Brenda sits down with Aagya Mathur, Co-Founder & CEO of Aavia, to explore how understanding hormone cycles can transform the way women approach health, work, and everyday life.

Driven by her own experiences, Aagya shares how she built Aavia to give women the tools, data, and community they need to better understand their bodies.

She opens up about the journey of turning a deeply personal problem into a growing health tech startup.

They unpack the stigma surrounding hormone conversations, why most health systems still overlook women’s cyclical biology, and how technology can empower women to make smarter decisions about sleep, fitness, productivity, and mental well-being.

Ever wondered why your energy, focus, and mood shift throughout the month, or how better hormone literacy could change the future of healthcare? This episode will completely reshape the way you think about your cycle.

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In This Episode, We Cover:

✔️ Why hormone literacy is still missing from mainstream healthcare

✔️ The personal experiences that inspired Aavia’s creation

✔️ How hormonal cycles impact energy, sleep, mood, and productivity

✔️ Breaking the stigma around talking about periods and hormones

✔️ What it takes to build and scale a women’s health startup

✔️ Using data and technology to help women understand their bodies

✔️ The future of personalized hormone health and digital care

Timeline:

00:00 Understanding Hormonal Health and Its Impact

02:49 The Role of Aavia Health in Women's Wellness

06:00 Subjectivity of Hormonal Symptoms

08:46 The Importance of Personalized Data

12:07 Healthcare Costs and Women's Health

15:03 Building Trust in Health Data

17:50 Aavia's Comprehensive Approach to Hormonal Health

20:59 The Future of Hormonal Awareness in Healthcare

30:22 The Importance of Women's Heart Health

32:35 Funding Disparities in Women's Healthcare

33:52 Fundraising as a Female Founder

40:59 The Role of Hormone Health in Public Health

47:42 Future of Women's Health Education

50:27 Accessing Avia and Its Impact

Sponsor Spotlight:

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Mentioned in the Episode:

• Conditions & Concepts Mentioned - PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
• Organizations & Institutions Referenced - Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Harvard University , Ministry of Supply , Labcorp
• People Mentioned in This Episode - Kit Hickey – Aagya studied under, Lara Zibners – Founder of Calla Lily Clinical Care, referenced, Tessiah Coleman – Founder of Kyndred, referenced
• Data Points Referenced - 2.1 billion people globally in reproductive years, 7–10 year average diagnostic delay for hormone-related conditions, 42% of Aavia members report missing 5+ days of work annually due to symptoms, Women drive ~80% of healthcare decisions in households, Women’s health companies receive a small fraction of total venture funding

Connect with Aagya:

Aavia Website | Email: [email protected] | Aagya LinkedIn | Aavia LinkedIn | Aavia Instagram | Aavia Youtube

🎙 Host: Brenda Armstrong

🎧 Producer: Tarryn Long

⚠️ This content is for educational purposes only and not health or medical advice. ©2026 ⁠RedefineHER Podcast⁠. Please share with credit and direct link.