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[Mary1962]

If you are a full time worker and have worked like that for 30 years of your adult life with no break for children/or something else, would you find it easier to continue working full time (as no financial possibility of going part-time or retire yet) and remain happy and positive, energetic and enjoying your job/career still if you weren't having to contend with the menopause at the same time?!   

It has been a real game-changer for me...I had a career I loved and enjoyed and now whilst being in a not so interesting job which pays the bills - just (if the bills didn't stop continually rising!) but is more intensive I feel like I have had the rug pulled out from under me and struggle to be working full time as it just saps me totally and leaves me frazzled in the evening and at weekends. 

So if the menopause wasn't in the equation would I feel happy still and enjoy being part of the 9-5 or is it just time of life wanting to be free and slowing down ie, the ageing process, that is making the difference?! 

[nearly50]

I'm not sure if I see a difference between men and women when it comes to being happy and positive about work! I know more women who work part time but they have done so because they have childcare responsibilities for grandchildren, or simply because their family income is high enough to allow it. I think anyone who had the opportunity to slow down and work less would take it, regardless of menopausal symptoms.

[katsclaws]

I've always worked full time and have a family (worked now for nearly 40 years). The thing that has changed for me is lack of confidence regarding decision making at work.  My husband still works full time too. I don't think I would like to work full time if he was retired. I don't feel any more tired now than when I was working full time and the children were small. However I do have a fairly relaxed attitude to housework and the garden.

[Dorothy]

I'd definitely blame the menopause!

I started getting menopausal symptoms aged 35.  At the same time, I started struggling to cope with a job which I had loved up until then.  I used to be on the go all the time, but had to gradually cut back more and more on non-work things so that I could survive my week.

I'm now 41.  I've had to change jobs to a boring but less-physically-challenging one.  I get up, go to work, come home, eat tea (when I am not too tired to cook it) and go to bed.  At the weekend, I do the bare minimum of housework, laundry and food shopping - anything more and I can't cope with the following week's work.  This is my life.  If I want to meet up with a friend or just go out for a day, I have to book a day's holiday, as I can't cope with anything non-essential in a working week.

[flutterby]

I worked forty years full time including weekend and on call. When I reached 60 I dropped 2 days but still was out of the house at 8am and not back until 6:30pm. I am so relieved that I was on HRT from 48 until I had been retired a few months. I would really struggle with anymore than a few half days now. Flutterbyx

[Dana]

I worked full time for 40 years with no breaks at all. Things went a little pear shaped for about 6 months when I had some menopause issues, but being on HRT meant I had no problems handling the pressure. I was also dealing with very frail parents at the same time. So there was a lot of stuff going on. I'm sure I wouldn't have coped if I wasn't on hrt.

I gave up work almost 2 years ago now, and hrt has also meant I can thoroughly enjoy my new lifestyle. Basically, for me, hrt is the answer.