Jennifer Chan de Avila is a Mexican researcher and menopause doula based in Berlin, passionate about empowering others on their menopause journeys. With a background as a journalist and a PhD in Political Science focusing on Gender Relations, Jennifer has dedicated her career to researching, teaching, and writing about Intersectional Feminism, Body Politics, and Diversity and Inclusion in organizations. At 37, her life took an unexpected turn when, after a year of feeling unwell and multiple doctor visits, she was diagnosed with premature menopause (now known as Premature Ovarian Insufficiency). This experience deeply transformed her. She left her job to focus on healing her body, mind, heart, and soul—a journey that continues to this day. Unable to find the support she needed, Jennifer trained as a menopause doula. Now, she shares what she’s learned and supports others through their menopause journeys, a role that she finds immensely fulfilling. Returning to academia, Jennifer is currently researching menopause and its relation to the workplace, developing strategies to make work environments more menopause-friendly. Through consulting and training, she helps organizations evolve and become more supportive. She is also the co-author of the forthcoming book,"Wechseljahre am Arbeitsplatz: Handlungskonzept für ein innovatives betriebliches Gesundheitsmanagement", which will be published by Transcript Verlag in January 2025. The book focuses on creating innovative corporate health strategies to support women through menopause in the workplace. Jennifer’s mission is to raise awareness about menopause in all its forms and to help others have a smoother experience than she did.
Listening to the Heart When I went through premature menopause I had to navigate a body that seemed foreign and
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I always thought of myself as someone who had “her emotions under control”—that is, of course, until I entered menopause
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Your menopause doula, reporting for service! After sharing much of my menopause journey in the last article, it’s time to
For much of my life, I thrived on pushing myself to extremes. Stress and adrenaline fueled me—coffee, cigarettes, sleepless nights,
