Bengaluru Women Struggle with Medical Neglect as Menopause Symptoms Are Routinely Dismissed
Many women in Bengaluru are reporting that their menopausal symptoms are routinely dismissed by healthcare providers as unavoidable hormonal changes, leaving them without proper medical guidance or effective treatment options. From hot flushes and irritability to severe anxiety and osteoporosis, these symptoms can significantly disrupt daily life and overall well-being.
Personal Stories of Suffering and Medical Neglect
Nalini (name changed), a 50-year-old Bengaluru resident, has spent the past year dealing with severe physical and psychological distress believed to be linked to menopause. She describes persistent heaviness in her head, a burning sensation throughout her body, and intense anxiety including recurring fears about her survival. These debilitating symptoms have affected her daily functioning so severely that she cannot stay alone at home and must depend on family members for constant support.
Despite visiting multiple doctors, Nalini has received varying diagnoses but no comprehensive treatment plan. Her experience mirrors that of many women who struggle to find physicians who take their concerns seriously rather than dismissing them as "just another symptom of menopause."
For 52-year-old Manasa, the problems have been different but equally disruptive. She has experienced hot flushes for over six months along with rapid weight gain. "As a working woman, having hot flushes started becoming a major inconvenience in my daily routine," she explained. "When I consulted a gynecologist, I expected some advice about how to manage these symptoms. Unfortunately, the doctor dismissed my problems, saying they are menopausal symptoms and nothing can be done."
Common Symptoms and Lack of Coordinated Care
Women commonly report a wide range of menopausal symptoms including anxiety, depression, hot flushes, mood swings, irritability, weight gain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, and brain fog. However, many patients find themselves referred from one medical specialty to another without ultimately receiving any meaningful treatment or coordinated care plan.
This fragmented approach often leaves women to manage debilitating symptoms on their own, creating additional stress and reducing their quality of life during what should be a manageable life transition.
Limited Treatment Options and Awareness Gaps
When discussing these issues with medical professionals, doctors acknowledge that menopause remains widely misunderstood by both patients and many in the medical community. Dr. Tanya SP, consultant in obstetrics and gynecology at Kinder Women's Hospital and Fertility Centre, explained: "While symptoms like night sweats, anxiety, libido changes, and vaginal discharge are common, there is limited treatment available. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is administered in severe cases, but it has drawbacks such as increased risk of endometrial or breast carcinoma."
Dr. Tanya SP added that for specific symptoms like vaginal dryness, doctors typically prescribe local estrogen application, while osteoporosis is addressed with Vitamin D supplementation.
Call for Objective Assessment and Better Protocols
Some medical professionals argue that menopause needs to be approached more objectively to provide better treatment outcomes. Dr. Madhva Prasad, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at St. John's Hospital, noted: "The whole concept of menopause being the reason for multiple traumatic symptoms has existed for quite some time. Previously, women also neglected these symptoms and did not present to doctors. But now, awareness has increased. However, many doctors are not aware of the full range of symptoms, which leads to dismissal of patient concerns."
Dr. Prasad emphasized that in busy clinical practices, doctors often fail to look at menopause objectively. "There is a scoring system and well-established questionnaires which can help with better identification and treatment of the multiple symptoms of menopause," he explained. "A short course of HRT with minimal dosage can help women without serious side-effects when properly monitored and prescribed."
The situation highlights a significant gap in women's healthcare in Bengaluru, where menopausal women face not only physical and psychological challenges but also systemic barriers to receiving appropriate medical attention and support.
