Why the menopause is everyone’s issue – and how to support it

The menopause is one of those subjects that, still, few people talk about. And yet it affects everyone. If you’re not experiencing it, you may be living, working or socialising with someone who is.

So, why aren’t we talking about it more? It’s time to break the silence and discuss the menopause, what it actually means and how we can do more to support those going through it.

The menopause isn’t simply the end of periods

Although, that’s what it means, in reality the menopause is much more complex than that. The symptoms of menopause can last for years and be far ranging. And there’s no set path through it – each individual going through the menopause will experience it differently.

The symptoms can range from physical to psychological, and for many people they are difficult to deal with.

The physical symptoms include hot flushes, aches and pains, tiredness, irregular periods, flooding and problems sleeping to name but a few. The psychological problems include mood swings, difficulty remembering things, heightened anxiety and worry, a loss of confidence and more.

Suffering with symptoms in the workplace can be soul-destroying

Menopausal people can experience any number of these symptoms at the same time. That’s debilitating at the best of times, but bring that into the workplace and you can begin to see how this can be a terrible time for so many people.

Can you imagine going into a meeting tired after a sleepless night, worried that you’ll feel unbearably hot and sweaty in the blink of an eye, that you may soil your clothes due to uncontrollable flooding? On top of that, you’re afraid you may not remember something as simple as your long-standing colleague’s name or a fundamental part of your job that you do day in, day out.

These are the kind of realities someone going through the menopause can face day after day for up to 10 years.

With that in mind, it perhaps comes as less of a surprise that one in four women think of leaving the workforce because of the effect the menopause has on them, according to a survey conducted by Wellbeing of Women in conjunction with ITV’s Tonight programme. In fact, one in 10 women do leave the workforce because of the difficulties they experience with the menopause.

Simple changes can help your employees cope during a difficult time

People leaving the workforce or not being able to function properly because of the menopause is not just an issue for them.

With menopause occurring any time from someone’s early 40s to their mid-to-late 50s, these individuals have built up a wealth of knowledge and experience that is valuable to businesses.

As an employer, are you happy to see that kind of priceless resource walk out of the door?

By setting up a menopause policy, you can help in practical ways, such as:

offering flexible working to help those not sleeping at night
allowing employees to work from home – this means those suffering flooding can change their clothing if needed without distress or embarrassment
relaxing uniform policies – looser clothing helps with hot flushes
training your line managers to spot symptoms and offer help quickly
providing fans to help cool employees down
encouraging an open, positive culture and begin conversations about the menopause with your employees
letting your employees know where they can find help.

Find out more about the menopause

Half of the world’s population will go through the menopause. The other half will experience the effects in other ways, most likely by watching a partner, mother, sister, friend or colleague struggle with it.

So, isn’t it time we all started to pay more attention to the menopause and talk about how we can help those who are struggling with it?

Supporting your employees

Aviva has produced an employer and employee guide to menopause in the workplace.

You can also find more information about the menopause at all of these places: