Menopause at work: How symptoms affect women and productivity

Mood and sleep changes are among the most common early symptoms, Emont said, including increased anxiety, depression and difficulty falling or staying asleep. Others include hot flashes, night sweats, joint pain and decreased libido or sexual function.

How symptoms affect work and productivity

Charmaine Brown, founder and CEO of Balancia, a company that helps professional women manage menopause brain fog, memory lapses and anxiety, said the cognitive changes affect women at least as much as the physical ones.

Brown, an Austin, Texas-based performance coach who holds a doctorate in cell and molecular biology, said anxiety can rise suddenly to a level that can’t be controlled, and brain fog can mean forgetting a client’s name or a key word in a board meeting or on a client call.

“I think it really starts to shake your confidence when you’re like, ‘Oh, I just looked like a fool because I couldn’t remember the name of the person I was talking to,'” Brown said.

Brown said trouble focusing, or regaining focus after an interruption, affects day-to-day work.