NoIt is not just a private matter, nor an issue that exclusively concerns health. There menopausein the world of work, is also an economic, organizational and cultural problem. And the numbers, for the first time, make it clear. In Italy, disorders related to menopause are expensive 112 million euros per year on days of absence from work. But the most significant fact is another: 76% of women continue to work without changing anything, despite suffering in silence.
This reality is brought to light by the national survey “Menopause and Work”the first qualitative and quantitative analysis on the impact of menopause on the professional lives of Italian women. The study involved 1,576 female workers between 45 and 65 years oldemployees and freelancers, and was promoted byParliamentary Intergroup on Menopausewith the contribution of Onda ETS Foundation and of Manuela Peretticreator of the project Manupause. The collection and processing of the data were carried out byIULM University of Milan.
A widespread but silent suffering
The data reveals a profound disconnect between what women experience and the support they receive at work. Over six out of ten women (64.3%) report experiencing significant physical, emotional and cognitive symptoms: persistent tiredness, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, mood swings. Symptoms that affect the quality of life and professional performance, but which rarely find space for recognition.
The result is one silent sufferingoften dictated by the fear of exposure, by economic constraints or by the absence of flexible company policies. Not surprisingly, 37.7% of women have never talked about menopause with anyone at work. For many it remains a private matter; for others, the fear is that of appearing less adequate for their role.
The invisible price of productivity
Menopause also affects productivity: 54.5% of those interviewed perceived a direct impact on their performance. The most penalizing symptom is fatigue, often linked to unrestful sleep. And when some change comes, the price can be high: 18.3% of women who changed their working life gave up career opportunitiescontributing to an estimated loss of 4.9% senior female leadership.
Yet, alone 11.2% declares to have received adequate support from the employer. Over 83% do not know of any dedicated company initiative or policy. The result is a system that continues to function thanks to the individual resistance of women, rather than a real culture of inclusion.
Menopause and work: a public issue
«Menopause is one of the fundamental issues of women’s health», he underlines Martina Semenzatopromoter of the Parliamentary Intergroup on Menopause. The institutional work started in recent months – from the parliamentary motion to the establishment of the intergroup – goes precisely in the direction of integrate menopause into prevention and health protection policiesasking organizations to recognize it and include it in their welfare systems.
Today, Italy is among the few European countries to address the issue in both the public and private spheres. A recognition that has also arrived at an international level, as demonstrated by the recent comparison at Women Political Leaders Summitwhere the Italian experience was brought as an example.
Flexibility, not penalisation
From a medical-scientific point of view, the message is clear: menopause does not compromise professional abilities, but the physical and mental “cost” of work increasesespecially in the absence of flexibility. “Recognizing the impact of symptoms is also fundamental for personnel management policies,” he explains Rossella Nappigynecologist and president of International Menopause Society. Interventions such as greater autonomy in time management, less rigid organizational models and attention to well-being can reduce stress, improve productivity and reduce individual and collective costs.
Changing your gaze
The research sends a message that goes beyond numbers: we need a cultural change. Overcome the taboo, enhance the experience and professional maturity of women, stop considering menopause as an individual problem to be managed in silence. Because it’s not just a question of health. It’s a question of rights, work and dignity. And it concerns everyone.