52 Focus
Menopause at work Kathleen Kinsella discusses the issue of coping with menopause symptoms at work and what should be available to you
wellbeing and lead to excessive levels of stress. 1 The most common menopausal symp- toms that women may experience are: Hot flushes : these can start in the face, neck or chest, before spreading upwards and downwards. At night they are felt as night sweats. Most flushes only last a few minutes. The woman may sweat and the face, neck and chest become red and patchy. The heart rate can also become quicker or stronger. Sleep disturbance : this can be caused by the night sweats, although it can also be caused by the anxiety women feel during the menopause. Sleep loss can cause irri- tability or lack of concentration at work. The menopause may also be linked to increased anxiety or depression. Urinary problems: these may also occur during the menopause and many women have recurrent lower urinary tract infec- tions, such as cystitis. It is common to have an urgent need to pass urine or a need to pass it more often than normal. Heavy periods: these normally occur along with clots during the menopause and can be accompanied by longer periods. Vaginal symptoms : these often include vaginal dryness, itching or discomfort. This problem occurs not only during the men- opause and shortly after, but can occur in the in the period leading up to the change. Women at work and menopause With a predominately female workforce,
there is a significant number of nurses and midwives who are experiencing menopau- sal transition. Approximately 1-10% of the population experience early menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency. This group of women will encounter the same symptoms as older women experiencing menopause. 2 For some, going through the menopause may be uneventful and may not impact on their working life. For others, how- ever, it may become increasingly difficult to function effectively at work and their working conditions may exacerbate their symptoms. A study led by Prof Amanda Griffiths at the University of Nottingham into the menopause and work, reported that nearly half of the women surveyed found it some- what or fairly difficult to cope with work during menopausal transition. Some 5% reported it to be very or extremely difficult. However, it must be stressed that women can work during this phase of their lives. 3 The BritishOccupational Health Research Foundation published research that explored women’s experience of working through the menopause. 4 This showed the following: • Many women found they were ill prepared for the menopause, and even less equipped to manage its symptoms at work • More than half had not disclosed their symptoms to their manager • Most women felt they needed further advice and support
The menopause has been recognised as an important issue that can affect women in the workplace. Organisations are begin- ning to see that in order to promote staff wellness and health, menopause symp- toms must be considered. Menopause is also a gender and diversity issue as it may be treated differently in the workplace in comparison to other health-related con- ditions that affect both genders. As most nurses and midwives working in the Irish health service are women, it is vital that they receive the support they need in the workplace during their menopausal transition. Menopause signs and symptoms The menopause refers to the biological stage when periods stop and the ovaries lose their reproductive function. This usu- ally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, but in some cases women may become menopausal in their 30s or younger. Every woman experiences the meno- pause differently. Symptoms can last from a few months to several years, and up to 80% of women experience physical and/or emotional symptoms during this time. These symptoms can have a signif- icant impact on women’s health and wellbeing as well as their work and rela- tionships. The menopause affects women in ‘mid-life’ when they are often juggling demanding jobs, school-age children and elderly parents. This can have an impact on emotional
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