The best business ideas are born of real need gaps—and there is certainly no age limit on career achievement. Just ask Jess Graham, chief marketing officer of Hologram Sciences and general manager of Phenology, who founded the brand after enduring perimenopause without the proper physical or mental support.
At the time Graham found that perimenopause impacted everything from her overall wellness to her career and personal life—with sleepless nights, mood swings, and painful cramps disrupting her day-to-day. What she didn’t find? Resources to help her manage her symptoms and get back to feeling like herself. This realization sparked a passion in her that led to the birth of Phenology (after she quit the cushy corporate job she’d had for two decades for a complete career 180, nbd).
Today's Menopause Solutions Aren't Your Mom's Hot-Flash Remedies (I Know Because I Asked Mine)
Greetings, I’m the “I” in this equation: a writer, avocado lover, and mom of two. So while I may have experience with one realm
of our reproductive system (and all the fun swollen ankles and constipation that comes along with it—it being the wild ride that
is pregnancy), I don’t know as much about the other end of the spectrum: menopause.
But if I’ve learned anything, it’s to be curious about—and prepared for—all of the changes my body will face (which could be, um, soon: most women begin perimonopause, the precursor to menopause, in their mid forties—but for some it starts in their thirties, according to Mount Sinai). So, naturally, I asked my mom about it.
“I remember thinking something was up when I had a random recurring chin hair that just would not go away,” says my mom, Lisa.
(If you’ve ever had unwanted facial hair, you know the one—it’s coarse, wiry, and as persistent as that phone reminder you forgot to turn off.) “I knew my hormones were out of whack, but I never felt like, boom, I’m in menopause. It was sort of a slow creep.
Eventually I got hot flashes. My sleep got very disrupted.”
The even more surprising thing? Her symptoms are only one slice of a very big hormone-laden pie. “Every woman can expect to go through menopause, but many don't recognize its symptoms. It is a complex process that can show up in different ways, last for months or years, impact daily life, relationships, and even self esteem,” says Kourtney Sims, MD, who goes by Dr. K. She’s the chief medical advisor at Phenology, a women’s health brand designed to offer relief and guidance through the menopause journey.
Yes, it’s 2022 and we should be talking about menopause openly and honestly. But to go deeper, it’s time to address the plethora of experiences people with ovaries face, which go way beyond just hot flashes. And Phenology is on a mission to do just that.
“We want to help women navigate demanding personal and professional lives by providing the tools to help them anticipate, architect, and navigate menopause with grace and relief from it’s most bothersome symptoms,” says Jess Graham, CMO of Hologram Sciences and GM of Phenology. “Women deserve evidence-based, scientific solutions and meaningful innovation—across their lifetimes—but there was a real gap in the menopause space.”
Graham can attest to the gap personally: “I had never in my life felt that I was held back by my biology, but sleepless nights, mood swings, and painful periods started having a real impact,” she says of her experience with perimenopause. “I spent time on Google, I had the prototypical dismissive doctor’s appointment, and didn’t find anything that delivered what I wanted: better understanding of what the heck was happening, a level of predictability of symptoms, effective natural solutions, and a brand that felt like it spoke to someone who otherwise felt on top of her life and career.”
Enter Phenology, which offers a full suite of science-backed supplements, remedies, and beauty essentials, at-home hormone testing to help predict symptoms, and online coaching to tailor your own personalized approach to menopause. Consider it like a 360-degree menopause concierge—complete with a.m. and p.m. gummies in tastefully minimal packaging that would look at home in any beauty cabinet shelfie. (Oh, how far we’ve come.)
Below, find out the three ways menopause solutions have changed for the better, with Phenology leading the charge (aka, why my mom is emphatically annoyed it wasn’t around while she was going through it—but overjoyed for me, on the flip side).
The first rule of menopause is we don’t talk about menopause.
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One of the ways Phenology on-line coaches support women through their journey is by providing them with strategies for using movement (along with nutrition, sleep, hydration, and more) to help them alleviate menopause symptoms—and Diane Sorg, a Zumba instructor who is not affiliated with Phenology, can attest to the power of exercise.
“Staying active is the key,” says Sorg, the owner and instructor at Zumba With Diane. After walking away from her corporate career at age 58, she was planning on retiring. But when she took her first Zumba class (despite hating exercise at the time!), she fell in love and began teaching Zumba Gold—a modified version of Zumba geared toward seniors—across rehabilitation centers and nursing homes. “I love seeing seniors have a good time while working out without even realizing it,” she says.
