India’s Menopause Movement: From Silent Suffering to Open Conversation and a Budding Femtech Sector
A growing wave of awareness and community is reshaping the conversation around menopause in India, challenging long-held stigmas and spurring innovation in women’s health. In early 2025, this shift is gaining momentum, driven by Gen X women and a new generation of healthcare professionals and entrepreneurs.
In early 2025, a group of curious, articulate women over 40 gathered in Mumbai to openly discuss their experiences with menopause, a gathering described as a “what to expect when you are exploding” assembly. This initial meeting blossomed into Menopausal Mumbai, later renamed Menopausal Mates, a thriving community founded in 2022 by reflexologist and women’s health advocate Rachel Kurien.The group’s active WhatsApp forum provides a space for support and expert advice, second in size only to Miror, India’s largest online menopause community with over 1,500 members. Miror itself originated as an extension of a femtech company of the same name, launched in 2023 by serial entrepreneur Sanjith Shetty.
The burgeoning movement is fueled by prominent voices advocating for change. TV host and actor Mini Mathur founded Menopause Matters, a platform dedicated to providing information and support. Dr. Amita Patel, a gynecologist, shared that her medical training lacked sufficient focus on this critical life stage. “We got no training in menopause, except a ‘bechara sa’ chapter maybe,” she stated, prompting her to pursue further research and ultimately embrace HRT, which she now advocates for with her patients. Dr. Patel notes a growing frustration among Indian women who feel unheard when seeking support for their menopausal symptoms.
While HRT is gaining traction, choice approaches are also gaining prominence.Dr. Srividya Gowri,a Chennai-based nutrition and lifestyle coach,advocates for a holistic approach centered on diet,exercise – notably strength training – and sustained lifestyle changes,viewing HRT as a “last resort.”
This increased attention is also attracting entrepreneurial interest. A new category of “meno-preneurs” is emerging within the Indian femtech sector, though challenges remain. Swathi Kulkarni, co-founder of Elda Health, acknowledges that menopause-focused femtech is currently a loss-making sector, predicting it will take 5-10 years to achieve profitability. Sanjith Shetty of Miror echoes this sentiment, noting that his company has invested over ₹5 crore in the past five years without yet reaching a break-even point. despite these hurdles, investors are showing interest, with dilip Kumar of Rainmatter Health backing Gytree, a nutrition-focused startup for women in mid-life.
The momentum culminated in mid-2025 with Fabulous Over Forty, the country’s first menopause and midlife wellness festival in Mumbai, organized by Shaili chopra, founder of SheThePeople. The event featured expert advice,personal stories,and brand partnerships,attracting a largely urban audience. Chopra emphasized the need to recognize the value of women during perimenopause and menopause, stating, “This is when women are leading careers, building companies…contributing at their fullest. This is their prime, and yet their health remains in the shadows.”
The current shift in viewpoint echoes the sentiments expressed by author Susan sontag in her 1972 essay, The Double Standard of Aging, where she described aging as “an ordeal of the imagination.” With Indian women now living longer – with a life expectancy of 70.3 years, a notable increase from 50 years ago – and spending an estimated 25-30 years post-menopause, a essential rethinking of women’s health is crucial.
The World Health Organization data from 2021 reveals that women over 50 comprised 26% of the global female population, up from 22% a decade prior, highlighting the growing demographic need for dedicated care. While medical interventions exist for other organ failures, ovarian failure – menopause – is often simply accepted as unavoidable. This disparity demands a change in approach, prioritizing research, treatment, and support for women navigating this significant life transition.
