Workplace-Integrated Brief Health Behavior Counseling for Menopausal Symptoms and Work Productivity: A Prospective Study in Perimenopausal Employees

OBJECTIVE: Menopause-related symptoms are an important occupational health concern; however, despite experiencing such symptoms, many women delay seeking medical attention due to work-related demands or other reasons. We evaluated the effects of the gynecologist-delivered brief health behavior counseling approach on menopausal symptoms and work productivity among untreated perimenopausal working women. METHODS: In this prospective interventional study, 55 perimenopausal employees with menopausal symptoms completed baseline questionnaires and received a gynecologist-delivered counseling session. Follow-up assessments were conducted 1 month later. Menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Simplified Menopausal Index (SMI), and work productivity was evaluated using the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (WHO-HPQ). Outcomes were analyzed both overall and according to baseline symptom severity (SMI <51 vs. ≥51). RESULTS: Total SMI scores showed an overall trend toward improvement after the intervention, with significant reductions observed among participants with baseline SMI ≥51. Improvements in WHO-HPQ absolute presenteeism scores were also observed. Baseline SMI and WHO-HPQ scores were not significantly correlated. Changes in menopausal symptoms were positively associated with changes in work productivity. No significant differences were observed between in-person and web-based counseling delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Gynecologist-delivered brief health behavior counseling improved menopausal symptoms and work productivity among untreated symptomatic perimenopausal working women. Introducing such a gynecologist-led intervention into workplace-based menopause care may help prevent women from leaving the workforce due to menopausal symptoms.