Menstrual health condition support, finally.

This week is BIG for me and for Yoppie. We are continuing our mission to support women on their menstrual healthcare journey as we launch two new condition targeted supplements, which we believe are some of the most comprehensive on the market. With millions of women suffering with menstrual health conditions every day, I thought it was important to share my journey…  

My personal experience with PCOS

On the 14th of April my son Maxim turned 3 years old and those 3 years just flew by. Randomly it also took around 3 years to conceive Maxim, but those 36 months were by far the longest of my life. I remember every month wishing for that positive pregnancy test, yet every single month a negative test came back. For everyone that is on their baby journey, I am sure you can relate - you literally get addicted to using ovulation and pregnancy tests. On the last day of my cycle I would buy one of those “early” tests, wake up early in the morning and pee with the hope of it returning two lines. I already knew how I would surprise my husband, but that surprise plan was never needed. 

In late 2017, after 2 years into our pregnancy journey, I saw a gynaecologist to help get a better understanding of my fertility. He ran some hormone tests and a transvaginal ultrasound. We spoke about my history and I shared my cycle data from the various apps I was using at the time. He diagnosed me with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and prescribed me clomid. 

I had no idea what PCOS was and turned to google to learn about it. How come we always need to turn to “doctor google” when it comes to these things? After doing my own research it was clear to me that I had been experiencing PCOS symptoms for many years. 

Symptoms such as :

1. Hair loss

2. Excessive hair growth on my arms

3. Hard time keeping my weight down 

4. Very, very light periods. 

I've been tracking my cycles for years, but never did the app tell me “your symptoms are telling us that you might have PCOS.. would you like to learn more about it?”

Millions of women suffer with menstrual health conditions

What was clear to me was that I was not alone! PCOS is a very common metabolic, hormone and reproductive disorder that affects 1 in 10 women. It is a disorder that can impact multiple aspects of our lives, not just fertility. During my research into PCOS I also discovered more about Endometriosis, a disorder that can take around 7.5 years to diagnose. 

Endometriosis is a chronic disease that is characterized by severe pain which can make everyday life miserable.  This pain is caused by inflammation and scarring from endometrial tissue similar to that in the womb growing elsewhere in the body.  This tissue breaks down and bleeds just like the lining of the womb during each menstrual cycle. What I didn’t know was how it affects other systems in the body such as immune health, digestive health and liver function. 

Fast forward to 2022, in a study we did here at Yoppie we found that over a quarter of women suffer from menstrual health issues, such as severe PMS symptoms, PCOS and Endometriosis having the most detrimental impact on social lives, our relationships and our professional lives. Worryingly, almost half (48%) stated that they hadn’t been able to get the medical help required with just 37% using additional resources such as supplements or Femtech platforms to better manage their menstrual health. 

Our mission at Yoppie

Although we recognise there is no cure for these conditions, dietary changes and lifestyle choices as well as food supplementation, can help alleviate some symptoms. I am therefore excited to share with you our new range of supplements that target the multiple symptoms of PCOS & Endometriosis. They were born out of conversation, my personal experience with PCOS and the need for more accessible and researched solutions. With these products, I hope more people that suffer with these conditions will get a high quality supplement with ingredients backed by science, that have been carefully formulated by expert women’s health nutritionist, Shona Wilkinson.  These all-in-one symptom targeted solutions, we hope will make a difference to the lives of many.

We believe that turning to the contraceptive pill should not be the only way of managing hormonal imbalances or your menstrual health condition. We have challenged the norm, turned to science and innovation with these supplements and will continue to provide education and resources that aim to help make living with these conditions easier.

You can learn more about Yoppie's PCOS & Endometriosis condition supplements here. 

You can be an advocate of your own menstrual health and articles on these conditions on our scientifically checked Full Stop blog can be a good place to start. However, it is important to consult your doctor to identify what you’re suffering from, whether that’s Endometriosis, PCOS, or something else. Recording your symptoms should be the first step, followed by a trip to your GP to start the conversation.

Got a question about menstrual health conditions? Get in touch with us directly on Instagram at @itsyoppie or email hello@yoppie.com. Don't forget our menstrual care subscription can be a good place to start for your organic tampons and supplements for PCOS or supplements for Endometriosis as you can get them delivered easily & regularly through your letterbox.