Introduction
Menopause and women’s careers are closely connected. Menopause symptoms can affect productivity, working hours, career progression and earnings. Limited access to appropriate treatment may create additional challenges for women during their professional lives. Beyond menopause, research also shows that women are more likely than men to volunteer for, be asked to undertake and accept workplace tasks that offer limited opportunities for promotion, creating additional barriers to career advancement..
What this article covers
Beyond menopause: do women ask for lower salaries and take on work that limits career advancement?
- Which menopause symptoms affect women’s ability to work?
- How does menopause affect women’s careers and earnings?
- What are the barriers to menopause treatment?
Beyond menopause: do women ask for lower salaries and take on work that limits career advancement?
In 2022, researchers found that women graduating from university in Sweden asked for lower salaries than men, on average. Even when women negotiated their pay, they tended to ask for less.
Another study, published in 2017, found that women were more likely than men to volunteer for extra workplace tasks, be asked to do them and agree to take them on. The problem? These tasks offered fewer opportunities for promotion, potentially leaving women with less time for work that could advance their careers.
Who volunteered for additional workplace tasks?
Which menopause symptoms affect women's ability to work?
Menopause is not just hot flushes.
In 2022, the Fawcett Society published a UK survey of 4,014 women aged 45–55 who were experiencing or had experienced perimenopause or menopause.
77% reported at least one symptom they found very difficult.
The most commonly reported symptoms included:
- 84%: Sleep difficulties or exhaustion
- 73%: Brain fog
- 70%: Hot flushes or night sweats
- 69%: Anxiety or depression
These findings show that menopause involves much more than hot flushes. Sleep problems, difficulty concentrating and emotional symptoms can also affect women’s ability to work and progress in their careers.
To learn more about perimenopause symptoms in women over 35, visit Wellness Grow Agency’s Insights section, where you can find our podcast interview discussing these symptoms and their impact on women’s lives.
4,014 UK women aged 45–55
Reported at least one very difficult symptom
Most commonly reported symptoms
Sleep difficulties or exhaustion: 84%
Brain fog: 73%
Hot flushes or night sweats: 70%
Anxiety or depression: 69%
How does menopause affect women’s careers and earnings?
Menopause affects nearly half of women at work.
The Fawcett Society’s 2022 report found that 44% of women who had worked during menopause said their symptoms had affected their ability to work, either currently or in the past.
The impact extended beyond physical symptoms. Among women reporting work-related difficulties:
- 61% reported losing motivation at work.
- 52% reported losing confidence.
For some women, the consequences went further, affecting their working hours and career opportunities.
14% had reduced their working hours, moving from full-time to part-time employment.
10% had left their jobs because of menopause symptoms.
8% had not applied for a promotion, potentially missing opportunities to advance their careers.
These findings show how menopause can affect women’s careers, limiting their working hours, professional development and potentially their earnings.
How menopause affects women's working lives
Reported that menopause had affected their ability to work
Lost motivation at work
Lost confidence
Career consequences
Reduced their working hours
Left their jobs
Did not apply for promotion
Menopause and women’s careers: What are the barriers to treatment?
54% of women using HRT said it gave them their lives back
The barriers become clearer when we look at the figures:
- 45% had not spoken to anyone at their GP practice about menopause symptoms.
- 31% of women who approached their GP practice said it took several appointments before menopause or perimenopause was recognised.
- Only 39% of women who consulted a GP or nurse said they were offered HRT once menopause was diagnosed.
- Among women who had never tried HRT, 24% reported concerns about cancer or other illnesses, and 24% said they did not know enough about the treatment.
Another possible reason why these women may not receive treatment is explained in this article
The report also highlighted another knowledge gap: only 33% of women were aware that testosterone can be used in menopause treatment. Testosterone may be considered for persistent low sexual desire in appropriate patients.
Better information, timely diagnosis and access to appropriate treatment could help women manage symptoms that interfere with their working lives. The reported benefits of HRT are encouraging, although this survey did not directly measure whether treatment improved women’s earnings or career progression.
Menopause treatment: Three important findings
Women using HRT who said it had given them their lives back
Women offered HRT after their menopause diagnosis
Women who needed multiple GP appointments before menopause was recognised
Conclusion
Menopause and women’s careers are closely connected. Symptoms such as sleep difficulties, brain fog, anxiety and depression can affect women’s confidence, productivity and ability to work.
For some women, the consequences are significant: reduced working hours, missed promotions or leaving employment altogether. Difficulties obtaining a diagnosis and accessing appropriate treatment can create further challenges.
However, menopause is only part of the picture. Research also shows that women may request lower salaries and are more likely to accept additional workplace tasks that offer limited opportunities for promotion.
Improving access to menopause care and addressing wider workplace inequalities are both important for protecting women’s careers, earnings and professional opportunities.
Menopause symptoms affecting your working life?
Explore our personalised women’s health consultations, designed to help you understand your symptoms and available treatment options.
About the author.
Dr Maria Zalazar is the Founder and CEO of MZ Medical, an international women’s health advisory company developing its own innovative projects. She has nearly 20 years of experience in women’s health and genetics, with an international career spanning Argentina, Spain and the UK..
Reference
1. Fawcett Society. (2022). Menopause and the workplace. https://www.wates.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Menopause-in-the-Workplace-final-report.
2. Dreber, A., Heikensten, E., & Säve-Söderbergh, J. (2022). Why do women ask for less? Labour Economics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2022.102204
3. Babcock, L., Recalde, M. P., Vesterlund, L., & Weingart, L. (2017). Gender differences in accepting and receiving requests for tasks with low promotability. American Economic Review, 107(3), 714–747. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20141734
4. People Management. (2022). One million women could quit due to lack of menopause support. https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1743121/one-million-women-could-quit-due-lack-menopause-support
5. The Latte Lounge. (2021). 42% of women consider leaving job due to menopause. https://www.lattelounge.co.uk/42-of-women-consider-leaving-job-due-to-menopause/
