In 2019, Gayatri, a chemical engineer from IIT Madras with a PhD from Penn State and a postdoc from NCBS, Bangalore was contributing health communication articles to an online magazine. These writings caught the attention of Sanjana, a fellow scientist with a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Freiburg and postdoctoral research at ETH and the University of Zurich. As participants in an entrepreneurship course, they conducted surveys with women in their late 30s and 40s – and the results were startling. Many women had little knowledge of what was happening to their bodies as they aged. Issues like perimenopause and menopause were rarely discussed, and most felt unsupported and dismissed. This silence, especially in the Indian context, spoke volumes. While fertility and pregnancy were widely addressed, menopause remained a blind spot. As women navigating this stage themselves, Gayatri and Sanjana saw both a professional and personal need to step in. Miyara Health was born out of this realization: that there was an urgent need for menopausal support for women in India.They spoke to Wednesday Online about their work.
Q: What inspired you to start Miyara Health, and what specific gap were you trying to fill in women’s health, especially for menopausal women in India?
What drove us was the deep sense that women in midlife were being overlooked. Again and again, we heard the same experiences:
“I thought I was too young for menopause.”
“My doctor said it’s just stress.”
“I was told a hysterectomy was my only option.”
Premature and early menopause are more common in India than most realize, yet they often go undiagnosed or are poorly managed. Unnecessary hysterectomies, particularly in underserved areas, are alarmingly frequent. Globally, we know menopause is one of the top four health transition points impacting a woman’s long-term healthspan. Yet no one is connecting the dots early enough.
South Asian women, in particular, face unique challenges. For one, Menopause occurs 3–5 years earlier than in the West. There are also higher risks of metabolic disorders, diabetes, and heart disease. There is also a lack of regional data. Trained specialists are few. Awareness is nearly nonexistent. Miyara wants to close these gaps and shift the narrative and to boost support for menopausal women in India.
Q: Menopause is still a taboo topic across much of India. How does Miyara approach breaking that silence, both culturally and medically?
We approach this with a multi-pronged strategy that is culturally relevant, clinically grounded, and emotionally supportive.
Community & Outreach: We host online communities of over 750 women via WhatsApp and Facebook. These are safe, judgment-free spaces where women can share experiences, ask questions, and find support. We also partner with corporates and community groups to integrate menopause awareness into workplace wellness programs.
Miyara Digital Platform: We launched a multilingual WhatsApp chatbot to offer 24/7 access to expert-verified content. We also offer free health assessments to help women understand their symptoms and risks, especially related to osteoporosis, heart disease, and cognitive changes.
Evidence-Based Programs: Our symptom management programs are rooted in science and supported by experts—including doctors, physiotherapists, and nutritionists. We also help women explore options like hormone therapy based on informed choice.
Q: Your platform blends technology and empathy. How do you ensure your digital tools remain trustworthy and human-centered?
Our chatbot is designed to feel like a supportive guide, not a clinical FAQ. It’s conversational, stigma-free, and multilingual. All content is vetted by scientists and updated regularly. Our personalized assessments validate lived experience, and we’re working to combine medical and behavioral data to identify early risk for chronic illness. Even with advanced tech, we prioritize human touch, providing clear pathways to connect with real health coaches, doctors, and peer communities.
Q: How important is community support in improving health outcomes to support menopausal women in India?
Community is everything. We’ve seen firsthand how transformative it is when women share openly and support each other. Just being able to say, “Is this normal?” and hear “Me too” can lift so much emotional weight.
Community support leads to better self-care. Women are more likely to seek help after hearing shared stories. They learn coping strategies and build confidence. Stress and isolation decrease when women feel seen and heard. Healing is faster, deeper, and more lasting when it’s shared.
Q: What policy-level changes are needed to better support women during perimenopause and beyond?
We need systemic change at multiple levels:
Education: Menopause should be included in school curricula alongside puberty.
Medical Training: Not just OB-GYNs—GPs, mental health professionals, and fitness experts need training in menopause care.
Workplace Inclusion: Midlife symptoms affect productivity. Workplaces must offer flexibility, awareness programs, and healthcare access.
Preventive Health: Perimenopause is often the starting point for chronic conditions. Early interventions can improve healthspan.
Media Representation: Normalize menopause by telling real, relatable stories.
Government Support: Include menopause in national health agendas, fund research, and expand access to hormone therapy and diagnostics.
Q: What’s your vision for Miyara in the next five years?
We want Miyara to be the go-to platform for women’s hormonal health. That means supporting every stage of hormonal change, starting with menopause. Building predictive tools using user data to flag early health risks. Training healthcare professionals across disciplines. Expanding beyond India into South Asia, the Middle East, and diaspora communities.
We believe empowered women can drive systemic change. And as Michelle Obama said, “Communities, and countries, and ultimately the world, are only as strong as the health of their women.”
For more information visit: www.miyarahealth.com
Free Health Assessment: https://www.miyarahealth.com/miyara-midlife-health-assessment
Free WhatsApp Chatbot: https://wa.link/szf6id
Join their Safe Space: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EVEYxWUoSjZB4hXYv9iY5I
