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<\/p>\nOctober 08, 2025<\/p>\n
2 min read<\/p>\n
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We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com<\/a>.<\/strong> <\/p>\n Back to Healio<\/p>\n Key takeaways:<\/p>\n Women who undergo surgical menopause may be more likely to stop working, whereas those who have early menopause<\/a> are more likely to remain employed full time vs. part time, according to data published in Menopause.<\/p>\n \u201cSurgical menopause \u2014 including premenopausal hysterectomy \u2014 may increase the risk of labor market exit, highlighting the need for workplace and policy attention<\/a> that support women undergoing these procedures,\u201d Darina Peycheva, PhD<\/b>,<\/b> research fellow in social epidemiology at University College London\u2019s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, told Healio. \u201cWomen with early menopause were more likely to remain in full-time employment rather than shift to flexible arrangements, which may reflect resilience or a need to conceal vulnerability \u2014 suggesting that employment stability might come at a personal cost.\u201d<\/p>\n
Researchers obtained data from 1,386 women aged 50 years and older who participated in the English Longitudinal Study of Aging and had natural menopause<\/a> occur or underwent a bilateral oophorectomy or hysterectomy before menopause. Employment data were collected from a life history interview during a 10-year period ranging from 5 years before the participant\u2019s final menstrual period to 5 years after the final menstrual period. Participants were placed into one of three groups: those who had continuous full-time employment or transitioned to full-time employment (n = 561), women who had continuous part-time employment, transitioned to part-time employment or were self-employed (n = 600), and those who transitioned out of the labor market (n = 225).<\/p>\n Of the study group, 22.3% had early menopause before age 45 years, 25.5% underwent surgical menopause before their final menstrual period and 20.6% used HT within 5 years after their final menstrual period or surgery.<\/p>\n Women who experienced early menopause were less likely to work part time or be self-employed vs. having a full-time job (RR = 0.7; 95% CI, 0.51-0.97). Peycheva said the researchers were surprised to see this association.<\/p>\n \u201cThis finding prompts reflection on several possibilities: It may reflect resilience, a need to conceal challenges or that early menopause does not always result in significant health constraints that affect employment,\u201d Peycheva said. \u201cIt\u2019s also important to consider the heterogeneity within this group, as early menopause can occur for a variety of reasons, each potentially shaping women’s experiences differently.\u201d<\/p>\n Women who underwent surgical menopause were more likely to leave the labor market vs. have a full-time job (RR = 1.45; 95% CI, 0.99-2.11). Those who had early natural menopause were less likely to work part time vs. full time (RR = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.29-0.76). Women who underwent surgical menopause, either before age 45 years or at age 45 years, were more likely to leave the workforce than women who had natural menopause at age 45 years or older.<\/p>\n Women who underwent surgical menopause were more likely to use postmenopausal hormone therapy (RR = 4.83; 95% CI, 3.48-6.71). <\/p>\n HT was not significantly associated with any employment trends. The researchers noted that the use of HT may mediate the association of surgical menopause, raising the likelihood of leaving the workforce. However, Peycheva said a protective effect was only observed when premenopausal hysterectomies were included as part of the surgical menopause category.<\/p>\n \u201cThe timing of hormone therapy initiation is highly individual and should be guided by clinical judgment and patient needs,\u201d Peycheva said. \u201cThat said, its potential role in supporting employment stability \u2014 potentially through symptom management and, in some circumstances, primary prevention \u2014 could be considered in discussions between clinicians and patients.\u201dPeycheva added future studies should investigate how the timing and type of menopause affected women\u2019s experiences in the workplace. <\/p>\n For more information:<\/p>\n Darina Peycheva, PhD<\/b>, <\/b>can be reached at d.peycheva@ucl.ac.uk<\/a>. <\/p>\n Published by:
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\n Women who undergo surgical menopause may be more likely to leave the workforce. Image: Adobe Stock
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