Women’s health in the workplace
Around 16 million women are in work in the UK†. Some face physical and mental health challenges that affect their wellbeing as well as their ability to perform at their best.

We want women’s health to be higher on the workplace agenda
Women aged 50+ are the fastest growing part of the workforce‡. We’d like them to feel better supported.
Women can’t perform well if they’re exhausted or struggling with menopause symptoms. That’s not good for them, their employer, or for our economy.
So if you’ve ever had a health problem at work but you didn’t feel you could talk to your manager about it, or you want to know how to support your colleagues, we’ve got tools and ideas to help.

Menopause in the workplace
Almost 8 out of 10 menopausal women are in work††. Yet almost half of them feel they couldn’t tell their workplace that having to take a day off was because of the menopause. In fact, 1 in 4 women consider leaving their jobs because of the menopause.‡‡
Menopause should be a subject that’s discussed openly in the workplace. We’d like to see greater understanding, and more women feeling well - and well-supported.

Endometriosis in the workplace
One in 10 women live with endometriosis, so it affects a large proportion of the workforce. Yet almost four in 10 women with endometriosis fear losing their job because of it, and over a third say they earn less because of it. These were the findings of research into endometriosis which was commissioned by MPs in 2020.†††
Endometriosis symptoms can be severe and can have a significant impact on confidence and performance at work. Pain, exhaustion, mental health issues and infertility are just a few of the very genuine reasons why endometriosis sufferers may struggle to be productive or may even need time off sick.
Our endometriosis support page
Coming soon: New content on other subjects
Right now, we’re just getting started with our Women’s Health Hub. We’ve chosen to focus on the menopause first, but we’ll soon be adding loads more information on subjects including:
- Heart disease
- Osteoporosis
- Breast changes
- Pregnancy and fertility
- Periods
Tell us which women’s health concerns you want to know about
Women’s health: We’re in this together
We’ve hand-picked a few articles offering information and advice on women’s health from Bupa’s experts.

Painful periods
For some women, period pain can mean such bad cramps that they may need time off work, or may struggle to cope even if they do come in.

Night sweats and disturbed sleep
Women with menopause symptoms often have difficulty sleeping. They may toss and turn all night, and wake often and early. This can lead to feeling exhausted during the working day.

Female infertility
Infertility can have profound physical and psychological effects. While dealing with these, or the challenges of treatment or adoption, women (and their partners) may need extra understanding at work.

Lipoedema
Lipoedema mostly affects women, and it involves the abnormal build-up of fatty tissue, usually in the hips and legs. This can be painful and limiting, and often leads to low self-esteem for women - especially around what they can wear.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Severe PMS symptoms can have a big impact on women’s attendance and performance at work, as well as their general wellbeing.

Getting back to work after sick leave
A successful return to work is a team effort between the employee, their doctor, and the employer. One of our experts explains how to make it all go smoothly.
Quick links to helpful pages within our Women’s Health Hub
Women’s Health Hub homepage
An overview of what’s in the hub
All about the menopause
Why it happens and how it can affect women and those around them
Women’s health support
A range of subjects relating to women’s health and wellbeing
†House of Commons Library
https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06838/SN06838.pdf (pdf 0.1mb)
‡ Office for National Statistics
https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/employmentintheuk/april2020#:~:text=This%20annual%20increase%20was%20mainly,up%20by%20195%2C000%20to%205.03
†† Faculty of Occupational Medicine
http://www.fom.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/Menopause-Focus-Infographic.pdf (pdf 0.1mb)
‡‡ ITV
https://www.itv.com/news/2016-11-23/quarter-of-women-going-through-menopause-considered-leaving-work
††† Endometriosis in the UK: time for change − A report from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis.