#WomensHealth #PMDD #FemTech In this episode of Blush and Bloom, I sit down with Ananya — computer science & cognitive science graduate, menstrual health activist, and founder of HealCycle, a hormonal mental health app supporting women with PMS, PMDD, and cycle-related mood disorders. Ananya shares her journey from leading school period positivity campaigns to giving a TED Talk on period positivity and now building HealCycle. She explains why PMDD is often called the “evil cousin” of PMS, how stigma and lack of awareness delay diagnosis, and how tools like symptom tracking and Tara, HealCycle’s AI companion, can empower women to advocate for their health. In this conversation, we cover: ✨ The difference between PMS and PMDD, and why PMDD is often overlooked ✨ How menstrual and mental health are deeply connected ✨ The role of data and symptom tracking in seeking help ✨ Why privacy matters — including HealCycle’s end-to-end encryption ✨ The AI companion Tara and its supportive role ✨ Expanding conversations to include menopause and PCOS ✨ How to take part in real research: HealCycle’s Pilot Study with AthenaDAO (https://forms.gle/58jm2xhwwdBVrUrNA) This is a powerful conversation about rethinking menstrual mental health and why women deserve better tools, understanding, and support. 🎧 If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might benefit and help us keep this vital conversation growing. ---⏱️ Chapters00:00 Welcome and introduction 00:41 Meet Ananya and HealCycle 02:07 What is PMS and how does it differ from PMDD 04:15 The mental health impact of PMDD 05:02 How HealCycle supports women through symptom tracking 07:45 Why PMDD is often misunderstood or missed in healthcare 10:49 The moment Ananya realized the need for HealCycle 13:06 Cycle health beyond periods — workplace and productivity links 14:14 Tara the AI companion and why privacy matters 19:29 Why PMDD is underdiagnosed and the stigma around it 23:54 Mood journaling, CBT, DBT and affirmations in HealCycle 26:59 Public awareness, feedback, and expanding beyond PMS/PMDD 29:43 Advice for women struggling with PMS or PMDD 32:38 What’s next for HealCycle — wearables and new tools 34:58 Advice to 15-year-old self 35:32 Where to find Ananya and HealCycle ---📌 Show notes & resources https://www.asele.tech/post/blush-and-bloom-ep13-pms-pmdd-with-healcycle Connect with Us • Ananya (HealCycle): https://www.linkedin.com/in/ananya-grover/• HealCycle website & blog: https://healcycle.com • Download the HealCycle app — available on iOS & Android • Try Tara, HealCycle’s AI companion: https://healcycle.com • Ananya’s TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/ananya_grover_a_campaign_for_period_positivity• Join the Pilot Study with AthenaDAO: https://forms.gle/58jm2xhwwdBVrUrNA • Gigi Kenneth (Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/gigikenneth More from Asele ✨ Visit Asele: https://asele.tech/ ✨ Try the Asele app: https://asele.health/ ✨ WhatsApp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/F8GY4RV7Bm2CtCfq6TONsV ✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asele.tech ✨ LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/asele ✨ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6NEsMfkG3dvl0pYXU40Efi ✨ YouTube playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3BXkKjK3rJrg1XoQpGnOC7gZjc72mqg3 ✨ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blush-and-bloom/id1832044848 💬 What’s one thing you wish more women knew about PMS and PMDD? Share in the comments. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.