Balancing science, tradition, and self in women's hormonal health

Our cultural rhythms, fasting, feasting, and festive indulgence hold deep meaning but can unknowingly disrupt hormones. A week of heavy

- BY ADITI MITTAL

In India, hormonal health is still spoken about in whispers, if at all. A teenage girl's irregular cycles are brushed off as "normal for your age." A working woman's mood swings are blamed on "over-reacting." Menopause is reduced to punchlines about hot flashes. But the truth is, hormones aren't just about periods or pregnancy; they guide everything from mood and metabolism to sleep, skin, and digestion, all the way from puberty to post-menopause. It is not a footnote in women's health, but the headline, and it should be treated as such.

The Hidden Triggers We Overlook For young Indian women, hormonal imbalances don't usually come from one big event. They build up over time. Late nights spent studying or working chip away at sleep. Meals are skipped or rushed, driven by deadlines instead of hunger. Coffee replaces rest. Daily commutes add a layer of pollution exposure. And on top of it all is the mental load of balancing modern lives and careers with traditional expectations. Over time, this constant strain takes a toll. No wonder studies show that 1 in 5 Indian women of reproductive age now has PCOS.