Menopause costs the Canadian economy billions every year. Here’s why

Menopause, exacerbated by stigma, lack of workplace support and the burden of debilitating symptoms, carries a substantial cost for the Canadian economy, a new report says.

Deepti Neto, 63, was trying to run her Toronto-based real estate business running on three to four hours of sleep every night.

She had always been a great sleeper, but in 2013 she started experiencing insomnia and her cognitive and communication abilities were declining as a result.

Neto tried to buy a new mattress to help, but it wasn’t until she noticed her period became more sporadic that she realized she may be experiencing perimenopausal symptoms.

“So I did what everyone does: I drank herbal teas, went to acupuncture, I did everything I could do, but nothing was helping. My sleep was getting worse,” she said, adding that it was affecting her business.

“I am a real estate agent so my communication and cognitive skills are my best skills, it’s my job.  I was getting worried.”

She then went to her doctor, who informed her that he could not provide treatment until she had gone a full year without a period, as that is “when they consider you to be in menopause,” she said. Instead, she was given antidepressants.

But Neto was still having sporadic periods. She was experiencing insomnia, hot flashes and anxiety, all of which are characteristic of perimenopause, the stage leading up to menopause. And she said the antidepressants were causing her more fatigue.

She stopped taking the antidepressants and switched doctors. She was then prescribed menopause hormone therapy and “immediately started feeling better.”