Eight out of 10 women in both the US and UK say that managing menopause symptoms at work is proving to be challenging as they battle both ageism and menopause stigma, according to a new report.
The survey carried out by global fertility care platform Carrot Fertility, ahead of Menopause Awareness Month in October, revealed that menopause symptoms create serious, career-limiting workplace challenges for 80% of women on both sides of the Atlantic. The vast majority (72%) have felt uncomfortable or self-conscious after experiencing menopause symptoms in the workplace.
Loss of concentration featured at the top of the list of challenging symptoms for American (42%) and British (56%) respondents. Additionally, 28% of UK’s women reported lower confidence levels due to the stigma of menopause, while 27% of women from the US reported needing to take more breaks.
MANAGING MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS AT WORK
To manage their symptoms in the workplace, the majority of women (54%) reported the need to shift their work routine. Top actions include reducing hours, shifting careers, moving from full to part-time work, changing jobs for a less demanding one, and quitting. Notably, women of colour are more likely to consider shifting from full-time to part-time to manage menopause. They are also more likely to feel that menopause may damage career growth (58% of UK women of colour, compared with 32% of White UK respondents and 22% of White US women.
Among respondents who took time off from work due to menopause, the vast majority — 79% — concealed the real reason at least some of the time. Moreover, an average of one-third (31%) of women surveyed feel that going through menopause while working will damage their career growth.
BATTLING AGEISM & MENOPAUSE STIGMA
The majority of women surveyed experience stigma associated with battling menopause in the workplace, with 54% uncomfortable asking their employer for workplace benefits or support to address menopause challenges. The top reasons are the perception of being unable to manage job responsibilities, overall stigma, and uncertainty over who or how to ask for support.
Nearly half of all respondents (47%) shared that they have experienced ageism at work. It’s slightly more common for American women (50%) compared to UK women (44%). Overall, 44% said they experienced ageism more than male colleagues. Additionally, women of colour are more likely to experience ageism and receive criticism.
“Supporting women at work through perimenopause and menopause is an investment in retaining senior talent,” said Tammy Sun, Founder and CEO of Carrot Fertility. “By offering age-inclusive fertility and lifelong hormonal health benefits, employers can keep women at the peak of their careers and foster greater menopause awareness in the workplace. Since we first introduced our menopause support more than a year ago, the majority of Carrot customers have started offering these benefits to their employees, showing promise that the tides are turning towards more menopause support in the workplace.”
MENOPAUSE SUPPORT
For many women, menopause remains a mystery. Less than 20% of women say they had a high level of understanding of menopause before symptoms began. Despite reporting symptoms, however, many have have avoided medical care. One in three respondents shared that they have never discussed menopause with their doctor, including 39% of British women, compared with 25% of Americans. When guidance from a doctor is sought, 66% report satisfaction with the support.
“The average age for women to enter menopause is 51, but for some, it can begin much earlier,” said Asima Ahmad, MD, MPH, FACOG, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Carrot Fertility. “In some cases, perimenopause can last for over 10 years, and symptoms can vary greatly over time. That’s why it’s so important for women to get access to specialised menopause care and understand their options as early as possible. With treatment, symptoms can become less disruptive to their daily life and careers. It can also help women understand how to optimize their overall health, including their bone health and heart health.”
TABOO TOPIC OF MENOPAUSE
Most women are reluctant to discuss menopause, not only in the workplace but also among friends and family. Overall, just 23% of respondents have shared their menopause experience beyond their social circles. 26% in the US and 15% in the UK are uncomfortable sharing with friends, and 20% in both countries are even hesitant to discuss with relatives. More American women (56%) are uncomfortable sharing with work colleagues than British women (41%). Women of colour, however, are more open about the challenges of managing menopause at work, being more likely to vocalize it as an unbearable or significant challenge. They are also more likely to be open about menopause on social media or other public forums.
Despite their own silence on the topic, nearly all respondents (90%) concur that more public awareness and discussion of menopause, symptoms, and their impact on women will help generate additional support. Specifically, respondents perceive the voices of renowned individuals as particularly helpful, with an average of 63% reporting they would feel better if they heard celebrities or public figures share their own menopause experiences.
Read the full 2023 Menopause in the Workplace report here.
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