More than 15.5 million women in the UK are currently experiencing either perimenopause or menopause, a time when oestrogen levels decline and the menstrual cycle comes to an end. Levels of testosterone also decline and this huge hormonal shift can lead to a variety of life-changing physical and emotional symptoms.
It’s a stage of life that all females go through, but a new report – M-Club: helping women navigate menopause with confidence – has unearthed some interesting statistics around women’s knowledge of the menopause with 46% admitting that they’ve never even heard of perimenopause -the period before a woman reaches menopause. The same report found that 42% of women are seemingly being completely unaware of the impact that this significant life change – the menopause – can have on the body and mind.
In fact, there 48 signs of menopause.
With M-Club – Help is at Hand!
M-Club, a brand-new dedicated range of health and wellness products, created by the team behind The Body Doctor, has now launched to educate women about the menopause and help them navigate it with confidence. It’s free to join so do sign up here
Dr Hilary Jones, Independent Advisor to M-Club products and The Body Doctor explains: “Interestingly, 27% of women currently experiencing the menopause still know nothing or very little about the emotional or mental effects of the menopause. It is also very concerning to see how many women haven’t heard of perimenopause, a stage of life which can go on for several years. M-Club provides an online community allowing women to connect with each other and discuss the symptoms they’re going through. This is alongside18 affordable, high-quality products, made to support women through menopause.”
As 45% of women admit to feeling ‘invisible’, ‘lonely’, ‘dispensable’ or irrelevant, M-Club comes at the right time to help women navigate confidently through the health and wellness challenges of the menopause.
Dr Gill Jenkins adds: “Society often views women as invisible after their fertility stops. But this isn’t the case. Menopause shouldn’t’t be viewed as an illness. Instead, it’s a life change we all need to embrace, particularly as the symptoms can be so impactful on day-to-day life. From anxiety to dry skin, thinning hair, dry eyes, mood swings and sleepless nights, the symptoms of menopause can be harrowing.”
M-Club’s range of products are here to ease these uncomfortable symptoms and include:
- M-Body, aimed at helping women through physiological challenges;
- M-Power, to support mental and emotional challenges;
- M-Bed, for a more restful sleep. (for anyone, men included!)
Each product is accredited with the MTick from GenM, the menopause partner for brands, so women can feel confident in their menopause purchases.
Dr Hilary Jones adds further: “M-Club platform will be a game changer for women, allowing them to feel as though they’re part of a community, and providing them with products that help them overcome the many menopausal challenges.”
With so many menopausal symptoms potentially disrupting millions of women’s lives, these experts share their simple tips to make sure the menopause more manageable…
7 Expert-Approved Tips For A Happier Menopause
1. Prioritise sleep: A high 81% of perimenopausal women said they’ve experienced difficulty sleeping. But, winding down before
bed can help the body relax and shut off. Dr Hilary Jones says: “Turn off screens, limit alcohol in the evenings and stay away from emails and social media.”
To help reduce fatigue and disturbed sleep, try M-Club Restful Sleep Oral Supplement Spray- part of the M-Bed range- which contains a blend of B vitamins and magnesium.
“Magnesium has been shown to help improve sleep quality, by boosting deep sleep and it’s been shown to help improve mood, energy and daytime productivity. Lemon balm used in this spray has been associated with an improved sleep quality and GABA, also in this spray, has been associated with shorter sleep duration, suggesting that GABA can help to lengthen sleep time,” explains Dr Hilary Jones.
Nourish your skin as you sleep by applying M-Club Replenishing Body Lotion before bed.
Lifestyle Coach, Yoga and Pilates instructor and advisor to M-Club, Dee Jones says: “This offers long-lasting hydration thanks to antioxidants, fatty acids and fibres which are all beneficial to health, skin and well-being. Upcycled coffee oil KAFFOIL, used within this lotion helps to restore and protect the skin’s natural barrier.”
2. TLC for your eyes: Did you know, a decline in oestrogen can lead to menopausal Dry Eye Disease? Optician, clinician and a Dry Eye Disease specialist, Rosemin Mussa at M-Club and The Body Doctor explains: “Oestrogen helps support healthy tear fluid production and a healthy tear film so as levels decline, the glands producing and secreting the tear fluid may function less effectively leading to faster tear fluid evaporation and dry, irritated and gritty eyes.”
Rosemin Mussa recommends M-Club Dry Eye Drops, part of the M-Body range.
“These have been designed to soothe irritated eyes often caused by hormonal changes during menopause. They contain 0.3% sodium hyaluronate, which research has found can help to improve eye damage associated with dry eye disease.”
