Let’s Talk About Menopause

Hot flashes. Mood swings. Whole body sweats. Fatigue.

We tiptoe around the topic, make some jokes here and there, but we don’t really talk about menopause. We even refer to it in a hush-hush euphemism—“the change.”

Only 28% (of women) knew what to expect before starting menopause...

A recent U.S. Women’s Wellness Report found that of the women surveyed, only 28% knew what to expect before starting menopause, and that 61% of menopausal women did not talk about their experience with others.¹

We get it. Menopause isn’t exactly a pleasant, or casual, conversation topic. So maybe we’re trying to ignore it into not existing. Maybe we’re carrying some misplaced shame and stigma about this big change. Or maybe we didn’t want to think about it because it’d trigger a late-night doom scroll about the horrors of aging and menopause and our own fleeting mortality—and we already have so much on our plate.

But the thing is, maybe if we talked about it, menopause wouldn’t be so scary. And then we’d all be better prepared when it happens to us, which is something OLLY CEO Hanneke Willenborg wished for when she started menopause.

“In most of my friend groups I’m the youngest, so they’ve already been going through this,” she said. “And I remember calling them once I started to get symptoms like ‘why didn’t you tell me?!’” Her surprise didn’t end there.

“I literally feel that I have to go through puberty all over again” she said before sharing some of her “more difficult” symptoms. “It’s a big deal and I think we’re underestimating how big of a deal it is.”

Menopause does seem like a pretty big, scary deal, but you’re not alone. Literally and figuratively.

A Growing but Unaddressed Need

According to 2017 U.S. Census projections², by 2030, the median age in the U.S. will be 40, with women between the ages of 40 to 64 outnumbering women under 18. The North American Menopause Society also estimates that by 2025, 1.1 billion women worldwide will be postmenopausal³.

TLDR? The population of menopausal and postmenopausal people is growing. But despite this increasing need, awareness and access to menopause relief can’t quite keep up.

“If you look at products out there right now, women’s health has been very underrepresented and very simplified,” said Punam Patel, VP of Product, who explained that women’s health can be broadly generalized in three life stages: young age, reproductive age and menopause. “Products usually are focused on reproductive health or general health. But it’s a lot more complex than that.”

Willenborg agrees. “I started looking up menopausal products and what’s available in the market is either for hot flashes or vaginal dryness, but there’s no holistic solution for pre-menopausal or menopausal women.”

So OLLY made one.

A Real Solution for a Major Life Change

Mellow Menopause™ is OLLY’s way of supporting women who’re at a life stage that can be—let's be real—confusing and downright uncomfortable at times. But whether you were prepared for menopause or not, you don’t have to tough it out.

All of our products are science backed, benefit driven and easy to understand, but we’re especially proud that that Mellow Menopause™ is also our first clinically studied supplement.

“Menopause affects 100% of women who live to the age of impact⁴,” said Shikha Snigdha, Senior Scientific Affairs Director, “and yet it remains an under-researched and under-funded area of focus.”

“Knowing that a product has undergone a clinical study helps consumers make informed decisions about their health and allows them to put their trust and confidence in the product they’re choosing.”

During our study, women reported hot flash relief within 24 hours of starting Mellow Menopause™ and with continued use, got relief from mood swings (including feelings of anxiety and stress) and menopause-associated headaches. Continual use also reduced night sweats and hot flashes, as well as helped manage fatigue, improve sleep quality and even supporting healthy sexual interest.

That’s pretty confidence-boosting.

All in all, impressive.

Support Beyond Supplements

OLLY’s out to make menopause a bit more manageable, and we’re not stopping at just simple and accessible supplements—we're also launching a new menopause policy this fall so that Ollies can continue to show up as their authentic selves.

Our menopause policy, which was reviewed by OLLY partner Dr. Kiarra King, OBGYN, aims to normalize menopause and lay down a support system at work so that people can access accommodations and resources while continuing to perform their best.

The policy will be available to all OLLY employees, regardless of gender, who are going through menopause or supporting someone who is.

Currently, 70% of OLLY’s workforce is made up of women who’re at all different ages and life stages. So just as we already offer pregnancy and maternity leave policies to provide the real and meaningful support, a menopause policy just made a lot of sense.

“Pre-menopause brain fog is real,” Willenborg said. “And it’s okay that sometimes somebody needs a time out, or walks away, or takes a step back. All these things are going to make a very supportive workplace.”

“I feel really good about what we’re doing, not only to support women at OLLY, but also the product that we provide with real solutions for the women that we serve.”

At OLLY, we take higher standards seriously and that begins from within. So keep checking back periodically to see how we’re doing. And remember, navigating your menopause journey can be super overwhelming, but you’re not alone. Learn more and join the convo on our Instagram.