Two youths started a social enterprise called Surety to advance conversations about menopause and provide a community of support.

 

Two youths experienced how menopause can affect a person. They both saw it through their own mothers.

Shared Valery Tan: “Growing up, I always saw my mother as a pillar of strength – someone who could handle anything life threw at her. But when perimenopause began, I noticed subtle changes in her that I couldn’t quite understand at first. She started experiencing intense hot flashes, sudden mood swings, and a level of fatigue that was completely out of character for her. It was confusing and, at times, distressing to see her struggle with these invisible challenges.

“I remember a particular evening when she broke down in tears, overwhelmed by the emotional and physical toll perimenopause was taking on her. It was then that I realised how little I knew about what she was going through, and how critical it was for me to not just be there for her, but also to understand what she was going through and how I could help.” (Perimenopause refers to the time “during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking an end of the reproductive years”, according to the Mayo Clinic, US. Women start perimenopause at different ages such as menstrual irregularity in their 40s or even notice changes earlier in their 30s.)

Added Elmer Yap about his mother: “She had always been a gentle, caring person. However, as perimenopause began, I noticed changes in her that were hard to ignore – she became more irritable, her sleep was disrupted by night sweats, and she often seemed emotionally drained.

“There were days when she would snap over the smallest things, which was so unlike the patient, calm person I had known all my life. On one occasion after she vented her frustrations, she confessed to me that she felt like she was losing to her own body and mind, something she had never experienced before. That was when I realised the need for understanding and support from the community.”

They also learnt that other women also had similar experiences – “Through conversations with numerous women, it became clear that our mothers’ struggles were not isolated incidents. Many women across Singapore and the broader Asia-Pacific region encounter similar challenges, compounded by a scarcity of resources and cultural barriers that often leave their experiences and needs unaddressed.”

 

Starting the social enterprise

These two, who are in their mid-20s and currently undergraduates at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, decided they had to do something and so they started their social enterprise Surety.

They said: “Menopause is more than just a women’s issue; it is a societal one that affects the well-being of our mothers, partners and friends. By fostering understanding and open dialogue, we can create a supportive environment for all women.

“Our mission is to elevate the conversation around menopause. We aim to demystify its stages and foster a supportive community through informative content, engaging events and more. Our goal is to empower women to navigate menopause with greater knowledge and support, ultimately enhancing their quality of life.”

Its flagship initiative, #MenoMatters aims to empower millions of women worldwide, powered by data and AI-driven insights. Through comprehensive support, innovative tools and a vibrant community, breaking down stigmas and driving policy change, their hope is to ensure every woman thrives in her golden years with dignity, health and joy.

They have a range of services for both businesses and consumers. For consumers, they host community events and offer ageing and menopause products and services from holistic professionals.

And, for businesses, they provide corporate programmes and events focused on menopause wellness, aimed at fostering a supportive work environment. With alarming statistics from their website such as 87 percent had not spoken to an employer or manager at work about their menopausal symptoms, 84 percent say their menopausal symptoms have a mostly negative effect on them at work, and 53 percent reported experiencing at least one instance where menopausal symptoms prevented them from working, Surety has a place.

They said: “In the workplace, there is a lack of support for older women as they go through perimenopause, with many employers and co-workers unaware of or insensitive to the challenges it can pose.”

Besides a need for family and work support, they found there are also gaps in available information as well as our healthcare system. Explained Valery and Elmer: “Information online about menopause tends to be scattered and inconsistent. They are also written generically, with a list of symptoms that do not have any explanations or are not contextualise to experiences that women face. Our healthcare system also has a lack of support for older women, especially for chronic conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis that may be associated with menopause. Treatments tend to be superficial, and specialist support may take up to six months or more and there is incurring high costs.”

Surety addresses this by publishing content such as short reels, videos and podcasts to help people learn more about menopause. They also recently introduced a mobile app called PausePlay, a free platform for women to track their menopause symptoms, receive personalised recommendations, and stay informed on the latest developments in menopause care.

They said: “We realised that many women do not accurately keep track of their symptoms, such as their last period, which is needed for a more accurate diagnosis of menopause (12 months consecutively without a period). Other symptoms, such as hot flushes, can also be tracked for a more comprehensive review for your medical provider.

“For women who may wish for alternative treatments that are low-cost, more private or others, we also offer these recommendations that are directed to the symptoms that they logged under the products and services that are onboard Surety’s platform. Women on our platform can also enjoy the contents such as articles, events and podcasts through the application.”

The social enterprise is also organising a menopause festival in November with medical professionals and more, shedding light on menopause from various angles, including clinical advances, societal impacts and personal experiences of Singaporean women. Tickets are available from S$53.49. “Through this, Surety hopes to create an ecosystem focused on advancing women’s health, particularly menopause, positioning Singapore as leaders in women’s health dialogue and innovation, and attracting interest from stakeholders and sponsors for future menopause initiatives,” said Valery and Elmer.

In the future, they hope to also touch on another sadly ignored topic – andropause, which men experience, and provide a community of support as the one they are creating with menopause.

 

** Surety is looking for men and women who are interested in sharing their stories associated to menopause as a way to enrich their understanding and resources on menopause. They shared: “For women, whether you’re navigating through perimenopause or menopause, with symptoms or without, we want to hear about your journey. Your experiences, including both physical and mental transitions, and any insights or words of wisdom you can share, are invaluable to us. For men, we are keen to understand your perspectives and experiences in supporting a spouse or family member through these changes. Your observations and management strategies are crucial in painting a fuller picture of the menopause experience from a supportive viewpoint.

“By sharing your stories, you can help us create a more comprehensive and empathetic platform that can better serve and support everyone affected by menopause. We believe that these shared experiences can foster a deeper understanding and a more supportive community for those going through this significant life phase.”