Most women will experience menopause at some point in their working lives. How can a workplace be set up to make things easier for employees going through their menopausal transition? A pilot project at Lund University is investigating the issue.
Sweating, mood swings and poor sleep. Many women are adversely affected by menopause. According to a 2021 study published by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, 60% have moderate or severe menopausal symptoms.
"It is reasonable to ask how a workplace can be set up for women of menopausal age," says Cheryl Sjöström, coordinator at the Centre for Environmental and Climate Science at Lund University.
Cheryl Sjöström is leading the pilot project established at Lund University in 2024 that aims to make Lund University a more menopause-friendly workplace. The pilot project is being carried out in collaboration with Gerdahallen and is financed by the Sustainability Fund. The project involves a group of Lund University employees exercising together and attending lectures about menopause. All during working hours.
"The lectures address various factors that can affect how you experience menopause, such as physical activity, hormone therapy and diet. But we talk mostly about the effects of menopause on the whole body and the opportunities available, such as the health promotion hour, to address the negative effects of menopause in the workplace. We also refer to research on exercise and menopause," says Cheryl Sjöström.
A number of similar initiatives are underway at other workplaces in Sweden. In autumn 2024, IKEA released a menopause guide for its employees. Partille Municipality initiated a menopause initiative in 2022.
"Swedish workplaces are starting to take this issue seriously. I also want to encourage the University's managers to dare to talk about menopause in staff appraisals. They are an opportunity to raise quite simple issues that make a big difference. It may involve asking whether the employee has the chance to rest and recuperate, whether she has time to use her health promotion hour or whether the temperature in the office needs to be lowered," says Cheryl Sjöström.
Cheryl Sjöström has been invited to speak about the project at the Equality Forum 2025 in Lund on 5-6 February.
"I'm looking forward to explaining what happens in the female body before and during menopause, because there is so much more to it than hot flashes. I also want to challenge participants' perceptions of who the menopausal woman is - namely a strong and important person at work, in the family and in society at large," says Cheryl Sjöström.
Middle-aged women are an over-represented group when it comes to sick leave for exhaustion. "There may be cause to suspect that many people are diagnosed with exhaustion instead of menopausal symptoms, resulting in incorrect treatment and work adaptation," says Caroline Amarelle, HR specialist in work environment and health at Lund University.
Lund University produces annual statistics on employee sick leave. They covers all positions, such as professors, doctoral students and administrative staff. Until 2024, the statistics were too general to allow for a more nuanced analysis. The age groups have been changed so that the statistics now refer to the 40-49 and 50-59 age groups and not, as previously, to the 30-49 age group.
Cheryl Sjöström has a background in research at Lund University. While this pilot project is not a research study, it will result in a report to be presented to the Sustainability Fund in 2025.
Five reasons to exercise during menopause
During the autumn, a group of employees learned about menopause and exercised together in a pilot project. Cheryl Sjöström is one of the initiators of the project, which aims to normalise menopause by removing the associated stigma and by increasing understanding of it at Lund University.
1. Keep your head cool and collected
Sleep problems, fatigue, depression and mood swings are among the most common symptoms affecting our mental well-being during menopause. Performance and motivation at work can suffer. Physical exercise gives the brain a boost of feel-good hormones that keep us sharp and happy. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain that plays a central role in our mood, well-being and energy levels, is released when you exercise.
2. Reduce symptoms
Studies show that strength training is effective in relieving menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and sweating. Strength training 2-3 times a week is sufficient. But don't get hung up on the amount - all exercise is good exercise!
3. Build resilience
By the age of 40, women start to lose muscle mass due to decreased oestrogen levels, and bone density decreases. Strength training builds muscle and bone mass and improves your immune system, helping to prevent you from becoming ill as frequently. Sleep is improved, which provides resistance to cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.
4. Economics
Middle-aged women are an over-represented group when it comes to sick leave for exhaustion. There is reason to believe that many people are misdiagnosed with exhaustion instead of menopausal symptoms, resulting in inappropriate treatment. This is a great loss to the individual, the workplace and society.
5. Use the health promotion benefits
As an employee at Lund University, you are entitled to a health promotion hour each week with no loss of pay. If you want to go to a gym, the health promotion reimbursement can help cover part of the cost of gym membership. The Occupational Health Service also offers free online medical yoga.