Achieving New Feats of Physical Fitness
Glass loses heat less quickly than metal or plastic, so it also helps temperature control your supplement—and the non-porous nature of glass helps lock out moisture. Yes, it’s basically the Rolex of containers.
The Bottle
Light, heat, and moisture can affect the composition of delicate formulas, but amber-colored glass (or opaque-colored glass in general) can help protect against all of the above.
Ever noticed that high-end beauty products often come in colored glass bottles? The same principle can be applied to supplements: When you’re investing in A+ ingredients, you want a container that will help support the quality of the ingredients inside, like Solgar’s signature amber glass ones.
A quick science lesson:
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The Process
So how, exactly, do some supplement ingredients (such as herbals) go from a plant growing in the ground to a capsule you can down every morning with breakfast? That’s where the manufacturing process comes into play. It sounds boring, but stick with us—manufacturing is actually a key step in the creation of a supplement that separates the cream of the crop from the rest.
For example, Solgar uses food-grade cleansers to sanitize all equipment between batches (which is important, because this stuff is going into your body), and completely disassembles the machinery to deep clean it after each formula change.
Moral of the story is: Solgar follows strict standards to ensure there’s very little chance of anything that doesn’t belong in your supplements ending up in there.
The facility also uses air filters that remove 99.9 percent of airborne particles and a reverse osmosis water purification system for next-level filtration.
The Anatomy of a Supplement
If you’ve ever searched for supplements, you know there are approximately… one zillion options out there, give or take. As you’re assessing your (many) different choices for vitamin C, have you ever wondered what *actually* differentiates top-shelf supplements from the rest? To find out, we teamed up with Solgar—the premium supplements that never take shortcuts and adhere to a self-imposed gold standard of excellence—to take a deep dive into the anatomy of a supplement. Here’s what to look for as you’re sorting through all those options:
My mom can confirm the general shroud of secrecy that’s long befallen many women’s health topics—menopause included. “Did we talk about menopause? Did I learn anything about it before going through it? No, not in my generation,” she says. (This was in response to me earnestly asking if she had learned about it in school before realizing—sadly—of course she hadn’t,
because neither had I.)
Thankfully, safe space for open connection is becoming more the norm than the exception—and that has paved the way for innovative solutions led by women. Mood swings? Four a.m. wakeup calls? Night sweats? It’s all fair game, in conversation and in formulation.
To that end, Phenology has leaned into a patent-pending combination of saffron (2020 studies link it to improved sleep and mood) and genistein (a phytoestrogen, or plant-based hormone compound) in its morning and evening gummies, designed to target some of the most bothersome menopause symptoms (looking at you, hot flashes, mood fluctuations, and sleep disruptions).* Meanwhile, vitamins B6 and B12 are included to help combat brain fog, vitamins D3 and K2 help to support bone and heart health, and additional p.m. gummies offer additional sleep support with melatonin.*
Greetings, I’m the “I” in this equation: a writer, avocado lover, and mom of two. So while I may have experience with one realm of our reproductive system (and all the fun swollen ankles and constipation that comes along with it—it being the wild ride that is pregnancy), I don’t know as much about the other end of the spectrum: menopause.
But if I’ve learned anything, it’s to be curious about—and prepared for—all of the changes my body will face (which could be, um, soon: most women begin perimonopause, the precursor to menopause, in their mid forties—but for some it starts in their thirties, according to Mount Sinai). So, naturally, I asked my mom about it.
“I remember thinking something was up when I had a random recurring chin hair that just would not go away,” says my mom, Lisa. (If you’ve ever had unwanted facial hair, you know the one—it’s coarse, wiry, and as persistent as that phone reminder you forgot to turn off.) “I knew my hormones were out of whack, but I never felt like, boom, I’m in menopause. It was sort of a slow creep. Eventually I got hot flashes. My sleep got very disrupted.”
The even more surprising thing? Her symptoms are only one slice of a very big hormone-laden pie. “Every woman can expect to go through menopause, but many don't recognize its symptoms. It is a complex process that can show up in different ways, last for months or years, impact daily life, relationships, and even self esteem,” says Kourtney Sims, MD, who goes by Dr. K. She’s the chief medical advisor at Phenology, a women’s health brand designed to offer relief and guidance through the menopause journey.
Yes, it’s 2022 and we should be talking about menopause openly and honestly. But to go deeper, it’s time to address the plethora of experiences people with ovaries face, which go way beyond just hot flashes. And Phenology is on a mission to do just that.
