Let’s face it, menopause, and its symptoms, have definitely been a hush-hush conversation within our society for decades, with rhetoric like; ‘that’s not something we discuss’ or ‘Shhh, we don’t talk about these things’ being a standard response between many generations for years – it definitely wasn’t openly talked about or supported as freely as it is today!
SHHH MENOPAUSE WELLNESS
I recently met up with Marva Williams, founder and owner of Shhh Menopause Wellness to find out more about what initiated her to start her business. Marva told me that she underwent several stays in hospital that were related to health issues due to perimenopause before she found out that some of her symptoms and conditions were hereditary, as her mum suffered from them too, but they were just never talked about, as the subject was seen as taboo….hence the name Shhh… for her brand.
Shhh …. was created to let women all over the world know that they’re not alone and that it’s okay to take some time to look after themselves in this unsettling time of their lives.
Marva’s business goal is to start conversations about topics that have been taken for granted and considered unmentionable within the feminine sphere. While society has made huge steps towards accepting and talking about topics such as depression, anxiety, breast cancer or prostate cancer – hot flushes, hormonal changes, loss of sex drive, vaginal dryness, incontinence and brain fog, or memory loss – these are still seen as taboo and women all over the world are still lacking the information needed when it comes to menopause and perimenopause.
“THE NEED FOR A RANGE LIKE SHHH….HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND ITS SUCH A JOY TO BRING THESE FORMULATIONS TO MARKET TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF NOT ONLY IMPROVING WOMEN’S WELLNESS BUT ENHANCING THE LONGEVITY OF OUR COMMUNITY OF GROWTH.”
MARVA WILLIAMS
But before we dive into the interview, here’s a bit of useful information about menopause, perimenopause and post menopause.
What is menopause?
Menopause is when a woman stops having periods and it literally means ‘the last menstrual period’. Menopause is a normal aspect of ageing for all women, and it happens as the ovaries gradually decrease or stop their output of the sex hormones progesterone and oestrogen, and no longer release an egg to be fertilised each month. Although this process usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55, it can also happen earlier on in life, either naturally or for reasons such as surgery to remove the ovaries (oophorectomy) or the uterus (hysterectomy), cancer treatments like chemotherapy, or a genetic reason. Sometimes the reason is unknown.
According to the NHS, the first sign of menopause is usually a change in the normal pattern of your periods. Some women can also start experiencing symptoms such as migraines, irritability, and low mood especially around the period time, without seeing irregularity in periods.
What is perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause, from the start of menopausal symptoms until after a woman has experienced her last period. This describes the time when hormones start to decline, and menstrual cycles become erratic and irregular. Usually, this process can go on for a few months or years, depending on the individual, during which periods will usually start to become less frequent or irregular before they stop altogether. Of course, that’s not the case for everybody, as some women experience very few perimenopause symptoms, and their periods might even stop suddenly.
What is postmenopause?
Postmenopause is the time after menopause has occurred and you have gone without a period for 12 months in a row. This lasts for the remainder of a woman’s life, where the hormone levels remain low, and there’s no longer a monthly period occurring. While at this time, women can’t get pregnant anymore, they’re also at an increased risk for certain health conditions, such as osteoporosis and heart disease.
The Symptoms
While postmenopause is a more tranquil time for a woman, the two phases leading up to it can actually bring a lot of mental and physical symptoms that have been overlooked and dismissed.
Mental health symptoms:
- Changes in mood, such as deep lows
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Low self-esteem
Physical symptoms:
- Hot flushes, sudden feelings of hot or cold in your face, neck and chest which can bring dizziness
- Difficulty sleeping, which may be the result of night sweats and irritability during the day
- Heart palpitations
- Headaches and migraines that are worse than they would normally be
- Muscle aches and joint pains
- Changes in the body shape, such as weight gain and/or loss
- Skin changes, including dry and itchy skin or red patches
- Reduced sex drive
- Vaginal dryness and pain, itching or discomfort during sex
- Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
The most common symptoms are the ones that can typically appear both in perimenopause and menopause and can impact tremendously on daily life, affecting sleep patterns and menstrual cycles with symptoms that can cause havoc with family relationships, social interactions as well as work routines. These symptoms can feel different for everyone. Some women may have a number of symptoms, some may experience severe symptoms, while others may have few or none.
