What is the menopause?
Menopause is a natural transition caused by a change in hormone levels. It affects anyone who has periods and so can be experienced by transgender, intersex and non-binary individuals, as well as women.
The word menopause is often used in reference to three transitional stages:
- Perimenopause is the phase leading up to the menopause. During perimenopause, an individual can have menopause symptoms, although their periods have not stopped. This transitional stage can happen over several years.
- Menopause happens when an individual’s periods stop.
- Post-menopause is the time after menopause, when an individual has not been experienced a period for over a year. For some, symptoms of menopause may have decreased or stopped, but others can continue to have significant symptoms for longer.
The menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45-55, with an average age of 51. It can also occur earlier or later in someone’s life. Whilst the menopause is normally caused by natural changes to hormone levels, it can also be triggered by surgery or cancer treatments like chemotherapy.
What are symptoms of the menopause?
The symptoms and effects of menopause are wide ranging and include both physical and psychological symptoms.
Some symptoms of menopause are:
- changes to mood, like low mood, anxiety, mood swings and low self-esteem
- problems with memory or concentration (brain fog)
- heavy and / or irregular periods
- hot flushes, i.e., sudden feelings of hot or cold in the face, neck and chest which can lead to dizziness
- difficulty sleeping, which may be a result of night sweats and cause tiredness and irritability during the day
- palpitations, when heartbeats become more noticeable
- headaches and migraines that are worse than usual
- muscle aches and joint pains
- recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- sensitive teeth, painful gums or other mouth problems
Further information regarding menopause symptoms can also be found on the NHS website.
Symptoms can last for several years and can also change over time. Whilst some individuals may experience no, or mild, symptoms, for others, the impact of their symptoms can be severe. Some studies have found that symptoms may be influenced by a number of factors. These include:
- Hereditary traits – family history and experiences in relation to symptoms.
- Ethnic background – some symptoms may be more common, or tend to start earlier / finish later amongst different ethnic groups.
- Lifestyle factors – such as an individual’s body mass index, smoking, diet or exercise.
- Pre-existing medical conditions – including disabilities, which may exacerbate some symptoms.
- Treatment or medication – which may cause exacerbate hormonal fluctuations, and result in side effects.
It should be noted that if symptoms are severe enough to have a substantial and long-term effect on an employee’s ability to carry out day to day activities, this could be classed as a disability under the Equality Act 2010. In these circumstances, reasonable adjustment should be discussed and implemented as appropriate. Further guidance on reasonable adjustments is available here.
How can menopause symptoms affect people at work?
The negative impacts of menopause symptoms at work can be wide-ranging.
The impacts on individuals can include:
- Being less able to concentrate during the working day
- Feeling increased amounts of anxiety and stress
- The need for more frequent toilet breaks or access to changing facilities
- A loss of confidence in skills and abilities
- Being less able to carry out physical work tasks
- Less patience, or irritability, with others
- Having to take time off work as sickness absence
- Intermittent and / or intense periods of physical discomfort due to hot flushes or heart palpitations
- Fatigue and / or tiredness due to night disturbances.
According to research from the CIPD[1], feeling less able to concentrate and an increased amount of stress are the most common symptoms of the menopause (affecting 79% and 68% of people who have been negatively affected by symptoms at work).
People with a disability or long-term health condition were also more negatively impacted at work and felt less physically able to carry out work tasks and are twice as likely to have had to take time off as sickness absence. It is therefore a good idea to review any adjustments previously agreed to ensure that these are still appropriate.
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[1] CIPD. (2023) Menopause in the workplace: Employee experiences in 2023. London:
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.