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Over a quarter of women have considered quitting work because of hormone-related symptoms, new research finds

ended 18. September 2026

A new survey has revealed that 28% of women have considered leaving the workforce altogether because of their hormone-related symptoms, highlighting the significant impact that menopause, perimenopause and hormone conditions including PMDD and PCOS / PMOS can have on workplace participation and staff retention. 

The research was published by Balance@Work as part of their Hormone Health at Work report, which aims to show how hormone-related symptoms may affect performance, participation, and career decisions in women long before they appear in workplace absence or attrition data. 

Among over 5,500 respondents in a survey distributed by Balance@Work, a huge 79% said their hormone-related symptoms had affected their work participation or career decisions, including changes to hours, flexibility, progression and whether to remain in employment at all. 

Career progression was significantly affected, with a further 24% having already left a role or organisation due to hormone health, 26% had moved to a less demanding position, and 25% had even avoided applying for a promotion because of their symptoms. 

Many may perceive this as just an issue that impacts menopausal women, but the data actually showed women of all ages are impacted by hormone health issues in the workplace. With over 10% of women aged 40-44 giving up a job due to hormone health problems, rising to 41% of women when they reach 65.

The day-to-day impact is equally stark. 76% of those in work said hormone-related symptoms stopped them performing at their best at least some of the time, with 60% describing the overall effect on their working life as significant or enormous. 

  • HRs: what are the rules around this? Are you surprised by the stats?
  • To everyone else: Is this a hidden issue?
  • What needs to be done?
  • Do you or colleagues have any experience of this, any anecdotes?

Responses by tomorrow.

4 responses from the Newspage community

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Kate UnderwoodVerified
Founder & Chief People Strategist at Kate Underwood HR and Training
These figures don’t surprise me at all. I’m going through this myself and, despite 25+ years in HR, I wasn’t prepared for the impact hormones can have at work.I’ve had days where I’ve walked into a meeting knowing my subject inside out, then struggled to find a really basic word. When your job relies on thinking on your feet, that can really knock your confidence.The brain fog, exhaustion, poor sleep and anxiety don’t disappear because you’re at work.And it can happen at different stages of a woman’s working life. For some it’s months, for others symptoms can continue for years. There’s no standard experience.Yes, there are legal considerations, but this is bigger than compliance.Talk about it. Train managers. Be flexible. Make adjustments. Most importantly, don’t mistake someone struggling with symptoms for someone suddenly being less capable.If women are turning down promotions, reducing hours or leaving altogether, we have a serious retention problem.
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Gosia DawsonVerified
Director at Glade Financial
Another consequence hidden behind these figures is the long-term financial cost.
When a woman reduces her hours, moves to a less demanding role, turns down a promotion, or leaves work altogether, she loses more than today's salary. She may also lose employer pension contributions, reduce her own retirement savings, and potentially affect her future earning power.
This can be particularly significant for women making these decisions in their 40s and 50s, when retirement planning is becoming increasingly important.
We already know women can reach retirement with less pension wealth than men. If hormone-related symptoms are contributing to women stepping back from their careers, we need to recognise the potential financial consequences too.
Supporting women to remain in work isn't therefore just a workplace issue. It can be a financial wellbeing and retirement issue that follows them for decades.
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Helen LlewellynVerified
Founder at Elemental Tribe
Hormone Health is swept under the carpet as an uncomfortable truth. Not just by employers but my the medical profession too.

Imbalances can and do cause havoc with women's lives and those around them. We need to talk about these difficult subjects and make imbalances and ill health something which can be spoken about without fear of repurcussions in the workplace. 50% of us (roughly) are women yet policy and decisions are regularly made or strongly influenced by men.

Nurture people and they will give their best to your business.
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Amelia BrookeVerified
Career Coach at Amelia Brooke Career Vision
Seeing the Balance@Work stats showing 28% of women consider quitting due to hormone health aligns with what I see in my coaching practice.

I work with women at the top of their game across all industries who are desperate to pivot careers and convinced they’ve lost their edge. Part of my role as a coach is to explore what’s really behind this urge before they race off to quit and live in the woods.

I get them to walk me through a typical day, tracing how they feel from sunrise to bedtime. When words like brain fog, anxiety, exhaustion, or poor sleep keep popping up, I’ll ask: "When was your last GP check-up?" The answer is almost always "years."

Signifying that there might be a biological shift at play, I challenge them to book at least three health-related check-ups. In a matter of weeks, with proper medical support and a reset of daily boundaries, their lost confidence roars back along with the realisation that quitting won't cure perimenopause.