ESRI Discussion Paper Series No.401 Understanding the Factors Influencing Menopausal Symptoms in Working Women: Analysis Based on Internet Panel Data

In Japan, over 80% of women aged 45 to 54 are now employed, making menopause management an increasingly important workplace health issue. However, there is still limited evidence regarding effective strategies for improving and preventing menopausal symptoms among working women. Against this background, this study analyzes internet panel data to examine factors significantly associated with menopausal symptoms in working women.
　In September 2021, working women aged 45 to 56 registered with a private internet survey company were surveyed in a self-administered questionnaire about menopause-related symptoms. The severity of symptoms was assessed using the Simplified Menopausal Index (SMI). Of the 3,645 valid responses, those who worked less than 20 hours of paid work per week and those with drug-induced amenorrhea were excluded, leaving 2,731 responses used in the analysis. Of these, 1,093 women (40.0%) had an SMI score of 26 or higher and moderate to severe symptoms. Additionally, 530 women (19.4%) reported using medications, including over-the-counter drugs, to alleviate or prevent menopausal symptoms, indicating that a substantial proportion of women work while using medication for menopausal symptoms.
　Using multiple logistic regression, the study found that five factors were associated with an increased risk of reporting moderate to severe menopausal symptoms (SMI≥26). These factors include: being overweight or obese (BMI of 25 or higher), having a history of gynecological disorders, being in the menopausal transition or postmenopausal stage, working in an environment that requires lifting objects weighing 5 kg or more at least once a day, and working night shifts at least once a month. These findings suggest that, for women aged 45–56, both individual physical factors (such as a high BMI and gynecological history) and workplace conditions (such as heavy lifting and night shifts) are significantly related to the risk of experiencing menopausal symptoms. This implies that promoting self-care and improving workplace environments may help alleviate menopausal symptoms among working women.