“We want to help women navigate demanding personal and professional lives by providing the tools to help them anticipate, architect, and navigate menopause with grace and relief from it’s most bothersome symptoms,” says Jess Graham, CMO of Hologram Sciences and GM of Phenology. “Women deserve evidence-based, scientific solutions and meaningful innovation—across their lifetimes—but there was a real gap in the menopause space.”
Graham can attest to the gap personally: “I had never in my life felt that I was held back by my biology, but sleepless nights, mood swings, and painful periods started having a real impact,” she says of her experience with perimenopause. “I spent time on Google, I had the prototypical dismissive doctor’s appointment, and didn’t find anything that delivered what I wanted: better understanding of what the heck was happening, a level of predictability of symptoms, effective natural solutions, and a brand that felt like it spoke to someone who otherwise felt on top of her life and career.”
Enter Phenology, which offers a full suite of science-backed supplements, remedies, and beauty essentials, at-home hormone testing to help predict symptoms, and online coaching to tailor your own personalized approach to menopause. Consider it like a 360-degree menopause concierge—complete with a.m. and p.m. gummies in tastefully minimal packaging that would look at home in any beauty cabinet shelfie. (Oh, how far we’ve come.)
Below, find out the three ways menopause solutions have changed for the better, with Phenology leading the charge (aka, why my mom is emphatically annoyed it wasn’t around while she was going through it—but overjoyed for me, on the flip side).
My mom can confirm the general shroud of secrecy that’s long befallen many women’s health topics—menopause included. “Did we talk about menopause? Did I learn anything about it before going through it? No, not in my generation,” she says. (This was in response to me earnestly asking if she had learned about it in school before realizing—sadly—of course she hadn’t, because neither had I.)
Thankfully, safe space for open connection is becoming more the norm than the exception—and that has paved the way for innovative solutions led by women. Mood swings? Four a.m. wakeup calls? Night sweats? It’s all fair game, in conversation and in formulation.
To that end, Phenology has leaned into a patent-pending combination of saffron (2020 studies link it to improved sleep and mood) and genistein (a phytoestrogen, or plant-based hormone compound) in its morning and evening gummies, designed to target some of the most bothersome menopause symptoms (looking at you, hot flashes, mood fluctuations, and sleep disruptions).* Meanwhile, vitamins B6 and B12 are included to help combat brain fog, vitamins D3 and K2 help to support bone and heart health, and additional p.m. gummies offer additional sleep support with melatonin.*
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The old way:
Have you tried these menopause gummies?
The new way:
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Have you ever had a hot flash while in a hot bath? According to my mom, it’s the worst. “I remember getting in the tub, and just like, ‘Oh my god, I’m going to die,’” she remembers. Still, when I asked if she ever pursued treatment (because hot baths are pretty much her favorite thing in the world), the only option she remembers being available is hormone replacement therapy—which worked for some friends, but not for others.
But what if you could put your hormones to work for you? That’s the question Phenology is asking with inne minilab, an at-home testing system launching this summer (pre-release access will be available for select users in the spring). Using daily saliva samples—with in-app results in less than 30 minutes—a user can see how their progesterone levels are changing and chat about it with a coach. “These progesterone changes will also be mapped against her menstrual cycle and menopause symptoms, providing meaningful insights into the interactions between her hormones and her menopause experience and can help her predict, within a reasonable window, when she might experience her most bothersome symptoms,” says Dr. K.
This kind of insight into your experience can give you a heads up when more targeted relief remedies are needed—like, say, an assist against mental fatigue and brain fog (clarity mints with L-theanine and green coffee extract), relief from hot flashes and night sweats (a cooling spray with hyaluronic acid), or hydration to combat skin dryness (morning gummies boosted with lutein and biotin).*
“If you couple the profound physical changes that can happen during the menopausal transition with the normal stressors
and challenges of mid life, it can be a tricky period for a lot of women to navigate,” says Dr. K.
My mom agrees, noting that she and her friends would discuss all of the stresses they were facing—kids leaving home, caring for aging parents, trying to juggle their careers—all in the same breath while commiserating about forgetfulness, night sweats, and skin that was suddenly a lot less firm—and a lot more parched—than it used to be. “Some people I know really suffered. A lot of us were just feeling like, ‘I can’t manage this anymore,’” she remembers. “Everything in life that you used to do—you know, snap your fingers and done—was a struggle.”
