Of all women who go through menopause, just over half experience it at work. Complaints that can occur are pain, fatigue, lack of ability to concentrate, and hot flashes. In a small percentage of women the complaints are so bad that they become ill. This was reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and TNO based on the National Working Conditions Survey (NEA) follow-up measurement.

In the survey of 173,000 female employees, more than half of the women, about 55 percent, reported that their menopausal symptoms sometimes affect their work. At 8 percent, this happens every day.

Two out of three women with menopausal symptoms at work discuss this with their colleagues. But not everyone does that. A small group would like it, but don’t. Women with menopausal symptoms say they would like more support and understanding, especially from their supervisors.

About 20 percent of postmenopausal women have no health problems at all and 25 percent have complaints of menopause but it doesn’t impede them at work.