Menopause and the “invisible burden” on women's income

Menopause not only causes health disorders but also has a strong impact on women's productivity, income and career opportunities. Understand correctly to build a more supportive working environment.

Menopause has long been viewed primarily from a medical perspective: hot flashes, insomnia, dryness, mood swings, or hormonal decline. But in recent years, experts have begun to emphasize that menopause is not just a personal health issue, but also a socio -economic challenge that directly affects productivity, income, and gender equality.

Properly assessing the impact of this transition will better support women, while also benefiting businesses and the wider economy.

Menopause and the invisible costs from work performance to career advancement

Although it is a natural physiological stage, menopause causes a series of symptoms that make it difficult for women to maintain their previous work performance. Problems such as prolonged insomnia, fatigue, concentration disorders, rapid heartbeat or hot flashes many times a day can reduce the ability to handle work, affect communication and important decisions.

Middle-aged women in the workplace are facing many physiological changes that affect performance and mental health.

Several recent international surveys have noted an increasing number of women taking temporary leave from work, reducing their working hours or even giving up their careers due to menopausal symptoms. In many professions that require high intensity or work under great pressure – such as education , health, management, finance – this leads to a shortage of experienced human resources and reduced promotion opportunities for women aged 40-55, which is the peak period of their careers.

Women's health experts say these impacts are often silent and poorly recognized in the workplace, causing patients to not dare to share, suffer alone or find ways to cope by reducing their role in the organization. This is a form of "invisible cost" that many businesses have not considered.

Financial burden on individuals and society

At the economic level, menopause entails three main groups of costs:

Treatment for menopausal symptoms may include hormone replacement, mood-modulating medications, and interventions for osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease—problems that tend to increase as estrogen declines. Many women face regular checkups, hormone testing, dietary supplements, and treatment for complications. For middle-income workers, this can be a financial burden that can last for years.

Lack of concentration, exhaustion, headaches, hot flashes or sleep disorders can reduce productivity by 10-20% depending on the level. When referring to the size of the female workforce aged 40-55, economists say this could be a loss of billions of dong each year to the economy of a country with a large workforce like Vietnam.

Some women have to reduce their workload, work part-time or quit altogether. This causes them to lose the opportunity to increase their income, lose insurance, and reduce savings for old age. At the same time, businesses have to spend more money on recruiting and training new staff to fill the vacancies.

Gender burden and equality in the workplace

Women often take on additional family responsibilities as they enter middle age: caring for aging parents, supporting children’s education, taking on housework… These pressures, combined with menopausal symptoms, make them more susceptible to burnout. If the work environment lacks flexibility or understanding of reproductive health, women are more likely to be undervalued, miss out on promotions, or be seen as “unstable”.

Many sociologists believe that menopause should be seen as a risk factor for gender equality. When businesses do not have appropriate support policies, women will be the group that suffers double losses: both reduced income and reduced professional status.

Middle-aged female employees have difficulty at work due to menopausal symptoms such as insomnia, hot flashes and decreased concentration.

Benefits of supporting menopausal women in the workplace

Advanced countries have begun implementing “menopause-friendly policies” – similar to maternity benefits. Some businesses have adopted flexible working hours, allowed remote working, designed cooler spaces, added health counseling programs or organized awareness training for managers.

Initial data shows that businesses that implement menopause support programs achieve:

• Increase retention of experienced staff.
• Improve work productivity.
• Reduce sick leave.
• Increase employee engagement.
• Enhance corporate image

This is clear evidence that menopause support is not only the morally “right” thing to do, but also makes practical economic sense.

Solution for menopausal women?

In Vietnam, menopause remains a rarely discussed topic in the workplace. Most women deal with the problem on their own, seek unorthodox solutions, or suffer in silence. To reduce the socio-economic impact, experts recommend:

The press, social networks, and medical facilities need to provide accurate information about symptoms, treatment instructions, and the role of hormones in the body.

Hormone testing, sleep assessment, osteoporosis or cardiovascular screening help detect early and reduce complications.

Includes flexible working hours, management training, suitable workspace and medical advice support.

Community groups, professional associations, or in-house programs help women feel less alone and gain more knowledge.

Tax or health insurance policies that prioritize hormone replacement therapy and midlife reproductive health screenings may help reduce the cost burden.

Menopause is not only a personal health journey, but also a socio-economic issue with far-reaching implications for productivity, income and gender equality. Recognizing the role of this stage will help women continue to develop their careers, while also bringing benefits to businesses and the economy.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/man-kinh-va-ganh-nang-vo-hinh-len-thu-nhap-phu-nu-169251124104829659.htm