Dr Linda Dear1
1Menodoctor, New Zealand
AIMS
To gain insight into the impact of menopause and perimenopause symptoms in the New Zealand workplace.
METHODS
An online survey was conducted between October 2022 and March 2023 to investigate the menopause experience in terms of symptoms, treatments and the impact on working life, interpersonal relationships and mental health. The current review summarises the findings on the impact of menopause symptoms at work.
RESULTS
Overall, 4,288 Kiwi women aged between 30 and 70 completed the survey. Out of this, 4,001 had been employed while having perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms.
The results showed that 84% of working women said their symptoms had negatively impacted their work. Only 14% felt well supported by their employer. Among those who had taken time off, changed or left their role, only 15% admitted menopause was the reason. For 1 in 6 women, their symptoms were so severe they had considered leaving their job – and 1 in 12 women reported they actually did.
CONCLUSIONS
Menopause can have a significant impact on the working lives of New Zealand women yet support within the workplace is currently inadequate. Steps must be taken to raise awareness, reduce stigma and improve support for all working women.
Biography:
Dr Linda Dear is a fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and is a certified Menopause Practitioner with the North American Menopause Society. She is the director of the private menopause clinic Menodoctor (www.menodoctor.com).