How does menopause affect working life?
Heat spreading across your face in the middle of a presentation. Being unable to remember the name of software you have used for years. Trying to keep your eyes open in the afternoon after waking three times in the night. For many women going through the menopause transition, these are ordinary moments of the working day.
The NHS says menopause symptoms can have a big impact on relationships, social life, family life and work (NHS, Symptoms). On top of that, for most women this stage falls in the years of their career with the most responsibility. The years when symptoms are most intense may coincide with the time many working women reach management or senior specialist roles.
Which menopause symptoms are hardest at work?
The most comprehensive data on this come from the UK. In a 2023 survey by the CIPD, the professional body for human resources, two thirds (67 percent) of working women aged 40–60 with menopause symptoms said the symptoms had a mostly negative effect on them at work. The most commonly reported symptoms, again by about two thirds, were psychological: mood changes, anxiety, low mood, memory loss, panic attacks and difficulty concentrating. More than half of respondents (53 percent) could recall a day they were unable to go to work because of their symptoms (CIPD, 2023).
A 2022 report by the Fawcett Society paints a similar picture: one in ten women who worked during menopause left a job because of their symptoms. In the same report, eight in ten women said their workplace had not shared information, provided training or put a policy in place on menopause (Fawcett Society, 2022).
These figures are from the UK and cannot be applied directly to Türkiye or elsewhere; but they show that what you are going through is not unique to you.
| Symptom | How it shows up at work | Adjustment idea |
|---|---|---|
| Hot flashes | Flushing and sweating in meetings, needing to take off a jacket | Sitting near a window or air conditioning, a desk fan, layered clothing |
| Broken sleep and tiredness | Energy dropping in the afternoon, impatience | A flexible start time if possible, short breaks |
| Forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating | Missing a name, a password or a meeting detail | Taking notes, to-do lists, putting important tasks in the morning |
| Anxiety, panic | Extreme tension before a presentation, heart palpitations | A short break before meetings, being able to step into a quiet space |
| Night sweats | Arriving tired to morning meetings | Not scheduling critical meetings first thing |
What can you do if you have a hot flash in a meeting?
The Menopause Society describes a hot flash as a sudden, intense feeling of heat in the upper body; it usually lasts 1 to 5 minutes and may come with sweating, chills and anxiety, and some women feel their heart racing at the same time (The Menopause Society, Hot Flashes). When it is severe, you may need to pause what you are doing.
For hot flashes (hot flushes) and night sweats, the NHS suggests wearing light clothing, taking a cool shower, using a fan or having a cold drink, and avoiding possible triggers such as spicy food, caffeine, hot drinks, smoking and alcohol (NHS, Things you can do). Adapted to the workplace, that can mean dressing in layers, keeping water and a small fan on your desk, and drinking cold water instead of hot tea before a meeting.
For details about hot flashes themselves, see the hot flashes page.
Why do forgetfulness and tiredness at work happen in menopause?
The NHS lists problems with memory and concentration among menopause symptoms and notes that sleep problems and tiredness can make symptoms feel even worse (NHS, Symptoms). The Menopause Society also says sleep difficulties in midlife can affect both mood and thinking skills (The Menopause Society, Mental Health).
That’s why absent-mindedness at work is often the story of the night before. Taking notes, using calendar reminders and putting tasks that need focus at your most alert time of day are practical solutions. For more, see brain fog and forgetfulness and menopause fatigue.
Why do women hide menopause at work?
Most women don’t talk about menopause at work. Embarrassment, fear of being seen as “not what she used to be” and age-related prejudice are common reasons. In the CIPD survey, more than 10 percent of respondents said they felt they had been discriminated against because of menopause symptoms (CIPD, 2023).
Hiding it can seem easier in the short term, but it also adds to the load: trying to conceal hot flashes, working late to make up for forgetfulness, telling no one about the tiredness. Naming the symptoms, at least to yourself, lightens that load.
How can you talk to your manager or HR?
In Türkiye, as far as we know, there is no workplace legislation specific to menopause; arrangements are usually left to the workplace’s own policy and the manager’s understanding. In the UK, too, it varies by workplace: in the CIPD survey only a quarter of respondents said their workplace had a menopause policy or support measures. Respondents named flexible working and being able to control the temperature as the most helpful adjustments, but only around a quarter of workplaces offered them (CIPD, 2023).
Support really makes a difference. In the same survey, 84 percent of women who said they were not supported at work reported that symptoms had a mostly negative effect on them at work, compared with 71 percent of those who said they were supported (CIPD, 2023). Even a small adjustment, such as moving your desk next to a window, can noticeably lighten the load during the day.
If you decide to talk:
- You don’t have to go into detail. Saying “Because of a health condition, sitting somewhere cool and taking short breaks would help me work” may be enough.
- Go with a concrete suggestion. Such as moving your desk, starting a morning meeting a little later or working from home one day.
- Rely on your record. Knowing which hours are hardest makes your request concrete.
- Draw strength from a supportive colleague. The NHS suggests talking to family, friends or colleagues who are going through the same thing (NHS, Things you can do).
If you run into a problem with your rights, it is best to ask your workplace’s HR team or a lawyer.
How does tracking symptoms help at work?
Noting your symptoms alongside your working day for a few weeks does two things. It shows you the pattern: do hot flashes always hit in the afternoon meeting, or after coffee? Does forgetfulness follow bad nights? It also lets you tell your clinician concretely how much the symptoms affect your daily life. The NHS says getting advice early can help reduce the impact of menopause on your health, relationships and work (NHS, Symptoms).
You could ask your clinician:
- What options are there for the symptoms that affect my work most?
- Should other causes of my forgetfulness and tiredness be checked?
- What can I do to get my sleep back on track?
This page does not recommend medicines or treatments; discuss the options with your clinician.