New Survey Finds Menopause Symptoms Cause About $1.8 Billion in Lost Work Time

Wednesday, July 12th, 2023 -- 11:00 AM

(By Mackenzie Krumme, Wisconsin Public Radio) More than 1 million Americans experience menopause each year, and according to a new Mayo Clinic survey, its symptoms are costing about $1.8 billion in lost work time.

According to Mackenzie Krumme with Wisconsin Public Radio, the survey collected the experiences of more than 4,000 people at Mayo Clinic sites in Minnesota, Arizona, Florida and Wisconsin. Researchers studied how symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats or mood swings affect women in the workplace.

"Without a policy or support in the workplace (for people experiencing menopause symptoms), that means some women have to make a tough decision about taking care of themselves versus sticking it out at work," said Dr. Jewel Kling, a co-author of the study and chair of the Women’s Health Internal Medicine division at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Kling said the survey marks the largest known study on the relationship between menopausal symptoms and adverse work impacts. About 1 percent of survey respondents reported their symptoms were so debilitating that they either quit or lost their jobs.

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