Launched in 2016 after years of struggling to conceive a baby, UK-based Leila Martyn and James Grant created MyOva to support other women struggling with the many symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
“When we started trying for a baby, it took five years with six miscarriages, all of which were totally unexplained,” Martyn said. “None of the doctors took into consideration that I suffered from PCOS or gave me any treatment around this in relation to my fertility issues. Doctors said ‘it’s just bad luck, keep trying’.
“I thought if we carry on doing the same thing we’re going to keep getting the same result, so I started to do my own research into PCOS symptoms and learned one was poor egg quality. I then discovered myo-inositol, which is basically a natural alternative to the drug Metformin which doctors often prescribe to PCOS patients.”
PCOS is an endocrine disorder characterised by ovulatory dysfunction, metabolic changes and hyperandrogenism. It presents in several different ways. Common features include: rregiular periods, infertility, pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and premature delivery, overweight or obesity, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease (CVD), sleep apnea and depression.
Myo-inositol a naturally occurring sugar alcohol found in dietary sources such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and cereals and acts as an intracellular messenger to regulate several hormones including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and insulin. It has been found to improve the way the body handles insulin, decreases testosterone levels, promotes weight loss and induces ovulation.
“I ordered some, but all the brands back then only sold it in sachets that you had to mix with water, and I found I was always forgetting to take it. I wondered why no-one sold it as a capsule,” Martyn said. “That’s where the idea began.”
The couple, now parents to two sons aged five and six, created MyoPlus capsules, containing myo-inositol with Vitamin B6, 200ug folate to support insulin resistance and total cholesterol, and 100ug chromium to support normal glucose tolerance. They put 1,000 units on Amazon and sold out within a few months.
“We knew then that there were a lot of women suffering and looking for a solution,” Martyn said.
They continued selling the product online while working full time—James as a London taxi driver and Leila as a licensing agent—until Covid gave the MyOva business an unexpected boost.
“We both found ourselves unable to continue with our day jobs and so we decided to dedicate ourselves to MyOva and develop the range further,” Martyn said.
They launched MyOva Preconception with added ALA (600mg) for oocyte and embryo quality, N-acetyl cysteine (600 mg) and coenzyme Q10 (10mg) for ovarian health.
After surveying their customers’ key symptoms, they launched further products: MyOva Metabolism, with white kidney bean extract, green coffee bean extract, kelp extract, cinnamon, cayenne pepper and chromium picolinate; MyOva Balance with Avena sativa extract, passion flower, Rhodiola rosea, ashwagandha, and vitamin D3; and MyOva Hair, Skin and Nails, with added vitamin C, trans-resveratrol, hyaluronic acid, zinc citrate, grape seed extract, alfalfa, L-selenomethionine, Lactobacillus acidophilus. vitamin A acetate and D-Biotin.
They have just launched a male fertility focused supplement containing vitamin C, L-carnitine L-tartrate, lycopene, cordyceps mushroom (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), zinc citrate, L-arginine, coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone), myo-inositol, L-selenomethionine, D-alpha tocopherol succinate, vitamin B3, N-acetyl, L-cysteine, vitamins B6, D3, B2, B1 and B12 and and calcium-L-methylfolate.
Martyn explained the reasoning behind the new launch: “When couples are struggling to conceive, 30% of cases are due to female issues, 30% are due to male issues, and in 40% of cases it’s both sides, so we want to ensure we are providing couples with support on both sides.”
The range will soon launch onto Amazon.com, opening the brand up to the U.S. market, and it will enter a major retailer in October this year, the company previewed.
Speaking about how interest in women’s health has taken off since MyOva entered the space in 2016, Martyn said: “When we launched, no-one wanted to know about women’s health issues, especially not niche ones like PCOS, which affects 1 in 10 women. A lot of people hadn’t even heard of the condition.
“We’ve been banging on about this for years and so I’m really pleased people are finally interested in it because there are so many women suffering in silence, many going to the doctor and being turned away time and time again. That’s how most of our customers end up coming to discover our brand.”
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