Job Stress Intensifies Menopause Symptoms
Study highlights the impact of workplace strain on midlife women’s health
A recent study reveals a significant connection between job-related stress, smoking habits, and the severity of menopause symptoms, emphasizing the critical need for enhanced support systems for women during midlife.
Workplace Factors Affecting Menopause
Research published in the July 2025 issue of the European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, explored the links between workplace dynamics, lifestyle choices, and the intensity of climacteric symptoms in middle-aged women. The retrospective study focused on full-time working women who had not yet sought treatment for these symptoms.
The research team evaluated 313 Finnish women, aged 52–56, all employed full-time and without prior treatment for menopause symptoms. Symptom experience was gauged by assessing the presence and severity of menopause-related symptoms that negatively impacted both general and work-related well-being. Symptoms included hot flashes, sweating, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, reduced libido, and depressive tendencies.
According to the CDC, menopause, which marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years, typically occurs between ages 45 and 55 (CDC.gov).
Key Findings on Lifestyle and Symptom Severity
The study’s results indicated that women in high-strain jobs, who smoked, experienced high stress, and lacked social support, reported more frequent and severe climacteric symptoms. These women faced menopause-related symptoms more often and more intensely than their counterparts without these risk factors.
Call to Action for Employers and Healthcare Providers
Investigators concluded that multiple converging factors influenced how full-time working women experience climacteric symptoms prior to seeking medical intervention. The findings highlight the necessity for cooperation between healthcare providers and employers to better support women’s health and overall well-being during this critical phase of life.
Source: ejog.org/article/S0301-2115(25)00307-0/fulltext
