, we’ll be asking you, the Gennev community, direct questions about what you need. If we want to bring trusted experts, products and education to 500,000 women in the next 12 months, we need your involvement to get it right.

With half a million women giving us feedback, we’ll have enough data to bring you more predictive recommendations to head off new symptoms before you’re at a place of suffering.

Here’s what I need from you today: have you taken the Gennev menopause assessment? If you haven’t, please do. Then answer this question: if you had the option to speak with a health coach to review your results and create a plan for the symptoms you’re experiencing, would you do it?

Send your response to jill@gennev.com. I want to hear your opinions on how best we can deliver to you a personal plan for mastering your menopause.

You’re going to see some amazing improvements from us in the months to come, so now is the time to forward this email to two women you care about.

We’re doing something completely new and it’s going to take women everywhere to make the changes we need!