Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | September 22, 2025 | Worcester Business Journal 13 ists, from psychiatrists to cardiologists, before they find their symptoms are actually a result of menopause. Unexplained changes like anxiety, stress, brain fog, and memory struggles stemming from menopause can cause insecurity in women, especially when they're in professional settings, said Zolezzi-Wyndham. "e lack of understanding of what might be happening can impact both how a woman feels about herself, but also how other people might experi- ence her," she said. ose in menopause are usually en- tering or already in positions of power: women aspiring to break the glass ceiling of opportunity who are worried about speaking about or asking for anything that might make them look weak, she said. "It could be similar to some of the taboo that exists around asking for reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. If you ask for this accommodation, women worry, people with disabilities worry, that their excellence might be questioned," Zolezzi-Wyndham said. Faubion has had many of her pa- tients say they feel they can't do their DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION F O C U S jobs or they're going to quit because of how pervasive their menopause symptoms are, including a patient who was the chief medical officer of a major global conglomerate. "If she is feeling that way, imagine all the other people who maybe don't even know that these symptoms relate to menopause," said Faubion. In fact, two out of five women considered finding or found a new job due to menopause, according to a study published in January 2024 by the Washington, D.C.-based Society for Women's Health Research. e study found one in four women considered not pursuing or didn't pursue a lead- ership opportunity, and one in three considered reducing or reduced their workload. Luckily, Faubion is seeing a gen- erational shi in which women are feeling more empowered to talk about their reproductive health openly. Baby Boomers were not talking about men- struation, lactation, or pregnancy, but that's beginning to change. "Now you have the Gen Xers and the Millennials who are much more likely to talk about something like that, and not only to talk about it, but to be on Seven Hills Foundation has embraced Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) as the WHY of what we do: Provide equitable access to the highest quality services for the most vulnerable members of our communities. Our exceptional staff Answer the Call to Care using their unique experience, knowledge, and talent informed by their diverse backgrounds. Our programs enrich our communities: In developing nations and home communities of our staff, the humanitarian efforts of affiliate Seven Hills Global Outreach (SHGO) address the critical need for basic securities. Human Services Career Support (HSCS) provides BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and other under-served populations, with training, supports, and on-the-job experience to launch careers in the human services field. Seven Hills ASPiRE! trains people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and brain injury to pursue employment tailored to their skills and interests. DEIB in our communities begins with Seven Hills' values of Respect & Kindness, Integrity, Teamwork, Innovation, and Service to Others. It is intrinsic to our belief that DEIB offers refreshing perspectives that positively transform the lives of us all. Refreshing Perspectives, Transforming Lives 81 Hope Ave., Worcester, MA 016 03 • 508.755.2340 • sevenhills.org social media about it and to crowd source for solutions," said Faubion. Bi-directional impact Menopausal symptoms typically fall into one of three domains: somat- ic, psychological, genitourinary, said Faubion. Somatic symptoms include those such as hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbance. Psychological symptoms can include increases in anxiety and depression. Genitourinary symptoms can include frequent urina- tion and vaginal dryness. All of these symptoms independently were associated with adverse work out- comes throughout Faubion's research. "Women may not be as productive," she said. "ey may not go to work in the first place that day; that's absentee- ism. ey may go to work and not per- form up to their usual standard; that's called presenteeism, when they show up and they shouldn't be there." Sleep troubles and insomnia most impact Henriquez's patients' work and their performances. She treats patients who experience lesser-known symp- toms such as heart palpitations and sudden, generalized joint pain. Henriquez herself has had first-hand experience going through perimeno- Continued on next page Symptoms of menopause Menopause symtoms have been shown to significantly affect women's experience in the workplace. Respondents who reported the symptom impacts their work more than 50% of Symptom the time Fatigue 54% Difficulty sleeping 47% Poor concentration 44% Poor memory 40% Increased anxiety 39% Muscle and joint pain 37% Low mood 33% Headaches 27% Hot flashes 24% Night sweats 22% Source: Impact of menopausal symptoms on work and careers: a cross-sectional study, published in 2023 in Occupational Medicine.

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