OvaJoy

PCOS support through science-backed insights, at-home testing & digital tools

Early access to our pilot programme: https://form.typeform.com/to/cR0hFD3V

21/07/2025

✨Mini Series✨
5 Things I Wish I Knew About PCOS…No.3

Stress isn’t just in your head, it’s in your hormones.

When I first tried to 'fix' my PCOS, I went hard. More training, stricter food, more supplements. But I didn’t realise stress itself can make PCOS symptoms worse.

Stress hormones can:
⚡️ Mess with ovulation
⚡️ Drive inflammation
⚡️ Raise blood sugar
⚡️ Affect gut health

Overtraining and under-eating can push your body into survival mode which does the opposite of what you want. Learning to manage stress, rest properly and train smarter (not harder) changed everything for me.

That’s why OvaJoy looks at stress too, not just food and workouts.

17/07/2025

✨Mini Series✨
5 Things I Wish I Knew About PCOS…No.2

Your gut and your hormones are best friends...or worst enemies.

I didn’t realise that my acne, sugar cravings and bloating were connected to my PCOS. Research shows that women with PCOS often have a less diverse gut microbiome which can:
🧬 Fuel inflammation
🧬 Make insulin resistance worse
🧬 Affect hormone balance
🧬 Mess with mood and energy

GPs rarely talk about gut health in PCOS care. That’s why OvaJoy includes optional gut microbiome testing, so you can see what’s going on inside and support your gut as part of your hormone plan.

Your gut isn’t the whole answer but it’s a piece of the puzzle too many people miss.

Wondering what your gut health is saying? Drop us a DM!

13/07/2025

✨Mini Series✨
5 Things I Wish I Knew About PCOS…No.1

When I first heard about PCOS, I thought it just meant heavy and painful periods. But here’s what I wish I’d known:

PCOS isn’t really about painful periods, it’s about irregular or missing ones.

If you have PCOS, your body MIGHT not ovulate every month.
No ovulation (anovulation) means your cycle can drag on for weeks, or even months.
Sometimes you won’t get a period at all. Sometimes your lining builds up for so long that when you do get a period, it can be heavier than usual, but pain isn’t the classic sign.

Painful periods are more common with conditions like endometriosis or fibroids. So if you’re struggling with severe period pain, don’t just write it off as “normal PCOS”. It’s worth talking to your GP or a specialist.

PCOS can also affect so much more than your cycle. For instance your energy, cravings, skin, mood, weight and gut health.

It’s all connected and it’s why I built OvaJoy to look at the whole picture.

If you’re struggling with your cycles, we’re here for you! Drop us a DM to take the first step at helping yourself 💗

03/07/2025

Mental Health & PCOS

✨ 1 in 5 people with PCOS have clinical depression.
✨ Up to 60% experience anxiety.

Yet many never get asked about it, let alone supported properly.

The Monash 2023 International Guideline makes it clear there should be:
👉 Routine mental health screening
👉 Real, evidence-based support
👉 Care that listens to you

At OvaJoy, your mind matters just as much as your hormones do ❤️

Reference: Teede HJ et al. International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of PCOS 2023. Monash University.

29/06/2025

Lifestyle changes should be front and centre!

The 2023 International Evidence-based Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of PCOS, led by Monash University, make it clear that targeted lifestyle interventions are the first-line treatment for improving symptoms, hormonal balance, emotional wellbeing, and long-term health.

Whether you're newly diagnosed or deep into your PCOS journey, you deserve support that looks at the whole you.

✨Backed by science
✨Rooted in lived experience
✨Powered by personalisation

Please send this to someone who needs PCOS support!

Source: Teede HJ, Misso ML, Costello MF, et al. International evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic o***y syndrome 2023. Monash University. Available at: monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/mchri/pcos

27/06/2025

Meet the team!

Dr. Yu Pei is the Co-founder and Head of Product Development & Bioinformatics at OvaJoy. Her journey into medical science began in her teenage years, when she struggled with a weakened immune system, which sparked a lifelong curiosity about the human body and the hidden causes of chronic conditions.

After completing medical school in China, Yu moved to Sweden to pursue advanced research and earned her PhD in Medical Science at the Karolinska Institute, specialising in bioinformatics, reproductive biology and PCOS. Her research into PCOS led to a co–first author publication in Nature Medicine, titled "Prenatal androgen exposure and transgenerational susceptibility to polycystic o***y syndrome." The study revealed how androgen exposure during early development may contribute to PCOS risk across generations.

At OvaJoy, Dr. Yu Pei leads the development of cutting-edge, personalised testing tools that combine clinical research with genomics, bioinformatics, and user-centered design. Her goal is to make early, accurate, and accessible testing a reality for those suffering from PCOS, empowering them to take back control of their health through deeper biological insights.

“Science should not stay in the lab. I believe women deserve real answers, not just symptom management, and that starts with better diagnostics.”

Address

London

Website

http://www.ovajoy.co.uk/

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