"Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Launch Dedicated Perimenopause Health Policies"
Perimenopause
The transitional phase leading up to menopause, involving hormonal changes over several years.
Menopause
Permanent end of menstruation, confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a cycle.
Women's health policy in India has historically concentrated on the reproductive years. Maternal and child health programmes, antenatal care, institutional delivery, immunisation, have received sustained policy attention and budgetary support. By contrast, mid-life and post-reproductive health needs of women have remained largely outside the formal public health framework. This gap reflects a broader pattern: when women are no longer seen as reproductive actors, their health needs tend to become invisible to the state.
Menopause is a natural biological transition, not a disease. Yet its symptoms can be severe enough to affect daily functioning, mental health, and quality of life. Despite this, women in India are routinely told to simply endure these symptoms. There is no dedicated national policy addressing perimenopausal care. The National Health Mission (NHM) and its sub-missions focus primarily on maternal and child health, leaving mid-life women's health in a policy vacuum. Primary Health Centres (PHCs), which are the first point of contact for most rural women, are not currently equipped or mandated to screen for or manage perimenopausal conditions.
Menopause is defined as the permanent end of menstrual periods, confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual cycle. It occurs when the ovaries reduce production of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. The transition period leading up to this point is called the perimenopausal period, which can last several years and involves irregular periods, hormonal fluctuations, and a range of physical and psychological symptoms.
Common perimenopausal symptoms include hot flashes, sleep disturbances, extreme mood changes, joint pain, fatigue, and general debility. These symptoms are not trivial. They can impair work performance, social participation, and mental health. Yet they are frequently dismissed by both families and healthcare providers, partly because of social stigma around discussing menstruation and menopause, and partly because of inadequate training among medical professionals. …
With reference to the 'Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan', consider the following statements:
1.This scheme guarantees a minimum package of antenatal care services to women in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy and six months post-delivery health care service in any government health facility.
2.Under this scheme, private sector health care providers of certain specialities can volunteer to provide services at nearby government health facilities.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements regarding 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam':
1.These provisions will come into effect from the 18th Lok Sabha.
2.After becoming an Act, this will be in force for 15 years.
3.It has provisions for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes Women within the quota reserved for the Scheduled Castes.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Consider the following statements regarding menopause and perimenopausal health policy in India:
1.Menopause is confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual cycle.
2.Karnataka's 'Ruthu Thare' is described as India's first dedicated women's health policy with a focus on perimenopause.
3.Tamil Nadu's perimenopausal care policy proposes delivery of services exclusively through district hospitals and government medical colleges.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
1.Ruthu Thare — Tamil Nadu's dedicated women's health policy
2.Perimenopausal care policy — Tamil Nadu, announced in the State Assembly
3.Menopause — permanent end of menstruation confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a cycle
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
With reference to perimenopausal health, consider the following statements:
1.The perimenopausal period refers to the time after menopause when hormonal levels stabilise.
2.Declining levels of oestrogen and progesterone produced by the ovaries trigger the menopausal transition.
3.Common perimenopausal symptoms include hot flashes, sleep disturbance, and joint pain.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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