Why menopause needs a specialized solution in the workplace | Progyny

Society’s comfort with discussing reproductive health has grown immensely, but one area is still particularly prone to being ignored, kept hush-hush, or treated as a joke: menopause. Women experiencing menopausal symptoms are often loath to admit it—and that turns out to be an issue for the workplace.

Consider these statistics:

• An estimated 6,000 American women reach menopause every day, with some women starting to experience symptoms as early as their mid-thirties.

• The mean age for menopause is around 52 years, but symptoms can last up to a decade.

• 61 million women over age 50 are in the U.S. workforce, according to the Harvard Business Review.

• 59% of women experiencing menopause report having missed work due to menopausal symptoms.

• One in five women have considered leaving their jobs because of their symptoms.

• A recent Mayo Clinic study estimates that $1.8 billion in work time is lost each year due to menopausal symptoms, and symptoms cost $26.6 billion annually when medical expenses are considered.

As you can see, menopause care and support is an important consideration when supporting a multigenerational workforce. Yet women often struggle with where to turn as they begin experiencing the symptoms of menopause.

Some symptoms are expected, such as the irregular periods leading up to the 12 months of no menstruation that define menopause. Hot flashes and night sweats are the most well-known symptoms. But some of the other symptoms, such as memory lapses, difficulty concentrating, and mood changes, may be less expected—and especially concerning and difficult for a woman in the workplace to talk about.

Unfortunately, primary care physicians and even ob-gyns are not always trained in, or comfortable with, treating menopausal patients. In a 2019 Mayo Clinic study, nearly 94% of respondents said it was important or very important to be trained to treat menopause, but only one in five reported receiving any menopause lectures during their residency, and less than 7% said they felt “adequately prepared” to treat menopausal women.

How a menopause benefit bridges the gap

Progyny is passionate about closing gaps in women’s healthcare, and the gaps left by inadequate support across midlife care is clearly one of those gaps. As with any Progyny benefit, our menopause solution is designed with member experience, and physical and emotional support at its heart. Progyny’s menopause benefit gives members access to:

• A curated 50-state network of specialized menopause providers versed in all approaches to menopause treatment, including hormone replacement therapy, non-hormonal therapy, and lifestyle interventions, such as dietary changes, exercise, and acupuncture, that can provide care for women and help them to manage menopausal symptoms. 

• Concierge member support, with you every step of the way to answer questions. A dedicated care team member can help individuals develop a personalized support network, which might include a support group of women in the same stage of life or a connection with a mental health provider specializing in cognitive-behavioral therapy. 

• A digital experience that provides on-demand educational resources, tailored to each member’s experience. The information you need is at your fingertips when you need it. 

For a woman experiencing menopause, the knowledge that someone is walking alongside them on this journey offers tremendous peace of mind, allowing them to stay focused on their personal and professional goals, which is critical because menopausal and postmenopausal women are a growing part of the workforce. According to the World Health Organization, as of 2021, women aged 50 and older made up 26% of all females globally—an increase from 22% a decade earlier. A 60-year-old woman in 2019 could expect to live, on average, an additional 21 years.

Offering a menopause care benefit signals to your female employees entering midlife that their life experiences are seen, recognized, and worthy of care. Menopause is no joke.