Perimenopause: Symptoms, work ability and health among 4010 Dutch workers.

Objective: In this study we examined the associations between menopausal symptoms and work ability and health among a general population of Dutch female workers.

Study Design: This nationwide cross-sectional study was a follow-up of the Netherlands Working Conditions Survey 2020. In 2021, 4010 Dutch female employees aged 40-67 years completed an online survey on a variety of topics, including menopausal symptoms, work ability and health.

Methods: Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between the degree of menopausal symptoms with work ability, self-rated health and emotional exhaustion, after adjustment for potential confounders.

Results: Almost one-fifth of participants were in the perimenopause (n = 743). Of these women, 80 % experienced menopausal symptoms: 27.5 % 'often' and 52.5 % 'sometimes'. Experiencing menopausal symptoms was associated with lower work ability, poorer self-rated health, and more emotional exhaustion. These associations were most pronounced among perimenopausal women 'often' experiencing symptoms.

Conclusions: Menopausal symptoms threaten the sustainable employability of female workers. Interventions and guidelines are needed to support women, employers and (occupational) health professionals.