Women are taking pay cuts and ‘white-knuckling it’ to manage menopause and work: ‘I feel like I’m sitting on the sidelines’

Menopause symptoms are disrupting some women’s careers, prompting them to reduce responsibilities or move into lower-paid work. Limited preparation, stigma and the dismissal of women’s health concerns can leave people struggling privately, while career changes may be difficult to reverse.

Terry Wied, 48, left her museum docent job for a secretarial role paying about $20,000 less after experiencing night sweats, sleeplessness, anxiety and anger. Erin Levin, a 41-year-old teacher and single mother, says perimenopause has brought brain fog, poor sleep and stress, but she cannot afford to scale back and describes herself as “white-knuckling it”; healthcare costs and ageism may add to the barriers.