How Menopause Affects Mental Health in the Workplace
- Haley White
- Jun 2
- 4 min read
For many women experiencing menopause, the physical symptoms; hot flushes, night sweats, irregular periods, are just one part of the picture. What’s often less talked about, but equally important, is the impact menopause can have on mental health - especially in the workplace.
The Emotional Toll of Hormonal Shifts
During perimenopause and menopause, levels of oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone fluctuate and decline. These hormones play a crucial role not just in reproductive health but in mood regulation, cognition and even emotional resilience.
A 2023 study by CIPD found that 67% of women aged 40 to 60 who had menopausal symptoms said they were “unable to go into work at some point due to menopause symptoms.”
They further found that two-thirds of the women (67%) reported their most common menopause symptoms as being “psychological, such as mood disturbances, anxiety, depression, memory loss, panic attacks, loss of confidence and reduced concentration.”
How Menopause Affects Work and Mental Well-Being
The symptoms of menopause don’t stop when a woman walks into the office, they follow her to work. Some of the biggest challenges include:
Concentration issues: Many women experiencing menopause report difficulties with memory and concentration, commonly referred to as "brain fog". These cognitive changes can make it harder for employees to stay focused, complete tasks efficiently, and remember important details. Nearly 8 in 10 women said they struggle to focus while at work due to their symptoms.
Stress and anxiety: The combination of managing physical menopause symptoms, workplace stress, and the fear of not being understood or supported can contribute to burnout. Women may feel that their challenges are minimised or ignored in the workplace, which can increase feelings of isolation and anxiety. Additionally, societal pressures to perform at work while managing menopausal symptoms can create a toxic cycle of stress, leading to emotional exhaustion and mental health deterioration. Around 68% said their stress levels were higher.
Changes in patience and mood: One of the most common mental health effects of menopause is mood swings. These fluctuations in mood can range from irritability and anger to feelings of sadness and anxiety. The hormonal changes associated with menopause, especially a decrease in oestrogen levels, can directly affect neurotransmitters in the brain that regulate mood. This can lead to an increased vulnerability to anxiety and depression. In the workplace, these mood shifts can affect communication, decision-making, and interpersonal relationships.
Time off work: Over 50% said they’d had to take time off because of how bad their symptoms were.
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