Menopause: the ‘ladies problem’ that is no longer a taboo topic
Mor women r not just breaking The silence around it, but also helping others navigate this turbulent period in their lives
At 9:00 p.m. every Thursday Shefali Dhanda (52) from Ludhiana, Medhavi Makhija (46) from Ahmedabad and Chandrakala (51) from talwari district in Tamilnadu log in to zoom and join an ‘inner circle meet’ of the Confident Queen club (CQC) a paid support group for 400 – odd women going through menopause and perimenopause the 3-10 years face before the last period. The women have never meet each other but they freely discuss hot flashes and dipping energy levels loss of libido and hair fall trouble some teens and distant husbands.
The 90 minute discussion Is moderated by Gita mikkilineni a menopause coach who encourages these women to address their symptoms ‘self care is not selfish’ she tells thema
While some celebrities abroad including Naomi Watts, Gyneth Paltrow and Opera Winfrey have recently opened up about their struggles with menopause, Indian women usually remain tight lipped about the subject as talking about menstruation and their for menopause is still Taboo and many also find it embracing to admit they are growing older ‘ageing is still a big deal’. Women still want to show that they are young. So they hesitate to talk about menopause says Sonali Sabharwal am macrobiotic nutritionist horizontally co authored book on Perry menopause with gynecologist Doctor Nozer Sheriar. She believes that “tapping into one’s sisterhood” is the best way to sail through menopause. “our mother went through menopause very quietly but we don’t need to do that. There are solutions like combination therapy available now”, she says.
Elda Health, a health platform and app says more than 55000 women have enrollled in their menopause management programs. These were started a couple of years ago by software engineer Swati Kulkarni and gynaecologist doctor as different their was no conversation around menopause and no non medical support when women go to meet their family doctor organic they are told dear karlo aisa hota hai ‘bear it this happens’. But Perry menopause last for 3 to 10 years why should we bear it? Some women even and up quitting work says Kulkarni who show her own health at your rate when she entered Perry menopause at 35. Elda club where they connect with peers.
Mikkilineni Hyderabad based chartered accountant thought of coaching women facing menopause after losing 2 years of her life and evening her relationship with her 18 year old son because of menopause. “I would get panic attacks and I would yel at him when he came home late not realise in that my reactions were actually influenced by the hormonal changes” says mikkilineni. Who extensively studied the subject and enroll in the international menopause society which trains doctors and social entrepreneurs who want to spread awareness about menopause. Member of her CQC attend to live classes every week on topic such as brain and bone health. They are also connected via telegram group where members share pictures of their daily blades went about the struggles and share success stories. Older members give Pep talks to new entrance who are feeling low “doctors can just give us pills but friends give us the power to overcome the challenges we face”, says Dhanda, adding that it is easier to turn to CQC friends as other people thrown upon bringing a ladies problem in public says the diet, exercise and meditation plan helped her shed weight and handle situations with a smile rather than furry.
Women who have Triumph over menopause symptoms are also helping others in the same boat. Delhi based Jyoti Taneja a former political science professor suffered from anxiety and insomnia for 10 years before and rolling in a plan by Elda health. Doctors would simply asked me to stop stressing and prescribe sleeping pills says the 56 year old who climb she was snoozing peacefully within days after starting in so flavourness see later applied to work at Elda health. “Now I speak to at least 100 women daily and guide them they don’t have to suffer like me”, She says.
