Menopause – the time in someone’s life when they stop having periods – includes various symptoms which can continue for months or even years after a final period.
There are many physical and psychological symptoms associated with menopause and all of them can affect nursing staff in the workplace.
Common symptoms
“Hot flushes and sweats can be difficult and uncomfortable, particularly if you’re in uniform or your working environment doesn’t always allow you to go outside to cool down,” says Debby Holloway, member of the RCN Women’s Health Forum and gynaecological nurse.
“Anxiety is another common symptom and can really affect people in a job where they were once confident and knew what they were doing and then suddenly they don’t.”
Other symptoms include brain fog, low mood and excessive worrying as well as more physical symptoms including joint pain, vaginal dryness and heart palpitations.
“Sleep can also be affected by menopausal symptoms, so this can affect someone’s work performance,” adds Debby.
In terms of self-care, the menopause is a good time for people to make long-term commitments to their wellbeing and seek to improve their overall fitness and health.
Five ways to deal with menopause symptoms at work
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Uniform
Think about the fabric it’s made from, how many sets you have and how often you change them. If you’re office-based you might be able to access a fan or ventilation to keep the environment at a manageable temperature. Make sure you have access to water. Some people keep baby wipes in the fridge or freezer to manage heat and sweat. -
Write notes
If you’re worried about brain fog, get some post-it notes and write down reminders and short lists of tasks so that you can keep track of what you need to do. For people who are peri-menopausal (getting symptoms, but not 12 months period-free), use a symptom diary to note what’s happening to your body and how it changes. This will be useful to discuss with your GP. -
Research medication
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be beneficial for many people who are experiencing menopausal symptoms. Don’t be afraid to try it. The more you know about menopause, the more you can think about symptoms, and possible treatments. Menopausematters.org.uk is a good place to start. -
Speak up
As well as speaking to your immediate line manager, there may already be networks in your workplace you can get involved with. Talking to other people going through the same things can help. Talking to your RCN workplace rep might also be beneficial. -
Diet and lifestyle
Alcohol, smoking and being overweight can make symptoms like hot flushes worse; caffeine can also exacerbate symptoms. Making diet and lifestyle changes can not only impact on your longer-term health, but you can gain some control over your life by proactively making different choices. Check out the RCN’s healthy workplace, healthy you resources.
Debby suggests being open with your manager about what you’re experiencing so reasonable adjustments can be made. Consider what would help you manage symptoms specifically in the workplace, such as changes to uniform, regular access to outside space or a fridge for cold water to help manage hot flushes.
“If you don’t say what your problems are, it’s difficult to access support, but you have to make yourself open to help,” she says. “You can ask for adjustments if needed, but with the menopause it’s tricky to know how long it might last, so many adjustments are short term.”
It’s also a good idea to let your manager know beforehand that you want to talk about menopausal symptoms. This will give them time to research and prepare as well.
Personalised approach
Some people go through the menopause and don’t have any problems at all, so it’s very difficult for workplaces to make big changes or introduce a menopause policy because it’s not one size fits all.
“Overall, I would say that people should remember to be kinder to themselves,” says Debby. “Recognise the symptoms and decide how you want to manage it.”
Debby advises that anyone bleeding after not having a period for a year (post-menopausal) should see a GP. Any sudden weight loss or gain, heart palpitations, chest pains and symptoms that aren’t responding to treatment should also be discussed with a GP.
Further information
There are several websites, networks and societies that offer support to those going through the menopause.
- The RCN has many resources covering menopause including this guide to your rights as an employee and how your employer should be helping you at work in managing symptoms.
- The British Menopause Society has a series of short videos covering some of the key topics in menopause care.
- Menopause Matters is an independent website providing up-to-date information about the menopause, menopausal symptoms and treatment options.
- For people under 40, the Daisy Network provides information and support to those diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency, also known as premature menopause.
- Women’s Health Concern provide a confidential, independent service to advise, inform and reassure.
