New study finds female NHS employees struggling to manage their perimenopause and menopause symptoms

The NHS is the largest UK employer and has over 76% female staff. A recent survey by Newson Health Research and Education of over 1,000 women that worked in the NHS revealed that 81.9% had both physical and psychological symptoms that impacted on their lives.

Symptoms that were some of the most reported by NHS staff were brain fog, poor concentration, anxiety and loss of confidence in themselves and their clinical decision making.

Women working in the NHS are struggling to manage the physical symptoms of their peri/menopause due to shift patterns, ward environments, wearing PPE, and lack of time to use toilets.

A quarter of respondents had considered reducing their hours or had done so because of their peri/menopausal symptoms and a further 46% would like to but couldn’t afford to. The survey also revealed that 21% of respondents did not go for a promotion because of their symptoms. Sadly, workplaces offered no support for 59% of those that completed the survey.

Despite being healthcare workers, nearly 80% of NHS employee respondents said they had no formal education about the menopause.

With the right type and dose of HRT, women in healthcare can feel better, improve their future health and continue being amazing at what they do.