Dr Makiko Arima1, Dr Yoshikuni Edagawa2, Dr Kohta Suzuki3, Dr Nahoko Shirato1, Dr Chikako Kawahara4, Ms Yoshie Miwa5
1Showa Medical University, Shinagawa-ku, Japan, 2Ritsumeikan University, Ibaraki, Japan, 3Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan, 4Teikyo University, Itabashi-ku, Japan, 5Women’s Healthcare Awareness &Menopause Network Society, Shinjuku-ku, Japan
Biography:
The presenter holds an MPH from Boston University and a Ph.D. from Tokyo Science University, conducts research on women’s health—including the impact of menstrual and menopausal symptoms on careers—and actively shares findings at international conferences. She serves as the principal investigator of a government-funded study on the impact of menopausal symptoms on work, supported by AMED (Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development).
Abstract:
Aims:
In Japan, the population of working women in the menopausal age group is large, and their labor force participation rate is high. Therefore, balancing work and menopausal symptoms has become a critical social issue. Recently, large-scale funding for women's health re-search has been allocated. This presentation introduces the progress of a study funded by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), investigating the im-pact of menopausal symptoms on work productivity.
Methods:
This three-year study evaluates the validity of the Simplified Menopausal Index (SMI), a common screening tool in Japan, and examines the relationship between menopausal symptoms and productivity. A systematic review was conducted on SMI validity. Additionally, a six-month cohort study was performed with 4,000 working women in the menopausal age group. Sleep patterns were also assessed for their impact on productivity.
Results:
The systematic review revealed a lack of studies focusing on working women, particularly those using the SMI or examining productivity links. The cohort study showed that worsening menopausal symptoms may contribute to reduced productivity over time.
Conclusion:
These preliminary findings underscore the importance of further research into menopausal symptoms among working women. The study is ongoing, and final results will be presented upon completion.