Doctors suffer ‘sexism’ from managers over menopause

‘The health service may be losing highly experienced staff because of inflexibility and a lack of support’

FEMALE doctors have reported being subjected to “sexist and ageist” attitudes when talking to their managers about the menopause, according to a new report.

A “concerning number” also said they intended to leave the profession early or step back from senior positions in healthcare due to management “inflexibility and a lack of support”.

The survey, by the British Medical Association (BMA), of 2,000 medics revealed more than a third (38 per cent) said the menopause had a “significant” impact on their working lives.

Almost half (47 per cent) said they wanted to discuss menopause symptoms with their managers but felt unable to do so, with some reporting being

“laughed at or ridiculed” if they did.

Symptoms such as insomnia, fatigue, loss of confidence and debilitating hot flushes were said to be affecting their ability to work by 90 per cent of the doctors surveyed. And almost half (45 per cent) had already made changes to their working lives or were planning to do so as a result of the impact.

This included a “concerning number” who said they intended to leave the profession early or step down from senior positions.

“The health service may be losing highly experienced staff because of inflexibility and a lack of support during a relatively short phase of life,” the report authors said.

The BMA estimates that around 30,000 women doctors in the UK are of an age where they could be going through the menopause.

“There are very few older women left at my senior level in my traditional profession,” one respondent said.

The BMA has called for more open discussions, giving women access to flexible working, and support for their mental health and wellbeing.