10 Misconceptions about menopause when you work for someone else
Leading your career through menopause brings challenges nobody talks about. These are some of the biggest misconceptions that keep women struggling silently while trying to balance their health, wellbeing and professional responsibilities.
Leading your career through menopause brings challenges nobody talks about. These are some of the biggest misconceptions that keep women struggling silently as they try to balance their health, wellbeing, and professional responsibilities.
Menopause can affect every aspect of daily life, including how we feel at work.
Whether you're leading teams, managing projects, working with customers, supporting colleagues, or simply trying to get through a busy workday, menopause symptoms can significantly affect your confidence, concentration, energy levels, and overall well-being.
Yet despite growing awareness, many misconceptions still exist about what menopause means for women in the workplace.
These misconceptions can leave women feeling isolated, unsupported and under unnecessary pressure at a time when understanding and flexibility are often what they need most to work at their best.
We're here to open up that conversation, challenge some of the common myths, and leave you feeling informed, supported, and equipped with practical tools you can start using straight away.
The 10 misconceptions:
1. "You should be able to work exactly as you always have."
Many women place enormous pressure on themselves to continue performing exactly as they did before menopause symptoms appeared.
But menopause can affect:
Sleep quality
Energy levels
Concentration
Mood
Confidence
Physical comfort
Trying to maintain the same pace without adapting can often create additional stress and exhaustion. It’s also unfair to presume you can operate at the same level despite all the changes going on. If a friend told you they were navigating a lack of sleep, mood dips, and confidence challenges, you wouldn’t expect them to operate at the same level - so why put so much pressure on yourself to do the same?
Actionable takeaway:
Take an honest look at your workload and working patterns. Are there areas where small adjustments could make a difference? This might mean scheduling demanding tasks during your most productive hours, taking regular breaks, or reviewing unrealistic expectations you place on yourself. Adapting is not failing; it's responding to your current needs in a healthy and sustainable way.
2. "Brain fog means you're no longer good at your job."
Brain fog is one of the most commonly reported menopause symptoms, yet it can be incredibly unsettling.
You may notice:
Forgetfulness
Difficulty concentrating
Slower information processing
Losing your train of thought
Struggling to multitask
Many women immediately assume this means they are becoming less capable.
The reality is that brain fog is a symptom, not a reflection of your intelligence, experience or professional value.
Actionable takeaway:
Reduce the pressure on your memory by using practical tools and systems. Keep notes during meetings, use reminders and calendars, break large tasks into smaller steps, and avoid judging yourself against unrealistic standards. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to pause when they are talking so you can have a moment to take informative notes; it’s intentional, not rude. Your skills, experience and knowledge have not disappeared.
3. "Everyone else is coping better than you."
One of the biggest challenges women face is believing they're the only person struggling.
At work, everyone often appears composed, productive and in control on the surface. However, everyone is carrying a weight we don’t see.
Behind the scenes, many women are navigating:
Sleep disruption
Anxiety
Hot flushes
Fatigue
Confidence dips
Brain fog
Often without telling anyone.
Actionable takeaway:
Challenge the assumption that you're alone. Seek out trusted colleagues, support networks, employee resource groups, or external communities where menopause is discussed openly. Sometimes simply knowing you're not the only one can provide enormous relief. At MenoMinds, we create a free monthly space for women to come together and learn, connect, and unwind via our Wellbeing Academy workshops. To find out more, head over to our Academy page to join a community of like-minded women.
4. "Talking about menopause will damage your career."
Many women worry that discussing menopause at work will make them appear less capable, less reliable or less committed.
This fear often prevents people from seeking support when they need it most.
The reality is that workplace conversations around menopause are becoming increasingly common, and more organisations are recognising the importance of supporting employees through this life stage.
Actionable takeaway:
You do not need to share every detail of your experience. However, if symptoms are affecting your work, consider having a conversation with a trusted manager, HR representative or occupational health adviser. Honest conversations often create solutions rather than problems.
5. "You just need to push through the symptoms."
For many women, the default response is to ignore symptoms and keep going.
Unfortunately, constantly overriding your body's signals can often make things harder in the long run.
Menopause is not something you simply "power through."
