Menopause-related symptoms can be debilitating. Many workers say they lack employer programmes – and have no choice but to leave their roles.

The topic of the menopause is becoming less taboo in some countries, as grassroots campaigns like Menopause Mandateand Let’s Talk Menopause help break down stigma and build awareness. Yet its professional impact on women (and anyone who experiences the menopause) remains largely unaddressed, say experts.

In a late 2023 survey, UK workplace-healthcare provider SimplyHealth surveyed more than 2,000 working women aged 40 to 60. Twenty-three percent considered resigning due to the impact of the menopause, and 14% are said thy are planning to hand in their notice. Although the survey’s sample size is small relative to the seven-million women in the UK workforce in that age bracket, it does support anecdotal evidence from women speaking out publicly about their experiences as a menopausal worker. And if the issue remains unaddressed, it could impact millions of workers who take the same decision to leave.

Plus, even for workers who don’t leave, the financial toll of sick days, unpaid leave and missed opportunities due to menopause adds up to an astronomical cost. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic estimate women’s losses at $1.8bn (£1.43) per year in the US alone.