Menopause - A transition that affects health, life and work

The menopausal transition is represented by a progressive decline in ovarian function and can also result from surgical or medical interventions.^1,2 Menopause is defined as the point at which a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without menstruation.³

By 2030, an estimated 1.2 billion women will be experiencing menopause, with 47 million entering the menopausal transition each year globally.^4,5 However, the way they experience symptoms and complaints related to the menopause varies considerably.

Menopause symptoms, such as vasomotor symptoms (VMS; also known as hot flashes) and sleep disturbances which are the most frequently reported symptoms, can be disruptive and substantially affect women’s quality of life and long-term health.^1,6 VMS is reported by up to 80% of menopausal women and is associated with increased contact with healthcare services in mid-life women.^7,8 Approximately 40% to 60% of women experience sleep disturbances during the menopausal transition, which may include trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. ^3,9

These symptoms can have a significant impact on workplace performance and engagement. Women with severe symptoms also report lower rates of workability and higher turnover intentions thereby resulting in individual career and wider societal consequences.⁵ 

Menopause is a life stage that can affect sleep, energy, focus, and daily routines. For many women around the world, these changes make everyday tasks more challenging, impacting wellbeing, participation, and quality of life.

These effects also extend to the workplace. Symptoms like sleep disruption, hot flashes and difficulty concentrating turn routine tasks into uphill climbs. Too often, valued colleagues step away when their insight and experience are needed most. When support is missing, teams lose the perspectives and expertise that make decisions stronger. Recent conversations with Foreign Policy and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) underscore this: supporting menopause at work isn’t only a health topic; it’s about equity, opportunity and progress.

Menopause-related work disruptions lead to a loss of USD 1.8 billion per year.⁵ Every day, symptoms associated with menopause can harm women’s confidence, mental health, and productivity at work.^10,11,12 The stigma can be isolating and cause unwarranted doubt about women in the workplace. 

Despite the detrimental effects on women’s well-being and career progression, up to 8 in 10 women report a lack of menopause-specific support from their employers.¹³ Advancing initiatives and providing better support to women is crucial in retaining talent and leadership in the workplace.

If any concerns arise or additional support is required, women should consult their physician for advice.

As a general rule, as for everyone, women should practice regular exercise, monitor weight, avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

As global leader in women’s healthcare Bayer is committed to advancing a portfolio of innovation treatments. From menarche to menopause and beyond, Bayer intends to broaden treatment choices to support women to own their health.

Bayer is focused on closing the current healthcare gap in menopause to address the under-treatment of menopause and meet the individual needs of women.

We use the term woman/women with the recognition that gender identities are diverse and not everyone who experiences menopause identifies as a woman.​
 

1.    Menopause. World Health Organization. 2024. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause. Last accessed: January 2026

2.    Reeves KW, et al. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. 2018 Jun;12:379-87.

3.    Nappi RE, et al. Menopause. 2021 Aug 1;28(8):875-82.

4.    Hill K. Maturitas. 1996 Mar 1;23(2):113-27.

5.    A Special Report from FP Analytics, with support from Bayer. The Health and Economic Impacts of Menopause. 2025. Available at: https://impactsofmenopause.com/. Last accessed: January 2026.

6.    Davis SR, et al. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015;23:1:15004.

7.    Thurston RC, Joffe H. et al. Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America. 2011 Sep;38(3):489.

8.    Moser SS, et al. International journal of women's health. 2020 Jun 3:445-54.

9.    Simon, JA; Anderson, RA; Ballantyne, E, et al. (2023). Efficacy and safety of elinzanetant, a selective neurokinin-1,3 receptor antagonist for vasomotor symptoms: a dose-finding clinical trial (SWITCH-1). Menopause; 30 (3): 239–246.

10.    Geukes M, et al. The impact of menopausal symptoms on work ability. Menopause. 2012 Mar 1;19(3):278-82.

11.    3.5 million women have considered quitting job due to menopause and menstrual health symptoms. Simply Health. 2023. Available at: https://www.simplyhealth.co.uk/news-and-articles/35-million-women-have-considered-quitting-job-due-to-menopause-and-menstrual-health-symptoms. Last accessed: January 2026.

12.    Faubion SS, et al. Impact of menopause symptoms on women in the workplace. InMayo Clinic Proceedings 2023 Jun 1 (Vol. 98, No. 6, pp. 833-845). Elsevier.

13.    Menopause and the Workplace. Fawcett Society. 2022. Available at: https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=9672cf45-5f13-4b69-8882-1e5e643ac8a6. Last accessed: January 2026.