Association Between Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause and Retirement: A Prospective Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between vasomotor symptoms of menopause and retirement in Australian women. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTING: Secondary analysis of six surveys collected between 1996 and 2010. POPULATION: A total of 6928 Australian women, born between 1946 and 1951. METHODS: Data were obtained from participants in the cohort born between 1946 and 1951 of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Between 1996 and 2010, self-reported longitudinal survey data were collected. Vasomotor symptoms, specifically hot flushes and night sweats, and retirement status were captured. Data were analysed by discrete time survival analyses using logistic regression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Odds of retirement. RESULTS: In fully adjusted analyses, women who experienced both hot flushes and night sweats reported higher odds of retirement compared to women with no vasomotor symptoms (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.25). There was no significant association with retirement for women who experienced only hot flushes (AOR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.85, 1.11) or only night sweats (AOR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.94, 1.50), compared with those who experienced no symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Combined menopausal vasomotor symptoms may contribute to women's retirement from the workforce. Improving access to effective symptom management, along with examining how workplace conditions shape women's experiences of menopause, may help guide strategies to support continued workforce participation in midlife.