Hormones, Hot Flashes, Humour: Fabulous Over Forty Bengaluru Reframes Menopause

If you thought that life "post forty" meant slowing down, think again. At the recent Fabulous Over Forty Bengaluru by SheThePeople and Gytree, menopause wasn’t just discussed; it was celebrated with gusto. Beating the afternoon heat and braving the city's notorious traffic, hundreds of women came together to unapologetically discuss everything from health and nutrition to career and relationships in midlife. The enthusiastic turnout was proof that these conversations are the need of the hour.

From informative panels about hormones, strength, and sexual health to punchy conversations about mental clarity, reinvention, and growth, the festival created an open and informed platform for women in midlife to connect, ask questions, get support, and feel seen and heard.

Shaili Chopra, founder of SheThePeople and Gytree, said in her opening remarks, "Women rarely talk about health, particularly in midlife. So many of them walk into menopause alone, silenced, shamed, and misunderstood. That's why putting together Fabulous Over Forty was so important."

Science Of Menopause

The Fabulous Over Forty festival put the science behind perimenopause and menopause front and centre. In an insightful 'Ask Me Anything' session, Dr Sudeshna Ray of the Royal Society of Gynaecs, London, and Jaslok & Reliance Hospital, offered clear and evidence-based insights on hormones, Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT), nutrition, libido, and more.

In another session, Dr Harshitha Jain, a functional medical expert, spoke about the four Ps of hormone therapy:

• Precise - using the right hormone in the right amount
• Personalised - tailoring treatment to a woman’s symptoms, medical history, and risk profile
• Preventive - MHT can help with bone mineralisation and reduce fracture risk
• Predict - Continuous monitoring through lab work and tracking symptoms is crucial for knowing when to change the dose or stop the therapy.

The next session was equally insightful, as Physician Dr Sunayana U Kumar addressed the lack of accessibility, knowledge, and empathy in the medical field regarding menopausal women, highlighting the need for more informed conversations. She also cautioned against relying on social media advice or trends for medical advice.

Next came Dr Anuja Chandrana, a pelvic floor specialist, who brought attention to how even hormones, sleep, and stress affect pelvic floor functioning. She also spoke about Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), a condition caused by low estrogen, which affects over 50% of menopausal women and causes issues like stress urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness, and pain during intercourse.

Drama-Free Dialogue

Beyond the chaotic bodily changes and the clinical conversations, the festival leaned into the emotional and professional transitions that often define midlife. Standup comedian Amruta Bendre, aka Momic Amruta, was the highlight of the day, as she turned career pivots, hot flashes, parenting teenagers, ageing parents, and hormonal mood swings into moments of laughter.

"Before 40, I made a lot of mistakes. In my 40s, I am comfortable making them," Amruta quipped, drawing applause from a room that recognised the freedom in that candour. "I have stopped apologising for everything. People call women in midlife 'angry', but we aren't angry; we are just clearer and more carefree now."

Strength & Holistic Health

In an energised, post-caffeine-break panel, Neeraja Ganesh, a leadership trainer and mindset coach, sat down with Dr Yatri Thacker, a holistic homoeopathy physician, and Sumaya Anwaar, founder of MenoCare, to discuss strength, structure, and long-term sustainability post forty.

Sumaya made a brilliant note about how menopause should be discussed more openly, taught in schools, and talked about with our partners, so that women can get the right support and understanding and sail through midlife without struggle. "That to me is holistic menopausal health," she shared.

Meanwhile, Dr Yatri addressed how mental health factors like stress or grief can intensify symptoms during perimenopause. She explained how hormonal fluctuations can lead to changes in body weight. "So stop blaming yourself for gaining weight. Stop crash dieting, focus on strength training, and accept your body for the way it is," Dr Yatri emphasised.

Neeraja concluded the panel with an important reminder, urging women to resist comparison and honour their individual timelines. Sharing her personal experience, she said, "My mother menopaused when she was 48. I am in my 50s, but I haven't paused. It is important to remember that everybody's journey is different."

As the sessions wrapped up, what lingered was not just medical insight or laughter, but a sense of collective clarity. Support, Sisterhood, Solidarity - These became buzzwords at the Fabulous Over Forty Bengaluru, making one thing evident: when women are given credible information and a community to share it with, the narrative around menopause shifts.