Want to live a long life?
The key might be where you least expect it
The Female Quotient
January 06, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes
WHAT’S ON DECK
Tell Me More: Ovaries determine a woman’s longevity
Troublemaker Spotlight: Blake Cohen Geffen, Co-Founder and CEO, Vivrelle
Dear FQ: I’m being encouraged to apply for a promotion I’m not sure I want. What should I do?
Poll the Pack: Move. Rest. Repeat.
TELL ME MORE
Working Ovary Time
Turns out, the tired metaphor of your “biological clock ticking” might be more truth than cliché. But it's not just about fertility. Ovaries impact far more: your longevity, your energy, your health span and how our bodies carry us through life.
It turns out ovaries are one of the fastest-aging organs in the body. The average age of menopause is 52, but many women begin experiencing hormonal changes years before that. While ovaries stop releasing eggs, their hormone production doesn't disappear overnight, and that hormonal shift can ripple across nearly every system in the body.
Hormones produced by ovaries regulate blood sugar, metabolism, fat storage, bone density, cardiovascular health, inflammation, brain function, and of course, fertility. As Jennifer Garrison, an associate professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and the Center for Healthy Aging in Women, puts it: “Ovaries are the architects of healthy female bodies.” And when their function declines, women become more susceptible to chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke, cognitive decline, osteoporosis, arthritis, and diabetes.
It’s no coincidence that women, who live longer than men, also deal with more chronic health issues later in life. Hormonal shifts are a major reason why. One in 10 women experiences early menopause (before 45), increasing their risk of coronary heart disease by 50% and cardiovascular mortality by 20%. Women who go through menopause later are statistically more likely to live to 90. Interestingly, so are their brothers, a clue that there’s a powerful genetic link here we don’t fully understand. “Why does a woman’s reproductive span correlate with her overall life span? Even brothers of women who go through menopause later tend to live longer,” Garrison said. “There’s a genetic component there that’s clearly very important, and we don’t understand it at all.”
By 2030, 1.2 billion women will be menopausal or postmenopausal. Up until 2002, when a woman was going through menopause, the recommendation had been hormonal therapy. This began to significantly decline when a flawed study linked it to an increased risk of breast cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Current treatments have successfully modified the dosage of the hormones and also adjusted the timing to be closer to when a woman first experiences menopause, but the public perception of the study remains. And while hormone therapy helps some, it isn’t a full-proof solution. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Lynkuet, a new daily pill from Bayer that provides a non-hormonal option for treating hot flashes, common during menopause, and there are other non-hormonal options on the horizon.
This leads to many questions: Why do ovaries age so rapidly? How does this play out genetically? How can we slow their aging? In a shock to no one, women’s reproductive research has been historically underfunded. What’s more, women were often excluded from clinical trials because it was incorrectly believed that their hormones confounded the data. Because of this, ovaries remain an enigma.
Things are starting to change. Scientists are exploring how to slow ovarian aging, thereby delaying the consequences of menopause, not to extend fertility, but to extend quality of life. Garrison co-founded the Global Consortium for Reproductive Longevity and Equality, which focuses on the connection between ovarian health and overall well-being. And companies like Gameto, led by CEO Dina Radenkovic Turner, are developing new biotech solutions aimed at improving the experience of menopause and aging. She shared, “Women want better treatments. We are living longer. We are contributing to society in all aspects, and we are demanding better treatments. We’re half the population. We control the majority of health-care spending decisions in families. And guess what? We care about our own experience.”
When we support women’s health at every stage, we’re not just helping individuals. We’re strengthening families and communities and raising the bar for what quality longevity can look like. Ovaries may be small, but their impact is massive. It's time we gave them the attention, and the funding, they deserve.
TROUBLEMAKER SPOTLIGHT
Blake Cohen Geffen, Co-Founder and CEO, Vivrelle
Blake Cohen Geffen is changing the way you accessorize your life. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Vivrelle, a subscription service that allows its members to rent one-of-a-kind luxury accessories. With a background in public relations, fashion, and marketing, Blake is pioneering a new way to wear high-end fashion. Under her leadership, Vivrelle has secured over $60 million in funding, leading to exponential growth and business expansion.
What’s the worst career advice you’ve gotten?
