From fertility and pregnancy to menopause and preventive care, women’s health needs attention at every stage of life, experts said at the We Women Want Conclave, organised by NewsX. The discussion highlighted how women often overlook or normalise symptoms, particularly during menopause, and stressed the importance of timely medical advice, preventive health checks and greater openness in discussing women-specific health concerns. During the session, “Fertility to Menopause”, Dr Jaishree Sundar, obstetrician and gynaecologist; Dr Tanya Buckshee Rohatgi; Dr Geeta Prakash, GP and internal medicine specialist at Max Hospital; and Dr Monica Mahajan, Principal Director and Head of Internal Medicine at Max Hospital, discussed menopause, hormonal changes, preventive healthcare, weight management and screening. Speaking about menopause, Dr Sundar described it as a significant stage in a woman’s life that can bring sleep difficulties, mood changes, anger and other physical and emotional symptoms.
However, many women continue to remain silent about what they experience. “Women often don’t complain about these symptoms because they have been told not to complain. Now, as society is changing, women come and ask about it. We must support them,” she said. Dr Rohatgi explained that menopause should not be viewed as a single event but as a spectrum, with symptoms potentially beginning 10 to 15 years before menopause. She highlighted the importance of adequate sleep, a healthy lifestyle and strong support systems, while encouraging women to discuss their experiences openly.“The biggest champions for women are women,” she said, urging greater use of support groups, yoga and platforms where women can discuss health concerns without hesitation. Addressing the stigma around menopause, Dr Prakash noted that the term is sometimes used as slang or in a derogatory manner. She stressed that women who spend much of their lives caring for their families also need to care for themselves.
