June 6, 2025 • 6 mins
At some point in their life, most women will experience menopause.
It generally impacts women between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age New Zealand women will begin to experience menopause being 52.
At menopause, the ovaries stop releasing eggs and menstrual periods stop. In most cases, if someone hasn’t had a period for 12 months in a row, they are considered post-menopausal.
Significant symptoms are experienced by approximately 70% of those experiencing menopause – common ones including anxiety, low mood/depression, hot flushes, brain fog, nausea, and fatigue.
Dr Dougal Sutherland joined Jack Tame to discuss menopause, why awareness should be raised around it, and how to support someone dealing with it in the workplace.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Teams podcast
from News Talks That Be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Now though, it is time to catch up with Google.
Sutherland from Umbrella Well Being killed a Google.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Curer, Jack from A very chilly.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Ah.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yes, I think it's very chilly alter at all this morning,
very chilly everywhere dinner?
Speaker 4 (00:26):
Have you?
Speaker 5 (00:27):
Have you dared to look at the thermometer at your place?
How is it?
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (00:30):
I had to pat the dog for the bit about
an hour ago and the calf a momenta said it
was six degrees outside.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Okay, so that's positively tropical compared to some parts of
the South Island.
Speaker 5 (00:40):
So we can't do too much money.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
That's true. That is true.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Anyway, you and I are this morning as two men
tackling a subject that is getting a little more attention
these days. Finally, but you and I are two men
talking menopause.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Yeah, it's it's and look I have a note here
in front of me from my lovely wife, yep.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Is don't men explain this?
Speaker 5 (01:02):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
And so I'm under strict instructions not to try and
explain menopause.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
Is that another reason to carry around with you all
the time? Or is that just ane today subject.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
It's tattooed on the inside of my brain. I will
not forget it very well.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
I warn you as well, because she will hunt you
down and find you if you try to.
Speaker 5 (01:22):
Manila wanting perfectly accepted.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
But look, I wanted to raise it from a workplace
perspective because you know, I think there's a lot it's
been a big issue and my sort of travels around
different workplaces around New Zealand over the last twelve months
or so and is coming up increasingly and rightly, so
that this is an issue, that this is a health
issue that affects a good proportion of our workforce, and
(01:49):
actually we need as a society to be better at
understanding this significant health issue that affects a lot of people.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Because it as quite debilitating.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Look, I was reading if you take away the take
away the word menopause and just focused on the symptom anxiety,
low mood, depression, hot flushes, brain fog, nausea, fatigue. Those
are pretty severe kind of symptoms. They reminded me actually
a bit of COVID symptoms. You know that a lot
of those are what we covid and we know how
debilitating that was and so I think if you just
(02:22):
think about it from that pure health perspective of hey,
a significant proportion of your workforce may be experiencing these
these symptoms, then this is something that workplaces should, I think,
should really be thinking about how they address these and
how they can make some accommodations for people who experienced
those symptoms in their work.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
And there was a report by the New Zealand Institute
of Economic Research d IER a couple of years ago
which showed actually, not not only do many women kind
of never discuss menopause or perimenopause in the workplace, but
actually like only one in three managers kind of felt
knowledgeable to be able to support people.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Yeah, yeah, one in three, and that reduced to one
in five when it was all managers. And look, it's
not you know, I'm not in any way trying to
make a defense for this. It's not surprising though, given
that we're how we haven't talked about it, that people
don't feel that confident. And I know that, you know,
in my role as in past of managing people, I
(03:24):
would definitely have been managing people who have been experiencing menopause.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
And that we also know that that same that same.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Report showed that women, some women were cutting back their
work hours or even quitting their work simply because they
couldn't get those health needs met in their workplace.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
And that's that's a pretty for me.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
That was a kind of a really sobering kind of
statistic around actually that that shouldn't be happening. We should
be recognizing this health issue in our workplaces and doing
what we can to support people who are experiencing those.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah, because if it were anything else that we would, right,
like if it were COVID for example, obviously obviously would.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
So it's kind of curious that because you know, I
suppose because there hasn't maybe been the awareness that there
should be around menopause, we haven't necessarily kind of you know,
altered our workplaces and work cultures to.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Allow for Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Yeah, I look, I'm sure we could have a long
discussion around the sort of gender bias and workplaces and
if it's happened to men. But you know, I think
and also maybe part of it too, is that because
it's considered a normal natural part of development of human
development and getting older, maybe we just don't kind of
(04:40):
consider it. But you know, I know that I've got
my employer supports me to get a vaccine for the
flu every year, you know, go and get a free vaccine,
and because we want to make sure that you don't
suffer from these because we know that if people get
the flu, which are very similar symptoms to it I
just described earlier, then that can put you off work
for a week or two. And we don't want you
(05:00):
to be off work for a week or two. But
we need to take that same approach I think to
discussing menopause isn't to too yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Just making it, just making it okay to talk about it.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
And I think there's a real big piece for leaders,
managers and organizations in general to be openly discussing this
issue more and upskilling leaders so that they'd at least
know what the heck they're talking about, and to have
some good policies in place so that so that people
who are experiencing menopause don't have to come and go, oh, geez, sorry,
(05:31):
I've got this thing going on. It's all a bit uncomfortable.
