Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Ryan.
Jenna, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
In 2014, I had 8 UTIs. You might know that urinary tract infections (UTIs) are an infection caused by bacteria in the urinary tract that (mostly) impact women. You probably don’t know how common UTIs are. They’re the second most common infection in the US, second only to the common cold. That’s a shocking statistic. We hardly ever talk about UTIs, yet they’re affecting one out of every two women.
At the time, I thought my situation was unusual, and I felt pretty isolated. Still, I was desperate to get ahead of the problem. My doctor recommended I take antibiotics on a consistent basis, but that didn’t sit well with me. Together with my longtime boyfriend (and co-founder at Uqora), I started to find really compelling research illustrating natural ways to get ahead of UTIs, instead of just relying on antibiotics for treatment and prevention. We began collaborating with industry experts and medical professionals to create Uqora—The UTI Prevention Company. Our products aren’t made with cranberry, and they aren’t made with system-crushing antibiotics. At Uqora, we use unique, proven ingredients found in nature to develop products that work.
Uqora was born from the very best clinical research available, and a firm belief that while antibiotics have their place, that place isn’t in my everyday life.
Please tell us more about your work and what you are most passionate about, etc.
On the surface, we make effective prevention solutions for women struggling with UTIs. My real passion, though, is creating a safe place for women to talk about UTIs.
UTIs are marginalized and stigmatized in conversation because UTIs are often related to sex. But that’s wrong—and a misconception! Nearly half of our customers say that they don’t know what causes their UTIs. It’s not just related to sex, and even if it were, that’s no reason to minimize the issue. Our customers share stories about how they had tried everything, about how this is the first time they’ve had relief from recurring UTIs in 20 years. One customer told me that she’s finally gotten her sex life back with her husband of 50 years!
My heartwork is fostering that community and enabling women to connect with other women who are going through the same thing. My hope is that if we can start by sharing with each other, we can build up to sharing with everyone, and really opening up dialogue which will lead to an increase in research and solutions around this massive public health issue.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Go to www.uqora.com. Start bringing up UTIs in casual conversation. I’m telling you, you’ll be amazed to find how much people have to say on the topic if given the chance!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.uqora.com
- Email: support@uqora.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uqora/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uqora
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/uqorahealth?lang=en
Image Credit:
Deena Cormier Photography
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