Discover Fertifa

In 2024, we conducted a survey to understand the full impact of menopause symptoms on individuals at work.

Created in conjunction with leading menopause clinical physicians, Miss Charlotte Cassis and Dr Gidon Lieberman, the survey collated more than 3,000 responses, and highlighted both the extent of the impact and a lack of sufficient employer-led support in many workplaces across the UK.

You can find the results below.

Get in touch if you have any questions – we are always here to help!

A note about our language

At Fertifa, we use the terms ‘’woman’’ or “women” to refer to those who were assigned-female-at-birth (AFAB). We understand that not everyone who is AFAB identifies as a woman or as any gender. We're here for anyone who identifies as a woman, man, gender non-binary, gender non-specific or anyone who defines themselves, their gender, their sexuality in any way we've not mentioned. We want to make our content as inclusive as possible, but we're learning all of the time. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you feel that we can make our content, our language or generally anything at Fertifa more inclusive and representative of you.

Impact on retention

Have you ever seriously considered leaving your job because of your menopause symptoms?

- Over 1 in 10 (13%) women said they were currently looking for a new job which offered better menopause support, such as a menopause policy 

- Over 1 in 10 (12%) women said that they had left their jobs or taken a significant change in responsibilities due to menopause symptoms

- Almost one third (27%) of women without access to menopause support at work have left or considered leaving

- Just under 1 in 3 (30%) women said that they had considered leaving their job because of menopause symptoms

Symptoms and their impact on work

If you are or have been impacted by menopause symptoms, which symptoms impacted you?

- Over 8 in 10 (82%) of people said that they experienced cognitive and mental symptoms of menopause, including brain fog and problems with memory or concentrating

- 9 in 10 people (89%) said that they experienced the physical symptoms of menopause, including hot flushes, difficulty sleeping, heart palpitations, and headaches and migraines

- 70% reported that their symptoms were negatively impacted on their work

How are your menopause symptoms impacting your work?

- Almost half (48%) of women said that menopause had a negative impact on their wellbeing at work, reporting stress and anxiety and a loss of confidence

- Almost 4 in 10 (39%) reported a negative impact on performance – which included an impact on productivity, focus and concentration

- Almost 1 in 5 (17%) took unexpected and unplanned time off work to manage their menopause symptoms

- Over one third (36%) of women reported a reduced enjoyment of work

- Almost 7 in 10 (67%) women said that menopause symptoms had a negative impact on their work

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Support people currently have access to

What type of menopause support is available to you at your workplace?

- Over half (55%) of women do not have access to menopause support at work

- One third (32%) said access to a menopause specialist or GP

- Over half (52%) said time off for medical appointments

- 4 out of 10 (45%) said mental health support

- Over half (57%) said flexible working arrangements

- 1 in 6 (16%) said financial support for treatment  

- 1 in 5 (19.5%) said menopause testing packages  

- One third (35%) said menopause education, such as webinars and resources

Impact of employer-led support

If you have access to menopause support at work, how has it helped with your menopause symptoms?

- Almost half (44%) of women said that it improved their overall wellbeing, reducing stress and anxiety and helping with confidence

- One third (33%) of women said that menopause support had helped to increase their performance, with an impact on productivity, focus and concentration

- One third (32%) of women said that their attendance had been improved and that they had an increased enjoyment of work

Barriers blocking workplace menopause support

What are the biggest barriers you face 
in accessing menopause support in the workplace?

- Over one third (39%) said that there was a lack of awareness about available support

- 1 in 4 (25%) said that limited flexibility in working arrangements were the biggest barrier for them 

- One third (29%) said that a fear of stigma or discrimination was a factor in accessing support

- 1 in 5 (20%) said that they experienced a difficulty in accessing the resources available

Discussing symptoms with your manager

Do you feel confident discussing menopause with your manager or HR team?

- Over 6 out of 10 (61%) women said that they did not feel comfortable or confident discussing menopause with their manager

- Over 1 in 3 (39%) said menopause training for managers would provide useful additional support

It’s completely understandable for managers to be wary of approaching such a personal and often sensitive subject with an employee. If you’re unsure of how to do so, or worried about being insensitive, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Alternatively, feel free to download our HR Guide to menopause support.

Gaps in workplace support

What additional support would be most useful?

- Almost half of women (48%) said flexible working arrangements tailed to menopause needs

- Over 1 in 3 (35%) said access to menopause doctors and nurses for clinical support

- Over 1 in 3 (33%) said employer-funded menopause treatments

- 3 out of 10 (30%) women said menopause policies, and signposting of available support

- 1 in 4 (25%) said confidential support groups, such as an Employee Resources Group

- Over 1 in 5 (23%) said access to health coaches or life coaches

- 1 in 4 (25%) said access to up-to-date educational resources and webinars

Employers can do more to support female employees

The survey confirms that the gender health-gap is real; a lack of menopause support is at best having a damaging impact on working lives, and at worst it is driving people out of established careers.

The response rate demonstrates that people want to talk about their experiences and people want to inform change for the 47% of our working population who will experience similar.