Written by: Hatty McCafferty, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Menopause continues to be making headlines but many are still confused by what it is, the impact it has on the workplace and what they can do about the most troublesome symptoms. I am going to explain the basics and help you support yourself and others through this natural, biological transition, boosting productivity and retaining your best staff members along the way.
Why should I know about Menopause and what is it anyway?
We’ve all been through puberty and many of us will remember it is a turbulent time – physical changes in our bodies, trying to work out who we are and emotional turmoil. It’s not so different for Menopause.
Menopause itself is the one year anniversary after a woman’s final period. Obviously for most, this can only be recognised retrospectively. The average age in the UK and US is 51 but for Black and Asian women, it can be as much as four years earlier.
Perimenopause is getting all the attention currently, and rightly so because it can last from 4-12 years and, tracking back from the average age of Menopause, this could begin in your 30s. The vast range of symptoms can be confusing and sometimes alarming, especially when they are entirely unexpected.
Both puberty and menopause are all part of the natural, human lifecycle and everyone born with ovaries will go through menopause one way or another so why should everyone have to know about it?
Why does this affect me?
As with adolescence, knowing what to expect takes the fear out of the unknown and provides you with a framework for how to prepare. By taking care of yourself, you are far more likely to have an easier transition through to Post Menopause and just as importantly, if you are not experiencing Perimenopause yourself, the chances are, you know someone who will do or who is: a colleague, your sister, mother, the woman you see on the train each morning and your support and understanding at this time of life can be crucial to a person’s wellbeing.
How does Menopause concern the workplace?
The fastest growing demographic in the workplace is menopausal women, according to a study published in BMC Women's Health with almost eight out of ten currently in work.
However, in 2021, a survey showed that over 90% of women felt Menopause symptoms were having a negative impact on their work but they were too afraid to tell anyone or seek help.
Over half of career women (55%) said Perimenopause made them feel invisible and dispensable. And at this point these women are often approaching or at the peak of their career.
Across the UK, it is estimated that 14 million days are lost every year, due to Menopause symptoms.
And the 10% of women leaving their career due to Menopause symptoms is strengthening the pension and gender pay gap and weakening gender diversity and inclusion.
Businesses need to think about future-proofing themselves against the loss of these women who are valuable assets – they have accumulated knowledge, experience and capability and are often reaching the peak of their career.
What are the most common symptoms that affect work and what causes these?
There are oestrogen receptors all over the body. Brain, skin, heart, you name it – everywhere. When oestrogen declines overrall, from the start of Perimenopause, these receptors are not getting what they need to function in the way that they are used to. In the early stages, oestrogen rises sharply sometimes and rapidly declines again. It’s safe to say levels are unstable. Until they adapt to lower levels of oestrogen, these receptors essentially go looking for it and when they can’t find it, it’s a little bit like a circuit glitch. This can lead to brain fog, anxiety, a sudden change in body temperature, joint aches, very low mood and insomnia. In addition to Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone levels also reduce. Progesterone has a huge effect on temperature regulation, it has a calming effect on the central nervous system and so aids sleep, it affects mood, skin, brain and heart. Testosterone impacts energy levels, brain function, maintenance of healthy muscle mass, circulation and the lists go on. If we were to go deeper into the biology, we would need to talk about a lot more of the other hormones at play. I would like to underline here that nothing is wrong. It may feel as though something is wrong, but this is a natural part of the lifecycle and Menopause is meant to happen.
Brain Fog, Migraine, Insomnia, Hot Flashes and Fatigue, Anxiety and Loss of Confidence are the ones that are most often problematic in a work environment – as discussed in the UK Parliament when examining Menopause in the Workplace: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmwomeq/91/report.html - :~:text='Difficulty sleeping' was the most,night sweats (both 73%25).
If I think someone at work is in Perimenopause, what do I say?
It depends on who you are to this person and how well you know them.
It also depends on what these symptoms are and how serious they appear to be both for the colleague and yourself.
If you have an established relationship and are very concerned, you could ask them out for a coffee and an informal chat to ask how they are. See what the colleague offers up by way of information. You may be able to ask them directly if they have considered that it may be Perimenopause. Make sure that you are as educated on the subject as you can be so that you can remove any fears your colleague may have around age, judgement or prejudice that so many people still carry.
If you have experience of symptoms yourself, you may be in a stronger position to comment and can simply open up about what is happening to you. What you can do together to get through this life phase as smoothly as possible. Perhaps books, resources, talking to one another and so on.
If you are at more of a distance to this person, tread lightly as they may be feeling very sensitive. If the opportunity arises, talk about your own or a friend’s symptoms gently in an open and general way. Keep an eye on them, take them a glass of water if they look like they need it at any point perhaps, just be kind and open to suggestion but allow them space and time. Check in on them with a gentle, ‘how are you?’ but do not pry or assume. Holding open events in the workplace may nudge them in the right direction when they are ready.
How do I ask for support at work and also support someone going through the same?
First of all, educate yourself. A good place to start is the Greene Climacteric Scale which is a list of the more common symptoms that you can track for yourself.
I would suggest that discovering what your symptoms are and what are the three most troublesome for you is a good place to start. You then have the choice to either visit your GP to discuss possible steps (go armed with your list of symptoms and how they affect you in daily life) or to do some investigation for yourself as to how you may go about resolving these. It may be that some small adjustments to your nutrition, movement, sleep hygiene and mental wellbeing (or if it’s simpler to remember: my 5 pillars of Sleep, Stress, Sustenance, Strength & Sex) could make a big difference.
Once you are clear about which symptoms are putting obstacles in your way at work, decide what you need to support you in performing better at work. Approach your line manager, Head of Talent or someone who you feel comfortable with and talk to them about it. The chances are, they will welcome your input as you will almost certainly not be the only one and if you are able to provide even one solution, that is a big step in a really healthy direction where everyone benefits.
For supporting someone going through the same as you – Talk! The more we talk and share experiences, the more we feel seen and understood and you’ve just halved the potential burden and doubled the resources for when the going gets tough.
For supporting someone going through a rough Peri/Menopause, listen and be kind. Offer up suggestions if you can and wish, none of us have hard and fast answers to most of this(!) so being an ally is a support in itself.
The ultimate goal, is for everyone to feel confident in knowing what Menopause is and how to navigate its challenges. Most recently I interviewed a doctor who, ahead of time, decided she was going to glide through Perimenopause – and she did. Why? Because she was prepared. So this is just as relevant to the younger generations. We want everyone to be able to say, “Yes, I knew exactly what to expect and I was able to manage it well.”
You can discover more on my podcast, Real Menopause Talk where women share their stories and resources and of course there is so much more to say! For further inforrmation visit my website, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube or drop me a line here – this can be a time of great power!
Hatty McCafferty, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Originally a TV Producer, Hatty entered the realm of Wellbeing when she became a mother, later teaching globally. As her clients shared their Menopause stories, she felt the need to serve them better and became a Certified Menopause Consultant. Having interviewed more than 100 people for her podcast, Real Menopause Talk, she continues speaking at events educating and supporting both women and men through the Perimenopause transition. She consults for companies globally enabling them to retain their valuable Peri to Post Menopausal staff. Hatty makes the workplace Menopause Attractive: “By 2030, there will be 1.2 billion of us, so let’s start talking.”
