Actor Dia Mirza has opened up about a phase of life that many women experience but few openly discuss. At 44, the actor revealed that she is experiencing the early symptoms of perimenopause, including sudden hot flashes, and admitted that keeping up with her young son Avyaan's energy has become increasingly challenging.
Speaking to SheThePeople, Dia said the experience has given her a new perspective on why older generations often advised women to have children earlier in life. While she believes becoming a parent later is a more conscious decision, she also acknowledged that changing hormones can make the journey physically demanding.
Dia Mirza opens up about perimenopause
During the interview, Dia revealed that she has started experiencing symptoms commonly linked to perimenopause.
"I feel sudden hot flashes," she said, adding that the unusually warm weather this year has made things even more difficult.
Dia became a mother at the age of 39. Speaking about raising her son Avyaan, she candidly shared that keeping up with his energy levels isn't always easy now.
"It's mad. That's why our grandmothers and mothers said, 'Bachche jaldi kar lo'," she said.
Her honesty has resonated with many women navigating similar hormonal changes while balancing careers, parenting, and everyday responsibilities.
What exactly is perimenopause?
According to Tamanna Singh, Certified Menopause Coach and Co-founder of MENOVEDA, perimenopause can begin as early as a woman's mid-30s and may continue for several years before menopause actually occurs.
She says many women mistake the symptoms for stress, burnout or simply ageing because conversations around perimenopause are still uncommon in India.
"I've lost count of how many women have sat across from me, almost apologising before they even describe their symptoms," she says.
Many women ask questions like, "I don't know what's wrong with me," or wonder whether they're simply imagining the changes.
The symptoms go beyond hot flashes
While hot flashes are among the best-known symptoms, Tamanna says perimenopause affects the body in many other ways that often go unnoticed.
Inflammation, in particular, is a symptom many women fail to associate with hormonal changes.
It can show up as:
- Joint pain
- Skin flare-ups
- Disturbed sleep
- Low mood
- Unexplained fatigue
Instead of recognising a common hormonal cause, many women end up treating each symptom separately.
Why awareness matters
Tamanna emphasises that perimenopause is not an illness but a natural transition that deserves understanding and support.
She feels that women require doctors who can treat their symptoms seriously, workplaces which accept things such as hot flashes, and families who realise that hormonal mood swings do not reflect a personality change.
Instead of considering perimenopause as a period of deterioration, she sees it as a significant period which helps women get more information regarding their changing bodies.
Breaking the taboo around midlife health
The open discussion conducted by Dia Mirza has motivated many women to discuss a period of life which has always been shrouded in taboos. According to experts, discussing perimenopause openly may enable women to consult doctors in time, manage their symptoms effectively, and not feel isolated.
As Tamanna Singh has rightly said, the more women discuss perimenopause openly, the sooner they will get over the fear of midlife health problems.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice.
Also read: Doctor explains the hidden link between menopause and heart disease
