Menopause costs U.S. employers $27 BILLION a year, according to Mayo Clinic research

Successful public health campaigns in recent years have scrutinized the cause of menopausal misery for millions of women — but now experts have warned of a huge toll on the U.S. economy.

a study by the Mayo Clinic estimates that the condition costs American employers at least $27 billion a year through absenteeism and medical expenses.

Each year, more than a million American women begin “the transition,” which can cause a host of debilitating symptoms from hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and even low self-esteem.

Experts said the numbers show it is in employers’ best interests to improve menopause support in the workplace to reduce economic burdens such as menopause-specific sick leave and flexible working hours.

Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep disturbances and cognitive problems that can significantly affect women’s lives

Chart showing specific adverse work outcomes due to menopausal symptoms. About 11 percent missed days off, while 1 percent quit, retired or changed jobs due to menopause

Menopause occurs when a woman’s menstrual period stops permanently, marked by the point where a woman has not had one for 12 consecutive months.

It usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, with 51 being the average in the US and UK.

Menopause is a normal part of aging and occurs because the ovaries stop producing eggs. As a result, the levels of the hormones that the ovaries produce fall.

Almost nine out of ten women have complaints.

Symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep disturbances and cognitive problems that can significantly affect women’s lives.

Mental health symptoms include mood changes, such as anxiety and low self-esteem, as well as memory or concentration problems.

Other signs include sexual problems, bladder problems, and a dry vagina.

Symptoms usually begin before menopause officially begins, as menstrual periods become irregular. This is perimenopause.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic looked at 4,440 women ages 45 to 60 who were employed and receiving primary care at one of four locations in Rochester, Minnesota; Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and the Mayo Clinic Health System in Northwest Wisconsin.

About 11 percent of the women surveyed missed at least one work day in the past year due to menopause. The median number of missed days was three.

Six percent reported working fewer hours and one percent quit or changed jobs.

A total of 13 women (0.3 percent) reported being discharged due to menopausal symptoms.

Multiplying by the 15,350,000 women ages 45 to 60 who work full-time in the US, the researchers calculated that the cost of lost work due to menopausal symptoms is $1.8 billion per year.

This does not take into account costs due to reduced hours, early retirement or lost jobs, meaning that the total economic cost is expected to be even higher.

When medical costs associated with menopause are added up, an additional $24.8 billion can be attributed to American women.

This brings the total economic burden of menopause to $26.6 billion per year.

In contrast, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calculated that chronic diseases and lifestyle behaviors, including hypertension, diabetes, physical inactivity, smoking and obesity, reduce work productivity and cost U.S. employers an estimated $36.4 billion in missed workdays.

Lead author of the study and director of Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Dr. Stephanie Faubion said: ‘Our research suggests there is a critical need to address this issue for women in the workplace.

“Clinicians should ask women about menopausal symptoms and provide counseling and treatment, and employers should create and implement workplace strategies and policies to help women navigate this universal life transition.”