Majority of women hide menopause symptoms at work because of stigma attached: Report

More than 5,000 women in the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, and South Africa were interviewed about their experiences of menopause and work and most of them had a tough time, says a survey conducted by mobile phone provider Vodafone as part of their research.

The survey says that in all of the countries except Italy, about a third of women had hidden symptoms, while in Spain more than half felt a stigma around the subject in the workplace, reports Guardian.com.

South African women seemed most comfortable discussing the subject with colleagues, with 37 percent saying they thought there was a stigma, while in Italy the proportion who said they had hidden symptoms was lowest at 28 percent.

The survey also stated that those who experienced symptoms of menopause before they were 45 were too embarrassed to ask for support in the workplace.

In recent years, many companies have started introducing policies to help women who are suffering from menopausal symptoms, which include hot flushes, anxiety, and fatigue.