Can ingesting collagen help menopausal symptoms?

You may have read that Absolute Collagen is the ‘menopause must have’ - and could be wondering why.

In this blog we look at the science behind the testimonials - and talk to real-life women who have found menopausal symptom relief.

Long gone are the days of our grandparents when menopause was a taboo subject and hidden. October is World menopause awareness month with world menopause awareness day on the 18th.

Women are now liberated and encouraged to speak about what has historically been labelled ‘the change’, as it is indeed just that.

Katie Day, of organisation Midlife Matters, says: “The menopause is a taboo that is finally being broken down. Women are talking about it, companies are starting to do something about it and the barriers are finally falling.

It’s natural. It happens to every woman. Pregnancy is talked about openly and not every woman experiences that.

"Every woman experiences the menopause. Differently.  But every woman.”

Katie spearheads campaigns, social media groups and awareness days for menopausal women and has a wealth of knowledge in the subject.

So what exactly is menopause? The NHS website states: The menopause is when a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally.

Periods usually start to become less frequent over a few months or years before they stop altogether. Sometimes they can stop suddenly.

The menopause is a natural part of ageing that usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age, as a woman's oestrogen levels decline. In the UK, the average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 51.

However, around 1 in 100 women experience the menopause before 40 years of age. This is known as premature menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency.

Most women will experience menopausal symptoms. Some of these can be quite severe and have a significant impact on your everyday activities.

Symptoms include:

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Discomfort during sex
• Difficulty sleeping
• Low mood
• Anxiety
• Reduced sex drive
• Problems with memory and concentration
• Headaches
• Heart palpitations
• Joint stiffness, aches and pains
• Reduced muscle mass
• Recurrent urinary infections
• Increased risk of osteoporosis

Symptoms vary from woman to woman and start a few months or years before the last period. This is known as perimenopause.

Most symptoms will continue for around 4 years from when periods stop; although 1 in 10 women find symptoms can go on for up to 12 years.

There are many ways in which GPs and medical practitioners can help women to cope with these ongoing symptoms, but where does ingesting collagen come in?

Katie Day says: “When our oestrogen levels drop during perimenopause, so do our levels of collagen. That all-important component responsible for plump, bouncy, healthy skin and shiny hair. That’s on the outside.

“On the inside, the drop in collagen can create all sorts of havoc. It impacts on our mucous membranes, one result being that the lining of the vagina can become thin and almost tissue paper like, causing pain with any type of penetration and potential bleeding.

“Collagen is also essential for our joints. Painful joints are another potential impact of the menopausal years, making exercise more challenging and increasing the already debilitating tiredness.

“Ensuring our collagen levels remain high during our menopausal years is a crucial part of navigating this life transition with confidence and ease.”

Absolute Collagen has received several testimonials from perimenopausal and menopausal women to say they have felt a relief in their symptoms after taking the supplement.

One of these perimenopausal clients is Karen Angelico (pictured).

Karen says: “I am 2.5 months in to taking Absolute Collagen and have really noticed a difference. I am generally very fit and healthy, make sure I eat a clean diet and do regular exercise etc, but my hormones were causing all sorts of uncomfortable issues such as sporadic insomnia, aching joints, weird tooth pains, hair loss, fatigue, and my periods became very irregular.

“A blood test didn’t reveal any positive menopausal results, although I understand the slow wind down of hormones during perimenopause doesn’t always show up in a blood test. I thought I would have to put up with it. Then I discovered Absolute Collagen.

“I thought it was worth a try. I was very sceptical, but I am blown away by the results. Within 2 weeks my tooth pain had disappeared and my nails were growing, not only longer but stronger. I decided to subscribe to the monthly box.

“My skin has been the most recent change, but I can say that joint aches are 90% gone, hair is re-growing and thickening - even my boyfriend noticed! And my skin is hydrated and bounces back with a pinch test on the back of my hand.

“I have made no other changes to my diet or lifestyle and can only attribute all of this to the magic of Absolute Collagen.

“My hormones are still all over the place and I will obviously still go through the menopausal changes, but I can honestly say I feel as if the volume dial has been turned down on all of my symptoms. Thank you Absolute Collagen!”

The fact Karen mentions the condition of her hair is interesting. We asked our in-house consultant trichologist Eva Proudman her thoughts.

“For many women, hair loss during menopause is a stressful and all too common occurrence. Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy can be an excellent treatment option. However, your diet can also play a huge role in maintaining healthy hair during menopause.” says Eva.

“Keratin is a protein and is the building block of your hair, and whilst it is not directly found in food, its production is directly affected by how much protein is in your diet.

"A lack of protein in your diet can have a lasting impact on your hair health, especially during perimenopause and menopause.

“Keratin is made up from amino acids, which your body gets from protein rich foods such as red meat, beans, fish, eggs and milk, as well as vegetables such as kale and asparagus.

“Absolute Collagen as a supplement provides a full 8 grams of protein containing the essential amino acids that are required by the hair and body.”

So in comes the science. This table shows the amino-acids contained in Absolute Collagen and how they impact on our health.

Another client, who wishes to be known just as Sonja, had this to say: "I don’t normally write reviews but I am evangelical about Absolute Collagen!

“Going through a v tough menopause with lots of nasty symptoms - not least persistent adult acne. Have been taking this for a month and skin has cleared up and nails much stronger!

“Waiting to see what impact it has on my hair which has fallen out. The menopause is a nightmare - or certainly is for me. HRT has had v little impact but Absolute Collagen has definitely eased my symptoms. It’s my survival sachet”!”

If you would like to give Absolute Collagen a try, you can order here

Additionally - we love hearing from our clients. If you have an Absolute Collagen success story - please do get in touch.