According to Menopause At Work survey results reported in Corporate Wellness Magazine, 75% of women in the workforce were affected by menopause in 2020.

The symptoms experienced were changes in memory and concentration, fatigue due to lack of sleep, hot flashes and mood swings.

These symptoms definitely create a lot of problems on a daily basis, in our daily life and at work.

Menopause Symptoms

When I was transitioning into perimenopause, I experienced the following symptoms:

  • Gaining unexpected weight was the first sign, though I didn’t realize it at the time because it started two years prior to the actual transition.
  • I was only sleeping 3-4 hours a night and still getting up to going to work.
  • I would wake up with racing thoughts in my mind.
  • Once I transitioned, I had severe sweating at all times.
  • On top of not sleeping a full night, extreme fatigue followed.
  • I couldn’t remembering things that I know I knew.
  • I was confused most of the time. Everything I knew about Project Management became a blur.
  • I had trouble concentrating, focusing.
  • I developed anxiety because I was afraid I would forget to discuss important things at team meetings. I had a team size of 35+ colleagues.
  • I became depressed due to all that what happening in my body and at work.

These were most of the symptoms I experienced but I’ve been able to account for 60 and possibly even more that has been experienced by other women.

Results of Menopause 

When experiencing symptoms, getting work done becomes a huge challenge and let’s not mention running meetings. I was crippled and had no where to turn to for support. Quite the contrary, demanding leadership made the situation worse.

I ended up in short-term disability with: chronic stress, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety & depression.

Today, many women in the workforce are suffering through menopause symptoms with no support or help in finding relief. One study done in the UK found that 900,000 women resigned from their jobs due to menopause symptoms. Additionally, 70% backed off from climbing the corporate ladder. Disturbing outcome!

Consequences of Menopause

These consequences impact not only a women’s health and well-being but our livelihood. I, too, had to resigned from my career due to not fully being able to recover my health & well-being within six months.

What does this mean for the future of women and their careers when Forbes predicts by 2025 there will be 1.1 billion women with menopause in the workforce.

In one other UK survey women were being mocked at for having menopause. More to come on this later as I have a lot to say about that!

Menopausing at Work

More needs to be done in the workforce to help and support women during this natural rite of passage. It’s a natural body process most women will go through and it doesn’t mean it’s the end of our lives. Women shouldn’t be made to feel ashamed because of it. It is the beginning of a new chapter after having

Corporations should offer benefits to women in menopause just like they do for women who are pregnant. Managers should be trained to spot the signs of when a women is struggling. Programs should be in place to inform women about the changes, what is going on and what they can do to make the transition much smoother.