Frustrated by the lack of knowledge women face as they enter menopause, two women in Tucson, Arizona have decided to do something about it. Danielle Jacobs, 39, and Vanessa Ford, 47, are launching MenoLabs, a research-driven company, which aims to provide a support ecosystem to women who are in perimenopause and menopause, and to create research-backed prebiotic/probiotic supplements to help with the most frustrating and commonly-faced symptoms, like hot flashes, weight gain, and anxiety.
Vanessa Ford, Co-Founder, says she was motivated to start the company when she began her own transition. “When I was 44, I had a period that lasted for 21 days, and I don’t mind saying, it scared me. I had no idea what was going on with my body. I discovered when I was trying to figure out what was happening to me was that I was in perimenopause, and there was really not one good place I could go to get the facts about menopause, to get support from other women, and to find well-researched studies on menopause.”
She reached out to long-time friend and colleague, Danielle Jacobs, who agreed this was a problem the two of them together were uniquely suited to solve. “We realized right away that Vanessa was’t unique - that most women don’t really know what perimenopause is or how their bodies change during this time, or why, and we really felt like we had to do something about it”, says Danielle Jacobs.
They connected with Dr. John P. Konhilas, Ph.D. an Associate Professor with the Department of Physiology and Sarver Molecular Cardiovascular Research at the University of Arizona, who conducts research into menopause, cardiovascular disease in women, and the role that the gut microbiome plays in menopausal heart disease and health. “Bringing Dr. Konhilas into the project was really important to us. His knowledge is just incredible, and he’s been instrumental in assisting us with creating probiotics and prebiotics that can have a real beneficial impact on women’s health”, says Jacobs.
MenoLabs currently has three products on the market, and several more in the research and development phase. All of their current formulations, MenoFit, MenoGuard and MenoGlow, offer support for hot flashes. MenoFit also addresses weight gain, while MenoGuard addresses heart and bone health, and MenoGlow addresses the needs of hair, skin, teeth and nails in menopause. “We are also creating an app so that women have a one-stop shop to get support, find research, and really get a good understanding of what is happening to their bodies and why,”says Ford. “We’re very excited about helping women go through menopause with support, knowledge, and the confidence that comes with knowing that they are not alone.”
About MenoLabs
MenoLabs is a woman-owned company, founded with a vision to revolutionize the way women transition into menopause. Co-Founders Danielle Jacobs and Vanessa Ford launched MenoLabs in partnership with John P. Konhilas, Ph.D. an Associate Professor with the Department of Physiology and Sarver Molecular Cardiovascular Research at the University of Arizona. MenoLabs’ mission is to bring the best research forward, believing that women should have access to scientifically proven natural health care products, supplements, and high-quality probiotics that can keep them focused, healthy, and productive throughout their lives. MenoLabs also provides a trusted support ecosystem through their MenoLife app, where women can find guidance and support throughout their menopause journey.
