Menopause is often associated with familiar symptoms — hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, and brain fog. Yet one of its most misunderstood aspects is emotional transformation. Many women report feeling less patient, less accommodating, and less willing to tolerate situations or relationships they once accepted. To outsiders, this may appear as irritability or anger. However, life coach Nicola Clarke says it is something else entirely.

“I used to think I was becoming less patient, then I realised I was becoming less tolerant. There’s a difference,” she said. Menopause is increasingly part of the national health conversation in Jamaica. The Ministry of Health and Wellness estimates that about 130,000 Jamaican women are menopausal, with tens of thousands more perimenopausal or postmenopausal.

Health officials acknowledge that menopause has long been overlooked, despite its wide-ranging impact. In response, Jamaica is developing a dedicated menopause policy to improve awareness, healthcare access, and workplace support. Across the region, advocates say stigma, misinformation, and limited support systems continue to leave many women struggling in silence.