I come away from Hygienix 2018 with a renewed sense of hope that we are continuing to educate and understand our bodies better and better. We heard from different speakers, from all walks of life, telling us about what life is like if (and more likely when) you suffer from urinary or fecal incontinence. It’s our job to develop the right products to ensure the dignity of our friends, neighbors and relatives – so we can all continue living our lives and feeling normal.
I had the great fortune to be able to suggest and then run a panel discussing menopause. I find it stunning that it is a topic that no-one seems to fully understand unless they are treating, or going through it themselves. Why is it that there are only three mammals that even have menopause? Is it perhaps to allow grandmothers to take care of their grandchildren and so help raise and protect the younger generation?
I feel strongly that this is an area, we as product developers must innovate in – it is an opportunity and a category we have left behind. Our panelist eloquently portrayed the needs and also the liberating aspects of going through the menopause, as well as thinking of our consumers as a whole being… and not as a state (such as having a period, being pregnant, etc). I couldn’t agree more – when we move through our lives, in the different situations we find ourselves in, we still want to have products that make us feel in control and special. It doesn’t matter if you are in the spa, in your home or in a hospital.
