Breaking the Silence: World Menopause Awareness Day and the South Asian Midlife Experience

“It’s just part of being a woman.”

How many of us have heard that line, whispered between aunties, brushed off at doctor’s appointments, or buried within our own thoughts, when speaking of the hot flushes, mood swings, weight gain, and insomnia that define menopause?

But this October 18th, on World Menopause Awareness Day, we are no longer whispering. We are speaking out for ourselves, for our mothers, and for our daughters, because South Asian women in midlife deserve to be seen, heard, and supported through this powerful transition.

Breaking the Silence: World Menopause Awareness Day and the South Asian Midlife Experience

The Hidden Struggles of South Asian Women in Menopause

While menopause is a universal biological process, the experience is far from equal. Research shows that South Asian women often experience menopause earlier, sometimes in their early 40s, and may face more intense symptoms, including:

Hot flushes and night sweats
Joint pain and fatigue
Sleep disturbances
Mood disorders like anxiety and depression
Brain fog and memory issues

And yet, the silence surrounding menopause in our communities is deafening. Cultural expectations to be the strong one, the caregiver, the quiet sufferer often leave us unprepared, unsupported, and unheard. Talking about menopause is still considered taboo in many South Asian households, and mental health symptoms are often brushed off as “drama,” “weakness,” or “just stress.”

Barriers to Support & Health Inequity

Language barriers, lack of representation in research, and limited access to culturally safe healthcare contribute to delayed diagnosis and minimal support.

Too often, South Asian women:

Don’t know they’re in perimenopause
They are dismissed by GPs who lack menopause training
Feel alone, ashamed or confused
Aren’t offered holistic or HRT options that consider their health profiles

It’s time for that to change.

**READ MORE:** Unspoken and Unwell: Why Menopause in Our Community Can’t Stay a Secret

Empowering Our Community Through Awareness

World Menopause Awareness Day gives us an opportunity to:

Educate women about what to expect
Reduce stigma within families and communities
Encourage better access to diagnosis and treatment
Inspire women to take charge of their health

As The Sattva Collective, we are passionate about holding space for South Asian women in midlife, helping them understand this transition is not a decline, it’s a powerful evolution.

Five Ways to Honour World Menopause Awareness Day

Start the Conversation: Host a family dinner chat, WhatsApp group, or women’s circle to talk about menopause openly.
Check Your Symptoms: Use tools like the Menopause Symptom Checklist or speak to a menopause-informed GP.
Create a Menopause Action Plan: Focus on nutrition, sleep, movement, HRT options, and mental well-being.
Join a Community: Shared experience is healing. Join midlife groups (like ours!) for connection and support.
Advocate for Change: Write to your workplace, school, or clinic about inclusive menopause policies and training.

**READ MORE:** Menopause Matters: A Month to Empower South Asian Women in Midlife

Menopause Is Not the End. It’s the Becoming.

Too many of us were taught to see menopause as an ending, a diminishing of youth, beauty, vitality. But what if it’s something else entirely?

What if menopause is the beginning of a new chapter, one marked by deeper wisdom, stronger boundaries, and clearer purpose?

This World Menopause Awareness Day, let’s stop suffering in silence. Let’s be loud, be proud, and rewrite the narrative for every South Asian woman who comes next.