A BIG change is coming to the streets to help women take control of their health.
Holland & Barrett is introducing a Women’s Health Coach into 600 of its 800 UK stores from this week.
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The company is committed to helping women better understand their hormonal health in order to alleviate symptoms of PMS, menopause and pregnancy, or simply understand themselves better.
It appears in a context of regrettable education – and information – about women’s hormonal health throughout their lives.
The Sun has been dedicated to raising awareness about menopause symptoms and how women can manage them since 2020, with the launch of its Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign.
Meanwhile, as young women increasingly turn to social media for information about sexual or menstrual health, some of which may be misleading or false, Holland & Barret will launch the first free menstrual health video consultation service from the United Kingdom, staffed by trained nurses.
It’s part of its free general women’s health ‘helpline’ with trained nurses – people can book 15-minute video consultations here.
Nurses can help prepare individuals for an appointment with their GP and provide advice on what they can do while they wait.
For example, going to a GP with a diary of menopause symptoms can ensure the right medication and quicker treatment, or discussing the symptoms of endometriosis – which takes seven years to diagnose on average.
A survey of 2,500 women found that 48% say they felt rejected when talking about period symptoms.
Healthcare professionals topped the list (16 percent) as most likely to ignore symptoms.
Compares to 8% for employers and 8% for partners.
This is despite almost half (49 percent) saying they have experienced negative symptoms throughout their menstrual cycle, such as weight changes, low energy, stress and cramps.
More than a quarter (28 percent) of women admit to living with symptoms for more than a year before seeking help, or simply not seeking help.
It’s no surprise after the Government’s Women’s Health Strategy call for evidence, the results of which were published in 2022, found that menstrual and gynecological care issues were affecting women in the UK.
Understanding and optimizing the menstrual cycle can unlock many mysteries about women’s health and even help improve other areas of your well-being, such as gut health, energy, sleep, skin and metabolism.
Lina Chan
Among its key recommendations were improving access to high-quality information about women’s health, improving the education of health professionals and encouraging them to better listen to women.
Lina Chan, Director of Women’s Health at Holland & Barrett, said: “Women’s health has been underserved for too long.
“By being on every high street, we are ideally placed in the community to support and help add years of quality to life and truly champion wellbeing for all women.
“Our new long-term commitment will start by empowering women to understand their hormones so they can take control of their amazing bodies.
Unlocking the cycle
“Understanding and optimizing the menstrual cycle can unlock many mysteries about women’s health and even help improve other areas of your well-being, such as gut health, energy, sleep, skin and metabolism.
“By proactively engaging with our hormonal health, we can also better understand gynecological conditions, fertility and menopause, as hormones are at the heart of these various life transitions where women can experience severe symptoms.”
More than a third of women (35 percent) say there is a lack of education or reliable, readily available support and guidance on women’s health issues.
And 60 percent of women agree that there needs to be more access to information and support, with a third (31 percent) saying they were last equipped with information about their cycle and hormones when they were at school, or not at all. .
What can women’s health coaches help with?
Women’s health coaches at Holland and Barrett can help with:
- hormonal health and the impact on your overall well-being
- your menstrual cycle
- improving symptoms and maintaining hormonal health
- nutrition and intestine
- mood and sleep
- exercise and activity
- hair and skin
Women’s menstruation is often considered just a period. But the cycle – which normally lasts 28 days – is a complex journey of hormonal changes that affect mood on a daily basis.
For example, low mood is typically experienced during the premenstrual phase when progesterone drops, but women feel more energized and sociable during the second half of the follicular phase when estrogen and testosterone levels rise.
As part of a broader “Women’s Wellbeing Commitment,” Holland & Barrett will also ensure that women’s health training will be expanded to 4,000 in-store employees to offer products.
H&B’s Women’s Wellbeing Pledge will kick off with a hormonal health awareness campaign – ‘Own Every Day Of The Month’ campaign – supported by actress and writer Hayley Morris.
Hayley Morris said: “I’m so proud to be able to support Holland & Barrett’s ‘Own Every Day Of The Month’ campaign and be part of a genuine movement for women to better understand their health and the role of our powerful hormones within it.
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The woman’s cycle
MENSTRUAL PHASE (days 1-7)
This is the first day of your period. Your estrogen and progesterone levels are lower as your uterus sheds its lining, meaning you’re more likely to be low on energy during this time.
Recharge your batteries, do light exercise and eat nutritious meals.
PROFILFERATIVE PHASE (days 8 to 13)
Your estrogen levels are rising steadily throughout this week, causing the lining of your uterus to grow back as your ovary prepares to release an egg.
It’s time to start picking up the pace again – clean the house, get creative, apply for that job, and finish that to-do list.
OVULATORY PHASE (days 14-21)
As estrogen reaches its highest peak in the cycle, ovulation is triggered. An egg is released from the ovary and enters the fallopian tube.
Testosterone levels also peak just before ovulation and soon after, estrogen and testosterone levels drop rapidly, replaced by rising progesterone levels.
At this point, you will feel more energetic, sociable and feminine.
Testosterone levels are high, as is your pain tolerance, so you can push yourself harder in the gym.
Your libido will also be higher closer to ovulation.
LUTEAL PHASE (days 22-28)
Progesterone levels continue to rise during the second half of the cycle and are highest as the body prepares the lining of the uterus in case of fertilization.
Progesterone can make you feel more sensitive, self-critical, or depressed.
You may prefer to stay at home — but do tasks that are fulfilling, like organizing those messy drawers you’ve been putting off.
This is when appetite may increase and food cravings appear, before menstruation begins and the cycle begins again.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
