A new study found that women experience a sudden fall in earnings after diagnosis of menopause.

Exposing the economic impact of this natural life phase, the UCL economists, Bergon University, Stanford University and Delaware University analyzed the data of Sweden and Norway.

After being diagnosed with menopause, women earn an average of 4.3% less over the next four years. By the time they reach the fourth year after the diagnosis, their earnings are reduced even further, the reduction of what they earned before the diagnosis reaches a reduction of 10%.

Menopause occurs when a woman’s duration stops, usually around the age of 45–55. It can cause symptoms such as hot glow, mood change and sleep problems.

Menopause and work

A study published by the Institute for Fiscal Studies showed that menopause -related income loss comes mainly from women working less hours or leaving the job completely.

Researchers also found that women diagnosed with menopause were 4.8% more likely to claim disability benefits, indicating that symptoms could be serious enough to affect their working ability.

Interestingly, the effect was not the same for all women. The study found that without university degree they suffered the most losses, while graduate women did not face any significant income fall.

This can happen because educated women are more aware of menopause symptoms and treatment options, allowing them to better manage their work-life balance.

The study also found that small, private-field firms were large, less “suited to menopause” than public sector employers. The diagnosis of a menopause led a temporary increase in a doctor’s visit, long -term increase in drug use and an increase of 5.1% in antidepressant prescriptions.

Researchers highlighted the need for access to better awareness and menopause related care.

A Swedish television program, ‘Menopause: It’s Will Hen You to You’, dying of menopause and hormone therapy recipe increased, showing that public education plays an important role.

Professor Gabrila Katy, the lead author of the study, stressed that menopause is an important factor in women leaving the workforce. Co-writer Professor Rita Ginja (Bergon University) said that more research is required to understand its economic effects.