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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, organized by NewsX. The discussion highlighted how women often ignore or normalize symptoms, especially during menopause, and stressed the importance of timely medical advice, preventative health checks and greater openness in discussing women’s health concerns. During the session “Fertility to Menopause”, Dr. Jayshree Sundar, Obstetrician and Gynecologist, spoke; Dr. Tania Bakshi Rohatgi; Dr. Geeta Prakash, General Practitioner and Internal Medicine Specialist at Max Hospital; 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 an important stage in a woman’s life that can cause difficulties sleeping, mood changes, anger and other physical and emotional symptoms.
However, many women remain silent about what they are exposed to. “Women often don’t complain about these symptoms because they were told not to complain,” she said. “Now, as society changes, women come and ask about it. We have to support them.” Dr. Rohatgi explained that menopause should not be viewed as a single event, but rather as a spectrum, with symptoms likely to begin 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 are women,” she said, urging increased use of support groups, yoga and platforms where women can discuss health concerns without hesitation. Addressing the stigma surrounding menopause, Dr. Prakash pointed out that the term is sometimes used as slang or in a derogatory manner. She stressed that women who spend most of their lives taking care of their families also need to take care of themselves.