And yet, manage it they did—many of them never finding (or seeking) relief. “The thing I want abolished FOREVER is women’s belief that they have to ‘cope,’” says Graham. “Why is that even an option?!” If Phenology has any say, the option instead will be whether to stash your hot-flash roll-on or your whipped facial cream in your bag (but really—you can fit both).
“I encourage women to think of this period of life as not just a hormonal transition that is happening to us, but one that is happening for us,” says Dr. K. “All of the changes that your body and mind go through can force you to slow down and assess how you are truly supporting yourself and your body.”
So show up for yourself—but remember, you don’t have to go it alone. “[Phenology was] developed to support and give voice to women to empower them through the transition without having to do all the work themselves,” says Dr. K. Whether you’re there
now or arriving soon, the new generation of menopause care is happy to have you. Welcome.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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Hormone *tracking* is here, and it’s got a lot to say.
The new way:
Hormone replacement therapy is the only treatment available.
The old way:
It’s time to thrive—not just cope.
The new way:
You just have to grin and bear it.
The old way:
The Anatomy of a Supplement
Have you ever had a hot flash while in a hot
bath? According to my mom, it’s the worst.
“I remember getting in the tub, and just like, ‘Oh my god, I’m going to die,’” she remembers. Still, when I asked if she ever pursued treatment (because hot baths are pretty much her favorite thing in the world), the only option she remembers being available is hormone replacement therapy—which worked for some friends, but not for others.
But what if you could put your hormones to work for you? That’s the question Phenology is asking with inne minilab, an at-home testing system launching this summer (pre-release access will be available for select users in the spring). Using daily saliva samples—with in-app results in less than 30 minutes—a user can see how their progesterone levels are changing and chat about it with a coach. “These progesterone changes will also be mapped against her menstrual cycle and menopause symptoms, providing meaningful insights into the interactions between her hormones and her menopause experience and can help her predict, within a reasonable window, when she might experience her most bothersome symptoms,” says Dr. K.
This kind of insight into your experience can give you a heads up when more targeted relief remedies are needed—like, say, an assist against mental fatigue and brain fog (clarity mints with
L-theanine and green coffee extract), relief from hot flashes and night sweats (a cooling spray with hyaluronic acid), or hydration to combat skin dryness (morning gummies boosted with lutein and biotin).*
Hormone *tracking*
is here, and it’s got
a lot to say.
The new way:
Hormone replacement therapy is the only treatment available.
The old way:
SHOP NOW
Elevated Evening PM
Gummy Supplement
Phenology™
SHOP NOW
Lucid Lift
Clarity Mints
Phenology™
SHOP NOW
Cool Mist Skin
Soothing Atomizer
Phenology™
“If you couple the profound physical changes that can happen during the menopausal transition with the normal stressors and challenges of mid life, it can be a tricky period
for a lot of women to navigate,” says Dr. K.
My mom agrees, noting that she and her friends would discuss all of the stresses they were facing—kids leaving home, caring for aging parents, trying to juggle their careers—all in the same breath while commiserating about forgetfulness, night sweats, and skin that was suddenly a lot less firm—and a lot more parched—than it used to be. “Some people I know really suffered. A lot of us were just feeling like, ‘I can’t manage this anymore,’” she remembers. “Everything in life that you used to do—you know, snap your fingers and done—was a struggle.”
And yet, manage it they did—many of them never finding (or seeking) relief. “The thing I want abolished FOREVER is women’s belief that they have to ‘cope,’” says Graham. “Why is that even an option?!” If Phenology has any say, the option instead will be whether to stash your hot-flash roll-on or your whipped facial cream in your bag (but really—you can fit both).
“I encourage women to think of this period
of life as not just a hormonal transition that is happening to us, but one that is happening for us,” says Dr. K. “All of the changes that your body and mind go through can force you to slow down and assess how you are truly supporting yourself and your body.”
So show up for yourself—but remember, you don’t have to go it alone. “[Phenology was] developed to support and give voice to women to empower them through the transition without having to do all the work themselves,” says Dr. K. Whether you’re there now or arriving soon, the new generation of menopause care is happy to have you. Welcome.
It’s time to thrive—not just cope.
The new way:
You just have to grin and bear it.
The old way:
SHOP NOW
inne
minilab
Phenology™
SHOP NOW
Fresh Start
Skin Roller
Phenology™
SHOP NOW
Daily Glow
Facial Cream
Phenology™
*These statements have not been evaluate by the Food
and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
By Eva Rohan