Menopause coach Lisa Feveck urges open dialogue on hormonal health

2026-03-21 - 23:35

Biology dictates that men do not experience menopause, but that does not mean they should not educate themselves about it. “When men understand how perimenopause and menopause affect women physically, mentally and emotionally, they are more likely to respond with empathy rather than confusion. Education helps strengthen relationships and creates more supportive environments at home and at work,” says Lisa Feveck, a menopause dietitian and coach. This topic took centre stage during the panel discussion Money, Marriage & Menopause at last Friday’s American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago Women in Leadership Conference, at the Hyatt Regency. Feveck, who turns 50 this year, believes men play a vital role as partners, colleagues, and corporate leaders. A 2024 survey by The Menopause Hub found that 60 per cent of men said menopause symptoms had affected their relationships, and eight per cent admitted they had considered ending things because of the challenges. It was a positive sign, then, that the event saw a notably larger male presence this year, as the session focused heavily on how the transition affects the entire support system. Feveck, who is also the director of Natural Beauty Ltd, works with women to build personalised strategies—especially for those not ready for medication but who are losing their quality of life. She describes her “superpower” as making complex science easy to understand. It is a mission born from her own research, where she discovered that perimenopause can even lead to suicidal thoughts—a reality she found shocking and misunderstood. Her own life was significantly disrupted by the transition. Her first symptom, in her early 30s, was an unexpected one: a persistent toothache that felt like a root canal despite no underlying dental issue. The second was hair loss. “That was especially distressing because I always had long hair, and for many women, our hair is closely tied to our confidence and sense of identity,” she shared. “By the time I was experiencing around my tenth symptom and my lab tests kept coming back normal, I knew something else had to be going on.” It was at that time, while completing her Master of Philosophy at The University of the West Indies—which provided access to vital research resources—that she began to dig deeper. “There are about 130 symptoms of menopause. The internet just gives you the most common 40,” she told the audience. The revelation drew gasps from the almost 700 women in the room, some of whom admitted they had been waiting for the telltale hot flashes to signify the change. Feveck reiterated that it doesn’t always start there. Furthermore, statistics show that women of colour often experience menopause at least ten years earlier than those of other ethnicities. “Which means most of us have started in our 30s already, and we just don’t know it. This is why I talk about it every day; we need women to hear the message,” she said. Perimenopause and menopause often occur during a woman’s most productive professional years, yet the topic is rarely discussed in the workplace. The resulting brain fog “can make women feel like they are losing control of their professional identities.” To cope, Feveck suggests practical steps like keeping a notepad in different rooms or using phone apps to offload mental clutter. She also encourages a “test, don’t guess” approach, urging women to stay curious and journal their symptoms to guide meaningful conversations with their doctors. With recent data showing that one in ten women will eventually leave the workforce due to menopause symptoms, the Maraval native told WE in a subsequent interview that employers must do more to make a real difference. “Simple initiatives like learning sessions during the lunch hour,” she shared, “encouraging mental health check-ins, or offering yoga and meditation can provide meaningful support.” For women struggling in silence, Feveck has hope that small, consistent steps, open dialogue, and support can change the narrative. “One of my favourite quotes from the book The Power to Change by Craig Groeschel says: ‘Never underestimate how God can start something big through one small habit.’ I remind women of this because menopause can feel overwhelming when many symptoms appear at once,” she added. “You are not alone, and what you are experiencing is real.” Guardian Media Ltd, 95.1FM and Freedom 1.06.5 FM, were the official media partners for the Women’s Leadership Conference which took place on March 13.