In line with World Menopause Day, the new platform brings together healthcare experts, advocates, and everyday women to reshape the narrative on menopause and midlife.
Menopause Asia officially launched today with a bold mission: to close the long-standing gaps in awareness, care, and community support for women navigating perimenopause and menopause.
Timed with World Menopause Day 2025 and its theme of Lifestyle Medicine, the launch underscored the power of lifestyle changes, credible medical guidance, and culturally grounded conversations to help women approach midlife with clarity and confidence.
“Too many women are left in the dark about perimenopause and menopause. Too many are dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told 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. This is a space that blends clinically guided care, cultural understanding, and community support.”
The event opened with the unveiling of “Seen at Midlife”, a powerful visual and sound-led brand moment that captured Menopause Asia’s core purpose, to see, support, and celebrate women through one of life’s most transformative stages.
The launch featured three intimate conversations exploring the many dimensions of midlife, from biology to identity:
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. Sangeet.
Sarah Abdullah, President of MCPG and MEDISCA Australia, advocated for tailored care approaches, from hormonal therapies to lifestyle and emotional support.
“The most important thing for any woman is to find a healthcare provider who can be your friend, someone you can openly share your symptoms with to receive care that’s truly personal,” said Sarah.
Ooi Ying Nee, Founder of Commas PR, and Michele Sagan, CEO of Optimal Insights, unpacked the evolving landscape of identity, leadership, and emotional well-being at midlife, calling for more inclusive workplace policies.
“We need organisations with inclusive policies that allow employees to be vulnerable and honest about the challenges they face,” said Michele.
Adding humour and heart to the programme, comedian Joanne Kam performed an original stand-up set on menopause, a first for Malaysia. Her segment broke taboos with laughter, opening the door to more open, joyful, and unfiltered conversations around ageing and identity, while teasing her upcoming 2026 show.
Menopause Asia sets out to normalise conversations on midlife health across Malaysia and beyond. The digital platform connects women with licensed healthcare professionals, evidence-based information, and community support, all grounded in local context and lived experience.
“Menopause Asia is not just about symptoms. It’s about visibility, dignity, and building 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 roll out its ‘Menopause at the Workplace’ initiative, a structured programme to help organisations better support midlife women through awareness sessions, HR capacity-building, and inclusive policy design. By framing menopause as both a workforce and leadership issue, the platform aims to drive systemic change in how companies engage, retain, and uplift experienced female talent.
