Menopause is not a disease, but a natural phase in which the body readjusts itself. Through understanding the biological processes, openness in the workplace and appropriate support, women can get through this period without their work suffering. “Knowledge, understanding and policy together are the key. Only if we dare to talk about it and make policy about it, women can feel supported instead of stigmatized.”
1. What happens during menopause?
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Menopause begins when the ovaries have exhausted their supply of eggs. The brain notices this deficiency and tries to compensate for the process by extra stimulating the ovaries, but that no longer works. There are significant fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone. “These fluctuations mean that one day can be completely different from the next. You can get up full of energy in the morning and wake up the next day completely exhausted, with a headache, irritability or even a migraine. It is as if your body is constantly trying to find balance, but is always a bit out of sync.”
2. Which menopausal complaints have the greatest effect on work?
These hormonal fluctuations affect virtually everything in the body. Estrogen not only regulates temperature, but also affects sleep, memory, concentration and mood. As soon as the level starts to fluctuate, sometimes high and then suddenly low again; then complaints such as hot flashes, night sweats, palpitations, fatigue and loss of concentration occur. “Many people think that hot flashes are the most common complaint, but that is not true. The complaints that most affect performance at work are fatigue, concentration problems, anxiety and stress. These are the real energy drains that determine your day.”
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3. Why are some women more affected by menopause than others?
Research shows that between 80 and 90 percent of women experience complaints to a greater or lesser extent. In 35 to 70 percent, these complaints affect their work and in 10 to 26 percent the consequences are so great that daily tasks become difficult to perform. “One woman hardly notices anything, while another is completely disrupted. It depends on genetic predisposition, physical aspects such as the number of hormone receptors, lifestyle and weight.”
External factors such as stress and sleep deprivation make everything worse. Due to the hormonal irregularity, women often sleep poorly, making them more exhausted and irritable during the day. “The higher your stress level, the more often hot flashes and night sweats occur. Stress also inhibits your concentration, causing you to forget things, make mistakes and reduce your self-confidence.”
4. Are some jobs or work environments harder during menopause?
That difference is immediately palpable in the workplace. Some women can do their work without any problems, others struggle with deadlines and meetings. Fixed schedules, night shifts or physically demanding tasks make it more difficult to alleviate complaints. “Flexible working hours and understanding from managers help the most. If women can adjust the workload to how they feel, they can better deal with hormonal fluctuations. In jobs where this is not possible, the complaints pile up and it becomes difficult.”
5. How can women tackle these challenges at work?
In addition, there are medical and practical ways to relieve complaints. Hormone therapy can be effective when properly coordinated. “By supplementing estrogen and progesterone, the brain receives the signal that there are sufficient hormones in the blood. The extreme fluctuations stop, the system stabilizes and women often feel better immediately,” Valk explains. Lifestyle changes such as more exercise, less alcohol, healthy eating and sleeping on time also support the body in finding a new balance.
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The social aspect plays at least as important a role. Talking about menopause is still not self-evident. Many women do not dare to mention their complaints for fear that they will not be taken seriously or seen as less capable. “Not being able to talk about menopause and the fear that others will have an opinion about it causes women to suffer in silence. As long as the subject is not open to discussion, meaningful solutions cannot be found.”
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