Dr Meenakshi Ahuja

17/04/2026

Understanding Your Body Better series 1

PMS & PMD (contd)

3. Sleep
• 7–8 hours—sleep deprivation worsens irritability and anxiety
4. Stress management
• Yoga, meditation, journaling
• Even 10 minutes/day helps
5. Track your cycle
• Apps or calendar
• Helps you predict and prepare
4. Medical Treatment
When symptoms are moderate to severe, especially PMDD:

For PMS
• NSAIDs (for pain, cramps)
• Calcium supplements (evidence-based benefit)
• Vitamin B6 / Magnesium (mild benefit)
•primrose oil
• Hormonal contraceptives
• Regulate hormones and suppress ovulation
For PMDD
• SSRIs (antidepressants)
• Oral contraceptive pills

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
5. When Should You Seek Help?
• Symptoms affect school, work, or relationships
• Severe mood swings or depression
• Thoughts of self-harm
• You feel “not yourself” every cycle
You don’t have to “just tolerate it.” Treatment exists and works
“Your period is not a weakness—it’s a biological rhythm. Understanding it gives you control, not the other way around.”

16/04/2026

Understanding Your Body Better series

PMS & PMDD

“How many of you have felt unusually irritable, emotional, bloated, or just not yourself before your period? You’re not alone—and more importantly, it’s not ‘just in your head.’ Let’s talk about why this happens and what you can actually do about it.”
1. What is PMS and PMDD?
PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)
A group of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms that occur 1–2 weeks before your period and improve once menstruation starts.
• Affects up to 70–80% of menstruating women
• Symptoms: mood swings, irritability, bloating, breast tenderness, fatigue, acne, food cravings
PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)
A severe form of PMS with significant emotional and psychological symptoms.
• Affects about 3–8% of women
• Symptoms: severe depression, anger, anxiety, panic attacks, feeling out of control, difficulty functioning in daily life
2. Why Does It Happen?
It’s not just “hormones”—it’s how your brain responds to them.
• Hormonal fluctuations: Estrogen and progesterone rise and fall after ovulation
• Serotonin involvement: These hormonal changes affect serotonin (your “feel-good” neurotransmitter)
• Brain sensitivity: Some people are more sensitive to these shifts
Other contributing factors:
• Stress
• Poor sleep
• Lack of exercise
• Nutritional deficiencies (especially magnesium, calcium, B6
3. How to Prevent / Reduce Symptoms
This is the most empowering part—you can influence symptoms.
Lifestyle Measures (First Line)
1. Exercise
• 30 minutes, 4–5 times/week
• Improves mood, reduces bloating
2. Diet
• Reduce: caffeine, sugar, excess salt
• Increase:
• Complex carbs (whole grains)
• Calcium-rich foods
• Magnesium (nuts, seeds)
• Protein

( to be continued……)

09/05/2025

Welcome to this webinar on assisted reproductive technologies! In this session, Dr. Anita Kant and Dr. Meenakshi Ahuja will dive into three key options for building your family: embryo freezing, donor eggs, and surrogacy. Embryo freezing allows you to preserve fertility for future use, while donor eggs offer a solution for those with egg-related fertility challenges. Surrogacy provides a path to parenthood when carrying a pregnancy isn’t an option. Let’s explore how each of these options can help make your dreams of becoming a parent a reality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kdSyPqXZfQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3WuHayPkNY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bul4lFZtpe4
https://www.facebook.com/events/1014438060791806
https://www.facebook.com/events/674079098813972

19/12/2023

Join in today for a conversation on menopause with special focus on MHT & alternate therapies
Link : https://streamgo.in/one-size-does-not-fit-all

28/10/2023

Delhi IMS takes great pride in launching the new issue of POISE, a handy book for doctors and non doctors alike, for staying healthy in midlife dedicated to women in menopause . Discussing common as well as important issues which need to be addressed in menopause, & how to prevent and manage them is the theme of this publication. Available as a hard copy as well as a free e book; please feel free to dm me for your copy 😊❤️

18/10/2023

Today is World Menopause Day

World Menopause Day is held each year on 18 October to raise awareness, break the stigma and share support available for improving health and wellbeing for those experiencing menopause.

The menopause is a natural event in a woman’s life that typically takes place between 45 and 55 years of age, as oestrogen levels decline. Menopause is a normal part of ageing, and should not be viewed as a disease. For some women it can even be a positive experience. However, for many it can have a significant negative impact on their health.

The theme for this year is Cardiovascular Disease, which is the highest cause of mortality for women worldwide.

21/09/2023

Posted • ‘The change’, ‘the climacteric’, ‘the time of life’ – call it what you will, it is an unavoidable fact that all women go through menopause. However, for many women this natural process is a time of anxiety and distress due to the various symptoms that can accompany it.

It's about time she is heard, understood and supported.

Pauseforward.in is India's first menopause wellness platform designed to offer comprehensive support & care to help women thrive through this challenging phase of life. It will be my pleasure to have you in attendance for our first
"In conversation with the Expert" Live Webinar.

☑️Women going through this phase and wanting to cope better and many others who want to know more about what's in store will surely find it very useful. If you are a friend, a family member or the partner of someone going through this phase, do tune in so you know better.
☑️Pls register for the webinar on https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g2pdB2b9RP2_xXS1_xJg8Q

11/09/2023

September is the PCOS awareness month . This Sunday, on 17 .9.23 we bring you a tête-à-tête with eminent gynaecologists, endocrinologists, paediatric endocrinologist, dermatologist, ultrasonologist , nutritionist, fitness expert, mental health expert , & many more to help you understand the various facets of this malady better. The program is at Sheraton, Saket , New Delhi , 3-5 pm, and followed by high tea😊
This event is brought to you by society of India, Indian Fertility society & IMS- delhi
All of you are welcome to attend, with friends and family who may be interested. The event is free to attend but registration is mandatory . Sharing the registration link here as well as in the story.
So what are you waiting for? We are just a click away 😇

Citizens Registration link: https://forms.gle/vQ63cTcYdh7NEffDA

09/09/2023

Naaz is an initiative under Girl Up founded by the UN Foundation. We are organising a webinar for PCOS Awareness with gynecologist Dr Meenakshi Ahuja and psychologist Dr Amanpreet Kaur Arora to discuss the various facets of PCOS and other related disorders.

Date - 10th September, 2023
Day - Sunday
Time - 5pm
Venue Google meet

Please fill the following Google form to register for the webinar.
📌https://forms.gle/WQuGhZUqNLmxGdYw6

*_Certificates will be given to all participants_

Thank you for signing up for our session! Looking forward to seeing you there. ✨

01/09/2023

https://hashtagmagazine.in/dont-wait-masturbate-embracing-the-importance-of-self-pleasure/

In conversation with a health expert, we discuss the importance of ma********on, the taboo around it, and more.

26/08/2023

It’s womens equality day today
(as should be every single day😊)

On this day , sharing my article on “Navigating the complex world of contraception’
.com



https://www.news18.com/lifestyle/womens-equality-day-navigating-the-complex-landscape-of-contraception-8551993.html

Dr Meenakshi Ahuja, Senior Director, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fortis La Femme, New Delhi and Academic Secretary, Delhi Gynae Forum, President, Delhi Menopause Society discusses complex landscape of contraception

30/06/2023

Menopause is not the end of life , it is in fact a new beginning. A small overview about this stage of life with Pause Forward , do take out a couple of minutes so that you too can contribute to increased awareness of this crucial phase of life 🙂

Dr.Ahuja decodes menopause and explains the role of supportive holistic expert care to help women better deal with hormonal changes