🌸Why Hormonal Health at Work Matters — And What Women Are Asking For
Hello from the Rise Sustainability team!
We believe that supporting women’s health and wellbeing isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s essential for creating workplaces where people thrive, businesses perform better, and communities grow stronger.
Back in March 2023, we ran an anonymous survey across Europe and Africa to explore how hormonal health affects women in their day-to-day working lives. The results revealed something powerful:
Hormonal health isn’t just a women’s issue — it’s a workplace issue.
It’s still talked about too little and supported far too little.
The need for open, compassionate, and proactive workplaces has never been clearer.
So, what did we learn? And what simple things can every organisation do to step up and make meaningful change?
Who Took Part?
72% of respondents were based in Africa, with the remaining 28% in Europe.
44% were aged between 31–39, though we heard from women aged 20 to 60.
Half worked in mid-level or managerial roles, and 8% held director positions.
71% identified as in their fully reproductive stage, while others were in menopause, perimenopause, or managing other hormonal health challenges.
In short, we were hearing directly from women balancing life, leadership, and hormonal health, often without formal support from their employers.
Age profile of survey respondents across Europe and Africa, highlighting workplace wellbeing needs across life stages.
What Symptoms Are Women Facing?
Many respondents reported symptoms that don’t just hurt, they hinder.
Here are the most common ones experienced by those who took part:
Cramps, anxiety, depression, mood swings (13%)
Fatigue (12%)
Headaches (7%)
Bloating, brain fog, aches, heavy bleeding (6%)
Sleep loss, hot flashes, weight gain (5%)
And it didn’t stop there. Women also mentioned dry skin, hair loss, vaginal pain, memory issues, and nausea.
* It’s worth noting that while some of these symptoms, like hot flashes and weight gain, are more typically associated with menopause and perimenopause and would primarily affect women over 40. Others including cramps, fatigue, and mood swings, can affect women of all reproductive ages. This mix of experiences across life stages highlights why tailored, inclusive support is so important.
How Does It Impact Daily Life at Work?
When asked how these symptoms affected their lives, women painted a vivid and honest picture:
One shared how menstrual bleeding made it difficult to travel for work without reliable access to clean toilets, water and soap.
Another described how mood swings affected their balance and energy at work.
The average impact score was 3.54 out of 5 — meaning for many, hormonal health isn’t a mild inconvenience, it’s a tangible barrier to focus, confidence, and fully showing up in the workplace.
Infographic showing common hormonal and menstrual health symptoms experienced by women in the workplace.
How Are Women Coping?
Without enough formal support at work, women are turning to personal strategies to manage:
25% said they rely on exercise like running, yoga, weightlifting and walking.
20% use medication such as ibuprofen or Panadol.
Others mentioned healthy eating, taking rest days, talking to friends, natural remedies, meditation, breathing exercises, and counselling.
While these coping mechanisms can help, they only go so far without employers recognising the issue and providing meaningful, structural support.
Where Are the Gaps?
Knowledge gaps were clear too:
74% of respondents in Africa and 62% in Europe said they don’t feel knowledgeable enough to manage their hormonal health.
When asked if there was sufficient information and support in their communities, 83% in Africa and 38% in Europe said no.
This speaks to a global need: women want to feel informed, supported, and heard, not left to struggle alone.
What Do Women Want at Work?
We asked respondents what their ideal workplace support would look like, and here’s what came up:
More talks, workshops, and awareness sessions (22%)
Flexible work options (19%)
Formal menstrual health policies (14%)
Period days off (11%)
Women-led peer support groups (10%)
Access to counselling services (9%)
Menopause days off (5%)
Menopause-specific support groups (4%)
Free clinics or health support services (3%)
Alongside these, respondents urged employers to provide sanitary products, train managers and HR teams on hormonal health, create private and comfortable facilities, partner with local health clinics, and take steps to remove cultural stigma around women’s health in the workplace.
Survey findings on how women manage hormonal health symptoms, from exercise to counselling.
Why This Matters for Everyone
When workplaces invest in hormonal health, it isn’t just a benefit for women — it’s good for the whole organisation.
Here’s why:
Employees are more productive and focused when they feel supported.
Engagement, loyalty, and retention improve, especially among women.
It builds a stronger employer brand, attracting top talent who value inclusive, people-first workplaces.
It creates a wider community impact, especially in regions where healthcare and support services are limited.
Supporting women’s hormonal health is about empathy, fairness, and equity — not extra expense.
Simple Ways to Take Action
If you’re wondering where to start, here are 11 practical actions any organisation can introduce:
Provide free or subsidised menstrual products in the workplace.
Ensure menstrual-friendly bathroom facilities — clean, private, and with safe disposal options.
Offer flexible leave options for those experiencing severe symptoms.
Run awareness workshops on menstruation, menopause, PCOS, endometriosis and more.
Create inclusive wellbeing policies shaped by employee feedback.
Train managers and HR staff on hormonal health issues and support options.
Build a culture of open, stigma-free dialogue.
Partner with NGOs or clinics to improve access to health support in local communities.
Provide access to telehealth or specialist consultations where possible.
Support initiatives making sustainable, reusable menstrual products accessible.
Run regular feedback loops with staff to review what’s working and what’s not.
Practical, workplace-friendly actions to better support women’s hormonal health and wellbeing at work.
In Their Own Words
“In the workplace, there is a lack of women’s health support beyond maternity care. It’s time for companies to act.”
“Hormonal changes during and after pregnancy aren’t talked about enough… Men need to be educated too.”
These aren’t just quotes, they’re calls to action. Women are asking for workplaces where they’re recognised as whole people, not just at their best moments but every day.
Ready to Make a Difference?
At Rise Sustainability, we’re here to help organisations create inclusive, gender-aware wellbeing strategies. It starts with a conversation and continues with courageous, thoughtful action.
Explore our full survey infographic and practical workplace recommendations on the Rise Sustainability website here.
Let’s build workplaces where everyone can show up, belong, and thrive.
– Natasha Ezekiel
