The menopause – determined by the point at which menstruation stops permanently due to the natural loss of ovarian follicular activity or induced by surgery or medication – is estimated to affect approximately 13 million women and individuals in the UK at present.

Whilst a minority will experience few or no menopausal symptoms, a significant proportion will experience debilitating symptoms that can last up to 15 years.

The population in the UK is ageing, and rates of people aged 50 and above in employment are increasing. Accordingly, of those 13 million people experiencing the menopause a significant majority will be in the workplace.

At present, there seems to be a gap in the research with regards to women's and individual's experiences of the menopause in the workplace. Hence, this study aims to investigate women's and individual’s menopausal experiences, the positive and the negative, to see how it impacts them at work.

Conducting this research will allow us to identify good practice and inform the gaps that need addressing to help support women's, individuals, and employers in the workplace.

What's involved in the study

You will complete an online survey. This should take no longer than 20 minutes. You will need access to the internet and a device (such as a laptop, smartphone, or tablet) to complete the survey.

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in this study, you must:

• be aged 18 - 65 years old
• be a UK resident
• believe you are experiencing or have experienced menopausal symptoms in the workplace

What you'll get for taking part

We are not able to offer direct benefits for taking part. However, your participation could help to inform future support for women and individuals experiencing menopausal symptoms in the workplace.

Confidentiality

All records will be treated as confidential. No personally identifiable data will be collected. Data will be anonymous and you can withdraw at any time up to the point of submission by closing your web browser. Data collected will only be accessible to the lead researcher and their supervisor. This study has received ethical approval.¹