Women's health issues shouldn't be a taboo: Wellbeing of Women on saving and changing lives.

We are delighted to support the incredible charity Wellbeing of Women – a?women’s health charity saving and changing the lives of women, girls and babies. We caught up with Janet Lindsay , CEO of Wellbeing of Women, to tell us more about what they do and why supporting women in the workplace is so important.

Tell us more about what Wellbeing of Women does and how it helps women at all life/health stages??

Every single one of us deserves access to high-quality healthcare and information. But sadly, too many women are not getting the care and support they need and deserve.? Gynaecological and reproductive issues like heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, infertility, miscarriage and menopause affect millions and can have a devastating physical and emotional impact, yet women’s health remains chronically underfunded with many regularly telling us they don’t speak up or seek help for fear of not being taken seriously.??

Women deserve better, which is why Wellbeing of Women is doing all it can to improve women’s health throughout the life course, from birth to menopause and beyond.? Our research is pioneering major advances in care, our information is giving women and girls the knowledge they need, and our campaigns are driving change where it is desperately needed.? Together, we can make a difference to the lives of women, girls and babies, helping them all live well and as fully as possible.

What is the impact on women’s health in the workplace? How does our biology?have a part to play??

?Women’s health can have a profound impact on some women’s experiences in the workplace. While some may never experience painful periods, miscarriage or have difficulties going through the menopause, others experience strong symptoms that affect all areas of their life, including their work. CIPD research in 2023 found that more than two-thirds of women in the UK had had bad experiences at work because of their periods. A 2023 survey by Unite found that many women had to work in uncomfortable conditions during debilitating menopause experiences such as hot flushes. A 2022 CIPD survey showed that almost a quarter of employees considered leaving their job because of the (lack of) support they received at work following a miscarriage. Support from employers is key to tackling this.

We hear a lot about the women's health gap, and we will discuss this topic with Dame Lesley Regan at the Summit. Can you tell us more about it and its impact on the gender pay gap??

?When it comes to health care, women are second-class citizens. They have poorer access to health care and receive incorrect or delayed diagnoses and less effective treatments than men. Despite living longer, the average woman spends nearly a quarter of her life in poor health compared with a fifth for men, according to a Public Health England report. The UK currently has the largest gender health gap in the G20, and the 12th largest globally. At its root, the gender health gap is a research and data gap. Less than 2.2 percent of publicly funded research is dedicated solely to reproductive health and childbirth, even though one in three women in the UK will suffer from a reproductive or gynaecological health problem. There is five times more research conducted on erectile dysfunction, which affects 19 percent of men, than on premenstrual syndrome, which affects 90 percent of women. This needs to change.?

How can employers help women thrive at work and support them throughout their life stages and career advancement??

?There is so much that employers can do to support women dealing with reproductive and gynaecological health issues. Open cultures need to be created where women feel comfortable to say they’re struggling with symptoms. Businesses should be able to recognise when support is needed and facilitate open conversations with employees about what they’re experiencing. Women’s health issues shouldn’t be a taboo, and everyone should feel confident to have a conversation with their line manager, especially when they need guidance and advice.? We recommend that all workplaces have a women’s health policy so that employees can see what support is available and know how to access it. This policy might include sickness and flexible working policies to take into account symptoms such as night sweats and period pain. Common measures used by organisations that have signed our?Menopause Workplace Pledge include events and webinars, informal support, such as peer-to-peer support groups, signposting to information and support. We know that organisations often need help with this, so we launched our?Employer Membership Programme ?– to help employers develop policies and other measures to promote and support people’s gynaecological health in the workplace across the life course, enabling them to thrive professionally.

What is Wellbeing of Women’s wish for women in the next ten years??

?WOW would like to see a future where women’s health research receives better funding so that both diagnosis and treatment is quicker and more effective. We would also like to see progress made in ending the shocking disparity in health outcomes for women from marginalised communities. Black women are four times more likely to die in pregnancy, childbirth and the six-week period after, disabled women struggle to access life-saving screenings and women from ethnic minority backgrounds find themselves dismissed, with dangerous delays to getting treatment.?

In our 60th?year, we have been calling for an end to the shame, stigma and silence around women’s health, which has made it hard for women to talk openly about any conditions they are dealing with both in their personal and professional circles.

We’ll be joined by Dame Lesley Regan , Chair of Wellbeing of Women and Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, at the Women in Work Summit in London on 26th September. Dame Lesley will be talking to Dr Nighat Arif about the role of employers in closing the health gap and how workplace policy and culture can make a real difference to how businesses support women’s health.?

Be a part of this important conversation and register HERE now.?Book in advance to save 15% on summit passes.?