Menopause marks a pivotal transition in a woman's life that brings about a range of physiological, psychological and social changes. Yet, in India, it continues to be sidelined in both public health discourse and policy frameworks. Myths and misconceptions prevail including that hormones and menstruation stop abruptly at midlife. In reality, most women experience perimenopause, a transitional phase that can last several years, during which hormonal fluctuations can significantly affect physical health, emotional well-being and quality of life. India's demographic trends make this issue more complex. By 2030, nearly 130 million Indian women are expected to be in the menopausal phase. According to the 2011 Census, there were approximately 96 million women aged 45 and older 1, a figure projected to rise to over 400 million in the next two decades. Given that menopause typically begins around the age of 46 or 47 in India, earlier than in many other countries, the lack of recognition of perimenopause/menopause through the public health and policy lens is alarming. The absence of good quality national data on the average age of onset of menopause, the nature, frequency and intensity of symptoms, impact of symptoms on daily productivity, mental health effects and healthcare-seeking behaviour is a case in point. This lack of data perpetuates the cycle of neglect, making it challenging to design appropriate services or accurately assess women's needs for access to information and support. The lack of awareness and interest among many healthcare professionals in health and wellbeing during menopause results in dissatisfaction among women regarding the medical support they receive when needed. This relates to the limited emphasis on menopause in medical education. In India, most healthcare professionals receive minimal training on managing menopause during their formal studies and continuing education 2. Moreover, with an ever-increasing number of Indian women joining the workforce 3, 4, it has become important to understand how menopausal health influences their job performance, career experiences, financial stability and overall well-being. Studies indicate that many women encounter significant challenges to continuing their role in the workforce during the menopausal transition, which can hinder career progression or even lead to premature exit. The absence of formal workplace policies to support women through this phase has only intensified the issue. In recent years, there has been a gradual yet encouraging shift toward prioritising women's health in the national discourse in India. A notable example is the draft National Menstrual Hygiene Policy (2023), which marked a progressive step by adopting a life cycle approach, broadening the focus from adolescent menstrual health to include adult and post-menopausal stages. However, the policy currently lacks the operational clarity and resource allocation needed to meaningfully address menopause. Alongside this, a more impactful development has been the growing interest in menopause within the Parliament discourse 5. Several Members of Parliament have begun to voice concerns about menopausal health, particularly concerning women's participation in the workforce and the mental health challenges associated with this transition. Although these discussions remain sporadic, they signal an important starting point for deeper institutional engagement on the issue. To move beyond symbolic recognition and toward meaningful support, India must adopt a multi-sectoral and integrated approach to menopause care. A crucial first step is building robust data and evidence by incorporating menopause-specific indicators into national health surveys such as the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) and the Health Management Information System (HMIS). This would help quantify the scale of need, identify service gaps and inform targeted interventions. Simultaneously, integrating menopause care into primary health services is essential. Frontline health workers, including Auxiliary Nurse Midwives and Primary Health Centre staff, should be trained to recognise menopausal symptoms, offer counselling about lifestyle interventions for healthy bones and heart as well as symptom management strategies, and refer patients for medical interventions when indicated. There is a need to incorporate menopause into medical curricula and ensure regular training of healthcare professionals at various levels of healthcare provision to ensure that providers are well-equipped with the knowledge and sensitivity needed to support women effectively within their cultural context. In addition to strengthening primary care, India should pilot dedicated menopause clinics within district hospitals and enhance telehealth services to ensure accessible, specialised support for women in both urban and rural areas. Government-backed menopause programs, in collaboration with academic institutions and AYUSH practitioners, could help explore holistic, culturally appropriate approaches tailored to India's diverse populations. At the workplace level, it is crucial to encourage employers to develop and implement menopause-inclusive policies that recognise the physical and emotional challenges many women face during this stage of life. These policies should aim to create supportive work environments and prevent avoidable exits from the workforce. Public awareness must also play a central role. Similar to Menstrual Hygiene Day, India should institutionalise a Menopause Awareness Month, supported by campaigns at the state level, educational institutions and through mass media. Finally, investing in research and innovation will be key to sustaining progress. Ringfencing funds dedicated to midlife health research and encouragement of research projects related to menopause will be key to utilising future healthcare resources appropriately. As India begins to acknowledge menopause as a public health and workplace issue, the moment calls for more than symbolic gestures. What is needed is a clear, coordinated strategy that integrates menopause into health systems, workplace policies and public discourse. By grounding action in data, investing in care infrastructure and normalising conversations, India can ensure that women are supported not just through adolescence and motherhood, but across the full spectrum of their lives. India's menopause moment is now!—time to shift from silence to systemic change. All authors N.K., B.W. and V.S.T. contributed to the preparation/writing of this manuscript. The authors have nothing to report. The authors have nothing to report. The authors have nothing to report. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Data sharing not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.
Kaushik et al. (Sun,) studied this question.