Lisa PuntEach year, menopause costs the UK economy an estimated £1.5bn from lost productivity to women leaving work altogether. The reality behind this figure is stark: around 60,000 women are out of work as a direct result of unmanaged symptoms. Despite this, workplace support remains patchy.
A recent Unite survey found that more than four in five women said their employer provided no help at all, while the Fawcett Society has shown that one in 10 women leave their job due to unmanaged menopause symptoms.
For women affected by cancer, the challenge is even greater. Life-saving therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and hormone treatments can trigger sudden and permanent menopause, often with no warning. Research shows this impacts up to 40% of women under 40 and 90% of women over 40. Yet awareness and support remain critically low.
Almost a third of patients are unaware treatment could cause menopause, while three in four say they received little or no information. In one survey of over 1,200 women, more than 90% were given no plan to manage menopause-related changes, and three quarters said their menopause symptoms were harder to manage than the cancer treatment itself.
Symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep disruption, fatigue and cognitive change can have a devastating impact on daily life. Without support, women risk poorer health, difficulty adhering to treatment, and premature exit from the workforce. This is not only a personal health issue, but a workplace and economic one.
The role of employers and insurers
Employers and insurers play a vital role in addressing this hidden workforce challenge. By embedding menopause care into cancer support pathways, we can improve health outcomes, reduce long-term complications, and protect careers. Yet fewer than one in four employers currently have a menopause policy in place.
At Perci Health, we are working to close this gap. Our specialist menopause service is delivered by practitioners trained by the British Menopause Society and embedded within a broader multidisciplinary cancer care model. We provide evidence-based, personalised guidance to help women manage acute symptoms, protect long-term health, and remain confident in their work and personal lives.
This includes proactive education on bone, heart and brain health to reduce future risks such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, as well as support with lifestyle, intimacy and sexual health – areas often overlooked in traditional care. We also provide expert guidance on hormone manipulation, ensuring women can make fully informed decisions about their treatment.
Turning awareness into action
Treatment-induced menopause is abrupt and often more severe than natural menopause. Yet too many women are left to navigate it alone. By offering clinically credible, practical care, we can help women stay well, adhere to their treatment, and continue to thrive in their careers.
Employers, insurers and brokers have both a responsibility and an opportunity here. Addressing treatment-induced menopause is not just a question of compassion, it’s a strategy for workforce retention, productivity, and long-term wellbeing.
At Perci Health, our recent partnerships with providers such as Legal & General, Healix, Lockton, Ben and Zest are helping extend this support to millions of women across the UK.
On World Menopause and Cancer Day, the message is clear: supporting women through cancer-induced menopause is essential to protecting both health and livelihoods. It is time for all workplaces to step up.
Lisa Punt is menopause practitioner at Perci Health
