considered and addressed where |
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appropriate. |
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Of note, OSA is more common |
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in older women, and women may also gain weight during menopause, thus increasing their risk of OSA. The mainstay of treatment of OSA is CPAP( see figure 7), which is effective in reducing sleep disruption. |
Brain fog |
Mood disorders( anxiety and depression) |
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In addition, some women experience |
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fatigue without specific sleep |
disruption during menopause and the effect of fatigue in the workplace also needs to be considered. 25 The causes of fatigue are extensive. Exclude other causes before menopause is deter- |
Thinning hair |
Dry eyes and mouth |
mined to be the sole cause, as treatment |
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recommendations for fatigue |
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will vary depending on the cause. |
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If no other cause is found, or the problem persists despite appropriate treatment, hormonal treatment has been shown to improve sleep quality in menopause, which may reduce the negative impacts in the workplace. 24 |
Hot flushes |
Sexual dysfunction |
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Psychological symptoms
Psychological symptoms including
| ||||
low mood and anxiety are common in later life. 27 Alterations in hormone levels may be associated with | ||||
a change in symptoms, and exacerbations | ||||
of pre-existing mental health conditions. 28 Women with previous episodes of depression are most | ||||
likely to develop major depressive | ||||
symptoms during perimenopause | ||||
( see figure 9). 29 | ||||
There are other psychosocial factors | ||||
that increase the risk of depression | ||||
and anxiety at this time of life; | ||||
it is important to ensure that menopause |
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is considered and treated where appropriate, but also important not to attribute all changes in mental health during ageing to the menopause.
The symptoms of depression and anxiety can impact at work during
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Figure 4. In 2024, 71.8 % of clerical and administrative workers were women. |
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menopause, as they can at all other |
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times of life. It is essential to ensure |
considered, either alone or in com- |
can thus have a significant impact on |
injury. These effects have potential rel- |
association between menopause and |
that appropriate support mechanisms |
bination with antidepressant med- |
musculoskeletal function. 30 |
evance for individuals working in roles |
the development and progression of |
are available for those workers who are most significantly affected. |
ications( such as SSRIs, which may also be considered for vasomotor |
Lower oestrogen levels lead to a decrease in lean muscle mass and |
with significant physical demands. Fluid retention related to meno- |
32, 33 osteoarthritis. The hormonal changes of meno- |
Important considerations are the location of the job, whether the worker is away from home and if they have access to support, both from healthcare professionals, family or friends and work. In terms of man- |
symptoms). 7
Musculoskeletal changes
Reduction in oestrogen levels has
impacts on bone, muscle, joint, tendon and ligament physiology. The
|
muscle strength. Lower levels of oestrogen also affect the collagen structure in tendons and ligaments, making them stiffer and contributing to tendinopathy. These changes may manifest as increased musculoskeletal aches |
pause increases the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome( see figure 10). 31 This can result in symptoms that may impact roles which require frequent, forceful use of the hand, use of vibrating hand tools, or frequent keyboard use. |
pause result in more rapid progression of loss of bone mass( that by the typical time of menopause will already be occurring in a physiological age-related manner). 34 Subsequently, women are at greater risk of developing osteo- |
agement, hormone therapy can be |
hormonal changes of menopause |