March Newsletter
When Life Turns Up the Volume on Perimenopause
Some incredible women, important health updates and a milestone we’ve been working towards for a while.
I'll be honest, this newsletter reaching you at the 11th hour on the last day of March feels like a small miracle.
Here's something you might know all too well: life has a way of throwing everything at you at once, and when it does, your symptoms rarely stay quiet. Grief, worry, stress, relentless admin, any one of them can turn up the volume on perimenopause. All of them together? That's been my March.
The details don't matter so much as the pattern. The daily walks that slip, the eating that gets less mindful, and the way it all quietly compounds. It's a reminder of just how connected our lives and our symptoms really are.
The weather is thankfully changing in the UK; time is doing its healing work, and despite it all, it's been quite the month for great conversations.
Who I've Been Talking To
Sue Macmillan, CEO of Mumsnet - A brilliant conversation about their research into medical misogyny and how MenoVida can help women navigate perimenopause, and those often-daunting GP appointments with more confidence and clarity. Read their research and download the report here.
Dr Rachael Causon, The Hair Restoration Doctor - Such a warm and eye-opening chat about the impact of hair loss on women going through hormonal changes, and how we might collaborate to help signpost free resources and webinars to anyone struggling.
Matt Fern, Growth for Purpose - Our Ambassador Laura Phillips and I have engaged Matt and his team to conduct a full audit of the MenoVida prototype, examining best practices, the psychology behind health tech, and new thinking on product design. The goal: a clear product roadmap so that when we raise investment, we know exactly what we're building and can get it into your hands as quickly as possible. More on the waitlist very soon. Website: growthforpurpose.com
Laura Harnett, Founder of Seep (amazing eco sponges to replace the green and yellow ones) - A fellow purpose-led founder with a lot of hard-won wisdom on raising investment as a female founder. Always good to share the honest version of the journey. | Website: theseepcompany.com
EmpowerHER: Women's Health in Focus, Bristol - A fantastic event hosted by the Bristol Menopause & Wellwoman Clinic, bringing together menopause experts, GPs and holistic health practitioners. Sessions covered sleep, nutrition, exercise, HRT, alternative therapies and much more. A brilliant day. Huge thanks to Hazel Hayden for putting Bristol and the South West firmly on the map. Website: bristolmenopause.com
Getting to Know Our Ambassadors
We have an incredible group of women behind MenoVida, each bringing their own experience and expertise.
Here's a little of what drives them:
What's Happening in Women's Health
A few important updates worth knowing about:
NHS Online Hospital — Menopause is one of the priority areas for the NHS's new online hospital, due to launch next year. We'll share more as this develops.
Employment Rights Bill — Menopause is now included in the UK Employment Rights Bill. Large employers (250+ staff) will be required to implement a Menopause Action Plan, with voluntary publication starting April 2026 and mandatory adoption by 2027. If you know a company that needs support with this, our Ambassadors Andrea Marsh, Angela Wilkins-Green, Caroline Milne, Emily Barclay, Jo Jones, Kathryn Hume and Lily Samuels are well placed to help.
Changes to GP Contracts — New GP contracts come into force tomorrow, with an increased use of "Advice and Guidance" before referrals are made. There are concerns this could make accessing specialist care slower or put women off seeking help altogether. For complex conditions like perimenopause, this makes it more important than ever to give your GP as much information as possible, as clearly as possible. This is exactly what MenoVida's report function is designed to do. Read more about the changes at Healthwatch.
I'll end on a note that genuinely made me do a little happy dance! Yesterday we submitted our SEIS application, which allows tax-efficient early-stage funding. We're close to launching our investment round, so if you'd like to learn more, please reach out. Just drop me an email at jo@menovida.app, and I’d be more than happy to have a conversation.
Thank you, as always, for being part of our mission.
Best wishes
Jo & the MenoVida Team