Menopause: The silent disruptor of women’s work lives

A new study found that most women suffering through menopause in the workplace are doing so in silence.

A new study looking at the effects of menopause on women’s work lives is showing that, though it is a highly disruptive time, many do not feel comfortable talking about difficulties associated with the change.

According to Jasmine Escalera, a career expert with LiveCareer, findings point to issues that go well beyond individual health.

“Menopause is not just a health issue, but it is also a workplace issue, and many women are suffering in silence,” she said.

Significant disruptions

The LiveCareer survey gathered responses from 898 working women in the United States who are currently going or have already gone through menopause, asking questions about their work experience during this time.

“The results highlight an urgent need to implement effective support for menopause in the workplace,” the company stated.

It found that seven out of 10 women (69 per cent) said menopause significantly disrupted their productivity.

Nearly one-third (31 per cent) said they have considered changing jobs or positions, or reducing work hours, because of their symptoms.

Additionally, 97 per cent said they felt like they had to hide or downplay their symptoms at work, mostly due to what the women cited as “corporate culture.”

Escalera says the cognitive and emotional toll women described was particularly striking.

“Things like brain fog, things like memory lapses — we also saw a lot of women experiencing anxiety," she said. “These are the types of things that are impacting them on a day-to-day basis, and not being able to really open up and talk about how that connects to their productivity at work is essential.”

LiveCareer notes that 91 per cent of women begin experiencing symptoms of menopause before the age of 50:

Women surveyed also reported having difficulties with concentration, productivity and confidence at work, including:

• Mood swings or anxiety: 61 per cent;
• Difficulty concentrating or decreased productivity: 60 per cent;
• Brain fog or memory loss: 52 per cent;
• Sleep disturbances or fatigue: 46 per cent;
• Hot flashes or physical discomfort: 17 per cent.

Only three per cent of women report not having any symptoms.

“These symptoms not only affect physical comfort,” the survey said. “They can also reduce self-confidence and concentration. This makes it more difficult for these women to perform at their usual level. Menopause presents challenges similar to those faced by working mothers who have to balance the demands of work and family life.”

Suffering in silence

The women surveyed said they felt compelled to hide or minimize their symptoms due to a persistent taboo surrounding the subject in the workplace.

Escalera argues this reflects a broader problem with work culture.

“This is a universal workplace culture issue, not just for women, not just for individuals undergoing menopause,” she said. “We still have this work culture of ‘you leave yourself at the door.’ You have to be exceptionally productive and leave any emotions or any issues that you’re experiencing at the door.”

Women who said they have chosen not to talk about menopause in the workplace did so because:

• Their company culture does not encourage such discussions (61 per cent);
• They are afraid of being judged (61 per cent);
• They believe the subject has no place in a professional setting (33 per cent);
• They do not trust their human resources department (18 per cent).

Twenty per cent did mention that they plan to discuss their situation more openly.

Leadership gap

Escalera insists that menopause can also affect women’s career advancements.

Women experiencing menopause symptoms are often at an age when they would otherwise be stepping into senior roles, she notes, but a lack of support pushes some to step back instead.

“We’re talking about a group of women that would be primed to be making their maximum amount of money and also primed to take on leadership positions,” she said. “But if they’re experiencing these symptoms and feeling like they’re not getting supported, they’re more inclined to say, ‘I’m going to cut my time or take a step back in my career.’ That’s just going to widen these disparities across the board.”

She adds that these ripple effects go beyond individual careers.

“Having more women leaders showcases to other women that you have the opportunity to step into these kinds of roles,” she said. “If we’re not seeing enough of that, and that’s really because women feel like they can’t be supported during this critical moment. That’s definitely going to have maximal impact over time.”

This “isolation,” as the survey calls it, can seriously affect a woman’s personal well-being and professional commitment.

The survey was conducted on Sept. 18, 2025.

With files from CTV News’ Angela Mackenzie