It’s a tie between “tone it down” and “just focus on one thing.” People thought that I should dial back my ambition or stay in a single category. But throughout my career, I’ve learned that boldness is an asset, and taking risks is where growth happens. You don’t have to choose one lane in business or in life. Vivrelle exists because I didn’t tone it down or limit myself to one thing, and I never will.
What’s the best piece of non-obvious career advice you’ve gotten?
Make time for yourself, especially if it means moving your body or getting outside. As a mom of three little ones and a founder growing a business, it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos. I used to feel glued to my computer as I drowned in to-do lists. But once I started prioritizing daily movement or unplugging to be present with my kids, everything shifted. Some of my best ideas have come during a walk, a workout, or simply being outside. We’re taught to power through, but stepping away is often the smartest thing you can do, not just for yourself, but for your team, your family, and your business.
What was a heartbeat moment for you in your career?
Opening Vivrelle’s first showroom in New York. It was this overwhelming mix of excitement, disbelief, and pride. To see our brand evolve from an idea I had on my honeymoon to a physical space was surreal. That experience reminded me not only how far we’d come, but how much bigger this vision had grown beyond what I first imagined.
Who is one person you’d love to give flowers to from your career that influenced your journey? What advice or lesson did you learn from them?
I’d give flowers to my first mentor and former boss. I learned from her just how much details matter, even if you don’t realize it at the moment. While she was tough on me, she also empowered me to step into a leadership role. She was the first person I confided in about the idea for Vivrelle. Instead of being upset that I had a side hustle or planned to leave my current job, she asked how she could invest. She’s someone I continue to turn to, and know will always be in my corner.
Where have you caused some good trouble in your career?
I set out to challenge the way people think about their closets. With Vivrelle, we disrupted the traditional model by making luxury, quality accessories more accessible. When we were building the business and preparing to launch, a lot of people questioned us. But we believed in what we were doing and went for it anyway. It has been incredibly rewarding to see how the business has transformed how people experience their wardrobes. We proved that there’s real power in doing things differently. I’m always up for good trouble if it leads to something better.
Want to nominate a “Troublemaker” you admire? You can do so here.
DEAR FQ
Your burning career questions answered
Hunter Grace of The Female Quotient weighs in:
First of all, congratulations! The fact that someone at the company sees you as a leader is a real testament to your work style and ethic. You should be proud.
I understand that applying for this promotion may be intimidating, especially if it’s for a role you never imagined for yourself. Take some time to examine this path and what leadership looks like to you. What qualities have you seen in leaders that you’d want to emulate? What have you learned from working with leaders who have not been as effective? Think of this less as a title, and more as an opportunity to have a positive impact on the company, the team, and the day-to-day experience of the people you’d be managing. Not to mention, a leadership role often comes with a raise which is something important to consider.
It’s also important to acknowledge the responsibilities that come with this promotion, including mentoring, guiding, and building teams. If it aligns with your career vision, go for it! If you find that you are more fulfilled as an individual contributor, that’s completely valid. You can continue to grow by taking on more complex, strategic, or high-impact projects without moving into a management role. Weigh the pros and cons and choose the path that feels right for you.
P.S. Got a burning career question? Serve it up here to Dear FQ to score advice from a powerhouse leader in our network.
POLL THE PACK
Rest and recharge: Priorities for personal growth
Let’s be honest, humans love a good routine. Science backs it up: good habits aren’t just productivity hacks; they’re powerful tools for our mental and physical health.
In our poll, the top two habits that changed people’s lives? Daily movement and prioritizing rest. Translation: we’re officially in our energy management era, because managing your time means nothing if your body and brain are running on empty.
It’s a mindset shift we love to see. Professionals are no longer glorifying burnout; they’re setting boundaries, honoring their capacity, and showing up stronger because of it.
Now, if you’re reading this thinking, “Should I be doing more?”, you’re not alone. But don’t stress. Start small. According to a UK study, it takes about 66 days to form a new habit, and longer for physical ones. So be patient, be kind to yourself, and give it time. What feels forced today will feel automatic tomorrow.
Or as Aristotle, basically the original life coach, put it: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
Now go schedule that walk. Or that nap. Or both.
Express gratitude for your body and get outside, it’s been working hard.
Xo,
The FQ
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