There should just be the ability to talk freely about it,
so that women can just come and say, hey, look
I need to you know, if I could move desks maybe,
or just make some allowances or just so that you
know that sometimes I might be a bit brain foggy
and that that's okay, but can you cut me some
slack on those days?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, right, Actually, just having some kind of thoughtful policies
around that I can imagine would like really help with
retention and attracting good staff, right.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, if you think about that, you know
that the age of men I was, you know, late thirties,
perhaps through the.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Late forties, early fifties.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
That's those are women who are in the kind of
coming to the peak of their career. In many ways,
these are people that you want to.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Retain and attract.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
And you know the statistic before from the twenty twenty
three research.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
People were leaving their jobs because it wasn't recognized in
the world. So yeah, this is a great way to keep.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Hold of people, to keep hold of great talent and.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
To it, I think, to attract talent too. If your
workplace is seen as you know, aware of and.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Then quotes friendly towards metaphors, then you're possibly likely to
actually become a favored employer and get that really good
talent rather than letting it go to waste.
Speaker 5 (06:50):
Love your work Doogle. As always, Thank you so much. Google.
Sutherland from Umbrella Well Being with us this morning.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to newstalksz' B from nine am Saturday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Teams podcast
from News Talks That Be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Now though, it is time to catch up with Google.
Sutherland from Umbrella Well Being killed a Google.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Curer, Jack from A very chilly.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Ah.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yes, I think it's very chilly alter at all this morning,
very chilly everywhere dinner?
Speaker 4 (00:26):
Have you?
Speaker 5 (00:27):
Have you dared to look at the thermometer at your place?
How is it?
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (00:30):
I had to pat the dog for the bit about
an hour ago and the calf a momenta said it
was six degrees outside.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Okay, so that's positively tropical compared to some parts of
the South Island.
Speaker 5 (00:40):
So we can't do too much money.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
That's true. That is true.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Anyway, you and I are this morning as two men
tackling a subject that is getting a little more attention
these days. Finally, but you and I are two men
talking menopause.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Yeah, it's it's and look I have a note here
in front of me from my lovely wife, yep.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Is don't men explain this?
Speaker 5 (01:02):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
And so I'm under strict instructions not to try and
explain menopause.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
Is that another reason to carry around with you all
the time? Or is that just ane today subject.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
It's tattooed on the inside of my brain. I will
not forget it very well.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
I warn you as well, because she will hunt you
down and find you if you try to.
