NFHS-6 Leaves Out Menopause, Raising Questions About Women's Health Priorities

India's largest health survey tracks fertility, maternal care and child nutrition, but leaves out menopause and several key indicators affecting women, raising concerns about gaps in the country's health data.

The sixth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6), released on May 29, 2026, covers nearly 6.79 lakh households across India and is considered one of the country's most important health and demographic studies. Conducted through computer-assisted personal interviews, the survey collects data on marriage, fertility, contraception, reproductive health, maternal care, immunisation and child nutrition.

However, despite its broad scope, menopause is not mentioned even once in the report.

More Than the End of Menstruation

According to Dr. Shruti Chandak, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, menopause is far more than the end of menstruation. It is a significant biological transition that can trigger symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep disturbances, mood changes, joint pain, weight gain and vaginal dryness, all of which can affect a woman's physical, emotional and social well-being.

"The absence of menopause in NFHS-6 is a missed opportunity to understand the health realities of millions of Indian women," she says.

 Other Missing Indicators Raise Concerns

Menopause is not the only gap that has sparked concern among public health experts. Several important indicators that were available in previous rounds of the National Family Health Survey are either missing from the newly released NFHS-6 fact sheets or have not been reported in detail.

One of the most notable omissions is anaemia data. NFHS-5 had reported that 57% of Indian women aged 15-49 were anaemic, making it one of the country's most serious public health challenges. Yet updated anaemia estimates are absent from the NFHS-6 fact sheets. The government has stated that concerns over the reliability of previous testing methods led to the exclusion of the data, with a separate survey expected to address the issue.

The survey also does not provide dedicated information on menopause, perimenopause, menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis risk, hormonal health, or the physical and mental health challenges faced by women during mid-life. Experts argue that these gaps leave policymakers without a clear understanding of the health realities of millions of women beyond their reproductive years.

In addition, several reports have pointed out the absence of key indicators such as updated data on sex ratio at birth, infant and child mortality rates, and access to clean cooking fuel in the initial fact sheets. Researchers warn that the absence of such indicators could make it harder to assess the impact of major government health and welfare programmes.

Why It Matters?

NFHS data forms the backbone of many government health programmes and policy decisions. When major health concerns affecting women in their 40s, 50s and beyond are not adequately measured, they risk remaining invisible in public policy.

Critics argue that India's largest health survey continues to view women's health primarily through the lens of fertility, pregnancy and motherhood. While these indicators remain important, they represent only one phase of a woman's life.

As India's female population continues to age, experts say women's health must be viewed through a life-cycle lens that includes menopause, ageing, mental health, chronic diseases and overall well-being. The omissions in NFHS-6 have reignited a broader debate: can women's health truly be understood if an entire phase of a woman's life is left out of the country's most influential health survey?