Why getting women’s health right at work is Good Business - and how to start today (for free)

Let’s talk about something we’re still not talking about enough: Hormonal and menstrual health in the workplace.

From painful periods to perimenopause brain fog, fertility treatment side effects to postnatal recovery, baby loss and PMDD - women and others being impacted by these health issues and life stages are still being told (quietly or bluntly) to just “get on with it.”

And they do.
They show up. They work through pain. They hide their hot flushes. They downplay fatigue. They mask emotional overwhelm. And they get on.

But that silence comes at a cost - to wellbeing, productivity, retention, and culture.

The business case for better support

A 2022 UK study found that nearly 26% of women had left jobs, or considered leaving jobs they loved becuse their menstrual health needs weren't being met. Others are quietly stepping back - taking avoidable days off, not putting themselves forward for promotion, not asking for flexible arrangements, not disclosing what they’re dealing with. Because their workplace cultures don't support conversations about periods, menopause or fertility. 

That’s a huge loss of talent, potential and experience.

Supporting women’s health isn’t just an HR issue. It’s a business strategy.

Done right, it boosts:

• Retention: Fewer staff members walking away from roles they’re brilliant at
• Attendence: More energy, presence and contribution from your people
• Reputation: You become known as a workplace that gets it
• Profit: Because inclusive cultures account for real life, not just policies and a happy workforce stay and perform well

And the good news?

You don’t have to start with a 50-page strategy, a 6-month audit, or a costly support programme. You can start with small, meaningful steps - today. Free period products in your toilets. Awarenss-sessions and articles in yoru staff newsletters about menopause and periods. Sharing your own, personal stories. 

A free resource to help you take action

To help more businesses take that first step, I’ve created a free Women’s Health Starter Pack - a practical, down-to-earth bundle of tools and support for employers who want to do better, but might not know where to begin.

It includes:
️ A CPD-accredited workshop on menopause & women’s health
️ A workplace audit tool
️ Free HR advice sessions
️ Conversation starters for line managers
️ An awareness calendar
️ A special edition podcast walking you through the whole pack

It’s completely free, available now, and takes minutes to access - no payment or fancy tech needed.

https://sales.naturalendometriosisexpert.com/womens-health-starter-pack/ 

Start small - but start

This isn’t just about box-ticking or policies. It’s about making sure that women and others affected by women's health issues feel seen, supported, and able to thrive in your workplace.

I know first-hand how painful and lonely it can feel to navigate hormonal health silently while trying to remain “professional.”
I also know how transformational it is when workplaces start to listen, understand, and offer real, practical support.

This pack is my invitation to help you do just that - not perfectly, but intentionally.

Because women’s health belongs at work.
And we all do better when we stop pretending it doesn’t.

 About the author:

Sarah Darwen is founder of Halcyon Women's Health, a certified endometriosis specialist, and women’s health therapist with over 15 years’ experience supporting individuals and organisations to get women’s health right.

Through Halcyon Women’s Health, she offers corporate workshops, strategic consultancy, and one-to-one support for the full range of women's health issues across the lifespan. www.halcyonwomenshealth.com