THE INTERVIEW
What is your background?
I’ve always had a deep desire to excel in natural skincare, it’s my passion. Having been active in this area for over a decade, I have slowly increased my focus on holistic formulations along with lecturing and running and supporting training courses around the UK.
My work has involved creating pre-operative and post-operative skincare solutions for patients, and special products for people who have traumatised skin, to training Doctors, Cosmetic Surgeons and Medical Practitioners. Lastly, I’ve ended up specialising in self-care and well-being products for specific issues and women’s concerns with the support of recognised holistic experts in the fields of Eastern and Western medicinal practice.
Why Shhh …?
Shhh is my next chapter on this journey, I want to help eliminate the vestiges of discomfort and embarrassment that surround the topic of female hormonal change and actively provide tangible help for improved wellness.
What products does Shhh… offer?
At Shhh, we have produced a wide range of botanical products that alleviate common menopause symptoms, as well as formulations for other less common ones such as pains and joint aches, itchy skin, brittle nails, tingling sensations and thinning hair. On the website, you can find product suggestions for each of the symptoms, with a description of the symptom and the causes, so it’s a valuable resource to help understand how to tackle the impacts of perimenopause and menopause.
Which of your products do you think are the most effective?
I would say the products that provide relief and aid relaxation and tranquillity. Our sleep sprays and anxiety spray have had a lot of positive feedback from users, you just have to read the reviews about our SLEEP SOUND MAGNESIUM H20.
The benefit of our sleep range is that they are transdermal, which means they get into the bloodstream quicker and are the perfect and quickest solution to treat anxiety and any symptoms relating to sleep deprivation.
A lot of people are shopping with sustainability in mind, how sustainable are your products?
We only produce hand-blended botanical vegan healing products, and they all get a seal of approval from the Vegetarian Society before being launched on our website. None of our products are tested on animals and they’re all paraben-free, as these chemicals may have a detrimental impact on the hormones and the endocrine system, and that’s the last thing we want from a product that is supposed to help with your hormones.
On top of that, we’ve recently changed all our packaging materials. Everything has been selected to benefit and protect the environment and leave a minimal impact on our Mother Earth. In fact, the packaging is made out of bamboo, recyclable glass and biodegradable refill packaging.
Do you still need these products if undergoing Hormone Replacement Therapy?
I tackle the issues women suffer from, whether on HRT or not on HRT, as there could be lingering symptoms. HRT is not a silver bullet, as sometimes women still suffer from symptoms such as dehydrated skin, pain and brain fog, etc., despite taking HRT.
Do you have any advice for women suffering from menopause and perimenopause symptoms?
Of course, there are other things that will also benefit you besides our products:
- Get plenty of rest, including keeping to regular sleep routines
- Eat a healthy diet
- Have calcium-rich food like milk, yoghurt and kale to keep your bones healthy
- Exercise regularly, and try including weight-bearing activities where your feet and legs support your weight like walking, running or dancing
- Do relaxing things like yoga, tai chi or meditation
- Talk to other people going through the same thing, like family, friends or colleagues
Most importantly, while we provide information and our recommended product solutions, it is imperative to consult your GP or healthcare advisor if your symptoms are severe, if you are undergoing treatment or if you are on medication.
“AS FOUNDER OF SHHH MENOPAUSE WELLNESS, I WANT EVERY WOMAN TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE MENOPAUSAL DECISION THAT IS BEST FOR THEM. I WANT WOMEN TO BE ABLE TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, CHOICES THAT ARE INFORMED AND ACCEPTED AS NORMS FOR ALL WOMEN.”
MARVA WILLIAMS
I love what Marva Williams is doing with her brand. She is taking the topic of ‘menopause’ and giving women a voice as well as a platform to speak their minds and share their experiences. Menopause affects over half the population so we need to keep talking about it as loudly as we can and exploring effective treatment options. Not everyone can take HRT, so women need to be offered natural alternatives.
Shhh are offering Suzstainable readers 25% off, by simply entering the discount code: Selfcare at the checkout.
