Lately, you may have noticed more coaches and influencers talking about menopause. Some are here to educate and support. Others? They’re just now interested because they’re personally experiencing symptoms. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does raise an important question: how much do they actually know beyond their own experience?
Menopause isn’t a new phenomenon. Athletes have been navigating its challenges forever. What’s new is the increased visibility, thanks to more research and conversations. But visibility alone isn’t enough. Menopausal athletes deserve coaches who truly understand the physiology, the training adaptations, and the range of options available—long before they start experiencing it firsthand.
What Makes a Coach Qualified to Talk About Menopause?
There’s a difference between sharing a personal journey and being equipped to coach others through theirs. A coach who’s truly prepared to work with menopausal athletes will have:
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Lived experience (but that alone isn’t enough). Experience matters, but personal symptoms don’t automatically translate into broad expertise. What works for one person doesn’t work for everyone.
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Education from reputable sources. There are excellent certifications available that cover the science of menopause and training. Coaches who take these courses and continuously seek new research are better positioned to support athletes.
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Experience coaching menopausal athletes before it was personal. If a coach only started talking about menopause when their own symptoms hit, they might not have been paying attention before. That’s worth considering.
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Transparency about what they do and don’t know. A great coach acknowledges gaps in knowledge and seeks answers rather than pretending to have them all.
Menopause as Clickbait vs. Menopause as Expertise
Some coaches and influencers use menopause as a marketing tool. It might be a catchy headline, a new hashtag, or a sudden shift in messaging. The problem? Many of them don’t actually have the knowledge to back it up. Here’s how to tell the difference:
Red Flags: When Menopause Feels Like Clickbait
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They just started talking about it because they’re experiencing symptoms
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They make vague claims without citing research
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They offer one-size-fits-all solutions that ignore individual needs
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They don’t address important topics like HRT, nutrition, and strength training
Green Flags: A Coach Who Knows Their Stuff
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They’ve been coaching menopausal athletes for years
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They understand both HRT and non-HRT approaches and don’t shame athletes for their choices
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They emphasize strength, nutrition, and recovery as key pillars of training
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They provide real strategies backed by science, not just personal anecdotes
Why This Matters for You
If you’re a menopausal or perimenopausal athlete, you deserve a coach who understands the full picture—not just someone who suddenly finds the topic relevant when it’s just started affecting them personally. Your training, recovery, and performance are too important to be treated as a content trend.
If you want to work with a coach who has been in this space for years AND who's been in surgical menopause since 2016, who understands the science, and who actually listens to the needs of menopausal athletes, I’d love to help. Let’s train smarter, not just follow the latest social media buzz.