Being a new mom, I thought I would be in a good position to write this month’s article on women’s health. But seeing as how I pretty much know (and have experienced) most everything (and writing about contract research organizations is far more compelling), I decided to turn the tables and assign the story to my counterpart, Sean Moloughney. His experience was interesting, to say the least. The good news is he survived, and his article is excellent.
 
First of all, I have to give him credit for stepping outside his comfort zone to explore the sometimes unspeakable issues women face on a daily basis, courtesy of the life stages we all go through. And he probably learned a lot more than he ever wanted to know about things like UTIs and endometriosis. But one of the critical things he gained is a new perspective on how much women have to juggle in their daily lives.
 
Understanding the woman of the 21st century—you know, the one that’s supposed to cook, clean, buy the groceries, hold down a full-time job, take the kids where they need to go, help them with their homework and console them when they’ve had a tough day, all while smiling and looking beautiful—is key for product developers and marketers. And being sympathetic to their demanding lives becomes even more important when you throw in things like PMS and menopause. To get on Her good side, as Sean points out, sometimes it’s as easy as listening.
 
For more details about Sean’s experience, you can log on to our website (www.nutraceuticalsworld.com) and read his new column called “Naturally Filtered,” specifically his very first installment titled “What Women Want.” Search for it in the “Opinions” section of our website. This new online series is devoted to his thoughts and perspectives on most things nutraceuticals. It is a place where he will offer some unique thoughts on specific subjects, based on all the information he’s sifted through.
 
When Sean completed his journey through the world of women’s health, he told me: “I’m glad I’m a dude.” We’ll see about that. Next month it is my job to explore the men’s health market. After I’m done, Sean might want to reconsider that statement. Stay tuned!