Perimenopause is a word that still feels distant, almost foreign, to many Indian women. Yet, it is a phase of life that nearly every woman will experience, a time when her body begins the journey towards menopause. This transition, often marked by unexpected changes, remains largely unspoken.
Dr. Neeta Gupta, Senior Gynaecologist and IVF Specialist in Noida, says that in India, women often don't even recognise the signs of perimenopause. “The most common symptoms are lethargy, hot flushes, anxiety, mood swings, sleeplessness, depression, decreased libido, joint pain, and even heel pain,” she explains. Imagine living with all these symptoms and still having to maintain the various roles women are expected to juggle—mother, daughter, wife, and professional. Now, imagine trying to do this without a language to articulate what you're going through.
A silent struggle
The average age for perimenopause in India is between 40 and 45 years. Yet, this shift can arrive earlier, especially for women leading a more sedentary lifestyle. "Women who don’t exercise, don’t monitor their diet, and have conditions like diabetes or hypertension tend to experience perimenopausal symptoms earlier,” Dr. Gupta says. The urban Indian woman, often caught in the swirl of work, family responsibilities, and societal expectations, seldom makes time for herself. Add to that a culture where conversations about mental and emotional health—anxiety, depression, mood swings—are still whispered or dismissed altogether, and you can see the isolation that perimenopausal women may feel.
Women in India are typically conditioned to endure in silence. They bear physical pain, emotional fatigue, and the mental strain of holding everything together. It’s no surprise, then, that Dr. Gupta points out, "Women are often hesitant to discuss these symptoms, especially the neurological ones like anxiety and depression."
How often have we heard, "It's just a phase," or, "You're overreacting"? Yet, perimenopause is not a phase to be endured. It's a crucial stage that deserves awareness, conversation, and care. Hollywood star Halle Berry recalled her own experience with perimenopause at a forum in Los Angeles this year. “First of all, my ego told me that I was going to skip [perimenopause]. I’m in great shape. I’m healthy. I managed to get myself off of insulin and manage my diabetes since I’m 20 years old. I’m going to skip that whole thing.’ I was so uneducated about it at that time.”
She realised how wrong she was when her trusted doctor couldn't diagnose the symptoms the actress was experiencing. “My doctor had no knowledge and didn’t prepare me. That’s when I knew, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve got to use my platform. I have to use all of who I am, and I have to start making a change and a difference for other women,” she went on to add.