Your body may need:
More rest
Better recovery
Additional support
Lifestyle adjustments
Medical guidance
Actionable takeaway:
Pay attention to what your body is telling you. Prioritise sleep where possible, review stress levels, stay physically active, and seek professional support if symptoms are becoming difficult to manage. Listening to your body is a strength, not a weakness.
6. "Asking for support makes you look weak."
Many women worry that requesting help or adjustments will be seen as a sign they can't cope or that they are weak. In reality, seeking support is often a sign of self-awareness and professionalism. Everyone benefits when employees are able to work in a way that allows them to perform at their best.
Actionable takeaway:
Think about what support would genuinely help you. This could include flexible working arrangements, access to fans or cooler workspaces, wellbeing support, or simple adjustments to working patterns. Asking for what you need is an important part of protecting your wellbeing.
7. "Menopause only affects older women."
One of the most persistent myths is that menopause only affects women approaching retirement age. In reality, perimenopause symptoms can begin years before menopause itself and often affect women in their 40s, and sometimes earlier.
Many women experiencing symptoms are in the middle of busy careers, leadership positions, or major professional milestones, as well as balancing family life at home.
Actionable takeaway:
Educate yourself about the signs and symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Understanding what's happening can help you seek support sooner and avoid unnecessary self-doubt or confusion.
8. "If you're struggling, you're letting your team down."
Many women feel guilty when menopause affects their energy, confidence or productivity.
They worry they're becoming a burden to colleagues or failing to contribute. But nobody operates at 100% all of the time.
Healthy workplaces recognise that employees are human and will experience different challenges throughout their lives.
Actionable takeaway:
Replace guilt with perspective. Consider how you would respond if a colleague were experiencing a difficult health-related challenge. You would likely show understanding and compassion. You deserve that same understanding, too.
9. "Workplace adjustments are special treatment."
Some women avoid requesting support because they worry they're asking for special treatment.
Workplace adjustments are not about giving someone an unfair advantage. They are about removing barriers that prevent people from doing their jobs effectively.
Small changes can make a significant difference to comfort, wellbeing, and company performance.
Actionable takeaway:
Focus on what helps you work effectively rather than worrying about how it may be perceived. Reasonable adjustments exist to support people in performing their roles successfully, not to give anyone preferential treatment.
10. "You have to choose between your health and your career."
This is perhaps the most damaging misconception of all.
Too many women believe they must either:
Ignore their health to protect their career, or
Step away from work entirely
The reality is that many women continue to build successful, fulfilling careers throughout menopause and beyond.
The key is finding ways to support your wellbeing while continuing to pursue your professional goals.
Actionable takeaway:
Instead of asking how much more you can tolerate, ask what support would help you thrive. Long-term career success is not built on self-sacrifice. It is built on sustainability, self-awareness and recognising when support is needed.
Menopause may change how work feels, but it does not diminish your value
Menopause can affect confidence, concentration, energy and wellbeing, but it does not erase your experience, skills, knowledge or potential. If anything, this stage of life often highlights just how much women have been managing for years without stopping, and it’s an important pause to reevaluate and reassess.
The more we challenge misconceptions and encourage open conversations, the easier it becomes for women to access the support they deserve and continue thriving at work.
The co-founders of MenoMinds have both experienced many of these misconceptions firsthand and have shared their personal stories, insights and practical guidance. To learn more about their experiences, explore the links below.
Important note:
We are not clinicians and cannot diagnose depression or other mental health conditions. If you’re having thoughts of harming yourself, or you feel like you can’t keep yourself safe, seek urgent help. Contact NHS urgent services, your GP, or a crisis service such as SHOUT (text 85258 in the UK). If you’re in immediate danger, call 999.
Seeking support
If symptoms persist, worsen, or begin to feel overwhelming, it is important to seek professional support. Speaking to your GP can be a helpful first step in understanding what you are experiencing and exploring treatment or support options. We also recognise that not all women feel ready to take this step, or may have had previous experiences that make this difficult.
If you ever feel unable to keep yourself safe, or you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please seek urgent help. You can contact your GP, call NHS 111, or reach out to Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24/7) or jo@samaritans.org. If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.