Speaker 5 (01:22):
Manila wanting perfectly accepted.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
But look, I wanted to raise it from a workplace
perspective because you know, I think there's a lot it's
been a big issue and my sort of travels around
different workplaces around New Zealand over the last twelve months
or so and is coming up increasingly and rightly, so
that this is an issue, that this is a health
issue that affects a good proportion of our workforce, and
(01:49):
actually we need as a society to be better at
understanding this significant health issue that affects a lot of people.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Because it as quite debilitating.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Look, I was reading if you take away the take
away the word menopause and just focused on the symptom anxiety,
low mood, depression, hot flushes, brain fog, nausea, fatigue. Those
are pretty severe kind of symptoms. They reminded me actually
a bit of COVID symptoms. You know that a lot
of those are what we covid and we know how
debilitating that was and so I think if you just
(02:22):
think about it from that pure health perspective of hey,
a significant proportion of your workforce may be experiencing these
these symptoms, then this is something that workplaces should, I think,
should really be thinking about how they address these and
how they can make some accommodations for people who experienced
those symptoms in their work.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
And there was a report by the New Zealand Institute
of Economic Research d IER a couple of years ago
which showed actually, not not only do many women kind
of never discuss menopause or perimenopause in the workplace, but
actually like only one in three managers kind of felt
knowledgeable to be able to support people.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Yeah, yeah, one in three, and that reduced to one
in five when it was all managers. And look, it's
not you know, I'm not in any way trying to
make a defense for this. It's not surprising though, given
that we're how we haven't talked about it, that people
don't feel that confident. And I know that, you know,
in my role as in past of managing people, I
(03:24):
would definitely have been managing people who have been experiencing menopause.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
And that we also know that that same that same.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Report showed that women, some women were cutting back their
work hours or even quitting their work simply because they
couldn't get those health needs met in their workplace.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
And that's that's a pretty for me.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
That was a kind of a really sobering kind of
statistic around actually that that shouldn't be happening. We should
be recognizing this health issue in our workplaces and doing
what we can to support people who are experiencing those.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah, because if it were anything else that we would, right,
like if it were COVID for example, obviously obviously would.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
So it's kind of curious that because you know, I
suppose because there hasn't maybe been the awareness that there
should be around menopause, we haven't necessarily kind of you know,
altered our workplaces and work cultures to.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Allow for Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Yeah, I look, I'm sure we could have a long
discussion around the sort of gender bias and workplaces and
if it's happened to men. But you know, I think
and also maybe part of it too, is that because
it's considered a normal natural part of development of human
development and getting older, maybe we just don't kind of
(04:40):
consider it. But you know, I know that I've got
my employer supports me to get a vaccine for the
flu every year, you know, go and get a free vaccine,
and because we want to make sure that you don't
suffer from these because we know that if people get
the flu, which are very similar symptoms to it I
just described earlier, then that can put you off work
for a week or two. And we don't want you
(05:00):
to be off work for a week or two. But
we need to take that same approach I think to
discussing menopause isn't to too yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Just making it, just making it okay to talk about it.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
And I think there's a real big piece for leaders,
managers and organizations in general to be openly discussing this
issue more and upskilling leaders so that they'd at least
know what the heck they're talking about, and to have
some good policies in place so that so that people
who are experiencing menopause don't have to come and go, oh, geez, sorry,
(05:31):
I've got this thing going on. It's all a bit uncomfortable.
There should just be the ability to talk freely about it,
so that women can just come and say, hey, look
I need to you know, if I could move desks maybe,
or just make some allowances or just so that you
know that sometimes I might be a bit brain foggy
and that that's okay, but can you cut me some
slack on those days?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, right, Actually, just having some kind of thoughtful policies
around that I can imagine would like really help with
retention and attracting good staff, right.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, if you think about that, you know
that the age of men I was, you know, late thirties,
perhaps through the.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Late forties, early fifties.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
That's those are women who are in the kind of
coming to the peak of their career. In many ways,
these are people that you want to.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Retain and attract.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
And you know the statistic before from the twenty twenty
three research.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
People were leaving their jobs because it wasn't recognized in
the world. So yeah, this is a great way to keep.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Hold of people, to keep hold of great talent and.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
To it, I think, to attract talent too. If your
workplace is seen as you know, aware of and.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Then quotes friendly towards metaphors, then you're possibly likely to
actually become a favored employer and get that really good
talent rather than letting it go to waste.
Speaker 5 (06:50):
Love your work Doogle. As always, Thank you so much. Google.
Sutherland from Umbrella Well Being with us this morning.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to newstalksz' B from nine am Saturday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
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