KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 – Menopause Asia, a digital platform that aims to close long-standing gaps in awareness, care, and community support for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause was launched last October 16, ahead of World Menopause Day on October 18.
In line with the World Menopause Day 2025 theme of Lifestyle Medicine, the event highlighted how lifestyle medicine, credible information, and culturally relevant conversations can help women navigate midlife with clarity and confidence.
“Too many women are left in the dark about perimenopause and menopause. Too many are dismissed, misdiagnosed, or made to feel like they’re ‘just stressed’, said Joanne Ho, founder of Menopause Asia.
“I didn’t build Menopause Asia because I had the answers. I built it because I couldn’t find any. We want to make sure women don’t go through it alone. We’re building a space that combines clinically guided care, cultural understanding, and community support.”
The event opened with the unveiling of Seen at Midlife, a striking visual and sound-led brand moment that set the tone for Menopause Asia’s mission: to see, support, and celebrate women through one of the most pivotal stages of life.
The launch featured three intimate conversations, each unpacking a different aspect of the midlife experience.
In the session on Menopause Fundamentals: What’s Happening to Our Bodies, Dr Sangeet Kaur, founder of Freya D’Wellness, grounded the audience in the science of perimenopause and menopause, addressing common symptoms and misconceptions.
“Menopause care needs to be personalised to each woman, to address her unique symptoms. There is no one size that fits all,” said Dr Kaur.
In the session, Beyond One-Size-Fits-All Menopause Care, Sarah Abdullah, president of the Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild (MCPG) emphasised the need for personalised care, from hormonal treatments to lifestyle support.
“The most important thing for any woman is to find a health care provider who can be your friend, with whom you can openly share your symptoms so that you can receive care that is personalised to you,” said Sarah.
In the session Redefining Midlife: Career, Identity & Emotional Wellbeing, Ooi Ying Nee, founder of Commas PR and Michele Sagan, CEO of Optimal Insights, explored how identity and work evolve in midlife, calling for visibility and more inclusive workplace policies.
“We need organisations that have inclusive policies in place that allow employees to be vulnerable and honest about the challenges they face,” said Sagan.
The event also included an original stand-up comedy set on menopause by Joanne Kam.
Following the launch, Menopause Asia aims to normalise midlife health conversations across Malaysia. As a digital platform, it connects women to independently licensed doctors, reliable medical information, and practical support — all while holding space for cultural nuance and lived experience.
“Menopause Asia is not just about symptoms. It is about visibility, dignity, and a future where every woman feels supported,” said Ho. “We want women to know they are seen, heard, and never alone.”
Looking ahead, Menopause Asia will prioritise Menopause at the Workplace — a structured initiative to help organisations better support midlife women through awareness programmes, human resource (HR) capacity-building, and inclusive policy consultation.
By framing menopause as both a workforce and leadership issue, the platform aims to catalyse meaningful change in how companies engage, retain, and uplift experienced female talent.
