Jessica O'ConnorA growing number of women are being pushed to exit the workplace due to a lack of menopause support, as research highlights the hidden toll of ‘menopause masking’.
Analysis from Nurosym revealed that three in five women aged 45 to 60 have considered leaving their job because of insufficient workplace support during menopause.
The findings come as three-quarters (75%) of women reported experiencing menopause symptoms, many of which affect cognitive and emotional functioning.
Despite the scale of the issue, awareness and openness remained limited.
Three-quarters (75%) of women said they are not well-informed about menopause, and nearly half (47%) of those who have taken time off due to symptoms admitted they would not disclose the real reason to their employer.
According to the British Menopause Society, more than two in five women said menopause symptoms negatively impact their work.
The concept of ‘menopause masking’ reflects the gap between how women present themselves professionally and the internal effort required to manage symptoms such as brain fog, anxiety, fatigue and sleep disruption.
With around four million women aged 45 to 55 currently in the UK workforce, the issue is both widespread and structurally significant.
Dr Elisabetta Burchi, head of research at Nurosym, said: “Menopause represents a profound physiological and psychological change in a woman’s life.
“However, the perimenopausal transition can also become a critical window to engage women in comprehensive preventive strategies addressing cardiovascular, metabolic, bone and cognitive health.”
Burchi added: “Menopause remains culturally stigmatised, and this stigma shapes how women themselves respond to it.
“Many mask their experience, appearing composed while suppressing symptoms and concealing physical and emotional distress. Left unaddressed and misunderstood, this silent burden can erode emotional resilience and cognitive function, ultimately holding women back from their full potential.”
The research also revealed that one in 10 women aged 40 to 55 have left a job due to menopause symptoms, while others reported reducing hours, stepping back from promotions or moving into part-time roles to cope with the pressure.
Burchi said: “Menopause symptoms aren’t just something to be pushed through, they’re signals that the body’s homeostatic system is under pressure.
“When women are constantly masking how they feel, they’re effectively overriding those signals, which can lead to prolonged stress, fatigue, and cognitive strain.
“Supporting the autonomic nervous system directly, particularly through the vagus nerve, can help restore wellbeing through improvement in body resilience.”