3. Open up and educate: It’s important to remember, that if you’re going through perimenopause or menopause, you are not alone.
However, a high 93% of women going through perimenopause or menopause admit that they want society to talk about this life stage more and over half (52%) of menopausal women stated their employer knows nothing or very little about the mental or emotional effects of the menopause with a significant 88% saying that workplaces being set up to better support menopausal women would be a benefit.
As well as this, 93% of menopausal women would benefit from their friends and family being better informed and 93% say they’d benefit from their partner having a better understanding of what women are going through during the menopause.
Dee Jones notes: “M-Club online community gives women the chance to discover more about the menopause and discuss this with other women. Opening up is so important; to help relieve the burden of mental and physical challenges and it gives them an outlet, which they may not have at home or at work.”
A high 58% of women in the perimenopause are actively seeking information and support, reflecting a growing demand for guidance and solutions – M-Club helps bring information together, to avoid having to go to multiple sources.
4. Lift weights: Exercise is important during the menopausal years, but weight-bearing activity in particular can help support muscles and bones.
Dee Jones says: “Whether it’s bodyweight exercise such as press ups and squats, or weighted movements, adding resistance to your workouts – even just for 20 minutes, three times a week – helps strengthen your muscles, which helps support your bones and also helps with weight management.”
Weight gain and altered fat distribution – particularly around the tummy area- are common during menopause and could be a reason why 47% of women admit to feeling unconfident during perimenopause.
Dr Hilary Jones explains: “The hormonal changes that occur also mean bone density tends to decline, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. This is why keeping bones strong is so key.”
5. Care for your hair: “Thinning, brittle and dry hair can occur during menopause,” confirms Dr Hilary Jones.
“M-Club’s Nurturing Shampoo can help to strengthen hair and maintain scalp hydration, which can reduce any itchiness. The shampoo’s formula includes upcycled coffee extract KLEANSTANT, created by award winning Kaffe Bueno. This has cleansing, emulsifying, foaming and antioxidative properties with a moisturising effect too.”
To increase shine by up to 300%, try M-Club High Shine Conditioner. This is also uniquely crafted by upcycled coffee oil, utilising award-winning, all-natural KAFFOIL ingredients. KAFFOIL is a coffee-derived oil, sustainably produced by Kaffe Bueno.
6. Take time out: Fluctuating hormone levels can lead to brain fog, forgetfulness, irritability and even difficulty concentrating, potentially making a woman feel unproductive and anxious.
Dee Jones suggests making time each day to rest and recuperate. “Try breathing exercises or even a short at-home yoga session. This can help to lower stress and anxiety and help you to maintain mental clarity.”
M-Club Well-Being & Relaxation Support Oral Supplement Spray is an ideal support as every eight sprays contains vitamin B12, other B vitamins, magnesium and 1.5mg of a proprietary blend of ashwagandha extract, organic passionflower and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP).
Dr Gill Jenkins says: “Vitamin B12 contributes to energy-yielding metabolism to support reduction in tiredness and fatigue, Ashwagandha, an adaptogenic herb, is renowned for helping the body cope with stress while 5-HTP has been found to help manage symptoms of depression by increasing levels of the feel-good hormone, serotonin.”
7. Watch your diet: The foods you eat can help or hinder menopausal symptoms. Dee Jones says: “Where possible, avoid sugary foods that will only cause you to experience spikes and crashes in energy. Instead, go for whole grains, lean protein such as chicken, tofu, eggs and fish, and healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, seeds and olive oil.”
8. Stay cool: Hot flushes can be disruptive, uncomfortable and embarrassing.
Dr Hilary Jones recommends natural, lightweight clothing. “At night, keep a window open to stay cool and make sure you stay hydrated throughout the day – keep water nearby. M-Club Instant Cooling Mist is helpful as it offers a refreshing spray for face and body. Panthenol (vitamin B5) used in this mist, has been shown to helps provide a skin moisturising effect, producing significant decreases in the loss of water from the skin after 30-day applications.”
Dr Hilary Jones adds: “There’s no need for women to feel as though they’re alone during menopause. There is support out there. M-Club’s online community and range of products means women can receive the help they need to manage the, often uncomfortable, symptoms of menopause.”
There is a fabulous range of products available online and at selected branches of Boots the Chemist. Check them out on the website
m-club.co.uk
M-Power, M-Body, M-Bed to help you choose the best products for hot flushes; dry eyes; Thinning or brittle hair; mood changes; tiredness and sleep problems. They really have thought of everything and the prices are very reasonable too.
This really is a one stop mine of information and shop for anyone soon experiencing, experiencing, or aleady having experienced this change of life…do check it out.
