States » NorthPosted at: Oct 18 2026 2:03PM


HP: Early menopause raises health concerns for women, experts warn

Hamirpur, Oct 18 (UNI) Millions of women in India continue to navigate menopause without adequate medical guidance, awareness or institutional support, leaving many to endure its physical, emotional and psychological challenges in silence.
With an estimated 140 million women expected to experience menopause in the coming years and rising life expectancy extending the post-menopausal phase of life, experts are calling for menopause care to become an integral part of the country’s public healthcare system.
Highlighting the growing public health concern, Dr Naresh Purohit, Executive Member of the Federation for Reproductive Health Service India (FRHS), said that declining awareness, delayed diagnosis and limited access to appropriate treatment were compounding the challenges faced by women during this critical stage of life.
Voicing his concern on this issue to the reporters here after addressing an Awareness Camp on "Menstrual Health" organised by the Kasauli based Military Hospital on the occasion of World Menopause Day, noted Epidemiologist Dr Purohit said that more women are reaching menopause earlier than before, going through a wave of physical pain, emotional turmoil and silent suffering that calls for greater awareness and better treatment.
He revealed that women usually go through the menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, but it is considered to be early if it occurs before the age of 45 and premature if it occurs before the age of 40.
"The average age of natural and induced menopause is decreasing in urban and rural areas, respectively. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) indicates that hysterectomies performed for fibroids or heavy bleeding can lead to early menopause. Factors, such as surgical menopause, low education, low income, rural living, female sterilisation, insomnia, depression and lack of insurance coverage, contribute to premature menopause," he added.
Member of WHO Human Reproduction Programme’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Group cautioned that early and premature menopause can heighten risks of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, metabolic disorders, cognitive decline, depression, and early death and are major public health concerns.The conditions also seriously affect a woman’s quality of life.
"According to a recently published study in the Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Women’s Health Journal, South Asian women have a 34 percent increased risk of premature menopause, compared to European women, with half attaining menopause by age 47.4" he said
Experts participating in the awareness camp emphasised that menopause must be integrated into primary healthcare and not left to urban specialists. Community health workers need training and protocols.
Despite being a virtually universal experience for women, menopause remains invisible in policy, planning, and even workplace or family discussions, they said.
Furthermore, they informed that women can experience extreme symptoms over several long years of perimenopause and menopause, including hot flashes, disrupted sleep, depression, joint pain, and cognitive changes that are often physically debilitating, mentally draining, and economically disruptive.
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