A major new study has found that around 60,000 women in the UK are unable to work due to menopause. The research, undertaken by the NHS Confederation, found that severe menopause symptoms like hot flushes and insomnia meant that many women who would otherwise be working said they could not. The report estimated that this has a direct economic impact on the UK: if these women were well-supported enough to enter the workplace, the economy would be £1.5 billion better off.

In addition to menopause being a barrier to women’s ability to work, the report also highlighted a drastic need for investment in women’s healthcare, as a lack of appropriate care and services currently costs UK workplaces billions each year as women are forced to take time off sick. Shockingly, the estimated cost of time off sick due to severe period pain and heavy periods, fibroids, endometriosis and ovarian cysts costs the economy £11 billion annually. The study also estimates that, for every additional £1 of public investment in obstetrics and gynaecology services per woman in England, there is an estimated return on investment of £11, meaning workplaces could benefit from an added value of £319 million annually.

Menopause prevents 60,000 women in the UK from working, according to a landmark study