In their quest for answers about their own fertility and hormonal health, scientists Helen O'Neill, Natalie Getreu, and Deirdre O'Neill were shocked at the lack of information available and the cost and complexity of the process.So, being experts in the field, they gathered the best minds in female health to build an alternative clinical experience to reinvent healthcare for every woman: Hertility.Since its launch in 2019, over 100,000 women have taken their first step towards demystifying their bodies with Hertility’s diagnostic tools. But there are still many women who remain in the dark about their reproductive health. And with 50% of working women dealing with untreated symptoms that affect their productivity, and millions leaving their jobs every year as a result, it’s clear that the stigma around women’s health is coming at a big cost to businesses.So what can companies do to support this significant proportion of their workforce?We invited two of Hertility's founders, Dr Helen and Dr Natalie, for an in-depth discussion on the state of women’s health and the steps employers can take to address fertility in the workplace.How to build a workplace for everybody1) Start talking“It all starts with having a conversation," says Dr Helen.If women don't know about the hormonal or reproductive issues they might have, having a conversation can reveal what symptoms look like from others who have experienced them, making them more empowered to seek support when it's needed. Furthermore, no matter where a person is on their reproductive health journey, communication is key to challenging the current attitude to fertility in the workplace.Statistics show that more women struggle with women’s health issues than we know:80% of women experience hormonal symptoms1 in 5 women experience pain during intercourse20% of people experiencing fertility issues considered leaving their jobBut there are some simple things employers can do to help:Sharing resources via Slack channels, Hertility’s YouTube channel provides links to informative videosRunning educational webinars with experts Joining schemes provided by charitable bodies, such as the Endometriosis Friendly EmployerThese are just a few great ways for businesses to raise awareness and facilitate more supportive discussions on fertility in the workplace. So if a woman is in need of support or has symptoms, she knows exactly what options are available and the steps needed to access them. 2) Get everyone involvedWhile it might seem like a good idea to reserve these conversations only for those who are experiencing symptoms, e.g. women's-only menopause or pregnancy support groups, discussing women's health in siloed spaces can actually be quite harmful.Providing support and access only to women who need it might be good for facilitating a more intimate discussion where people can relate to others going through similar things. However, it can also mean that:People who are not currently experiencing these issues are oblivious about what’s involved until they go through it themselves. People who have not self-identified their symptoms but are currently experiencing them do not get the knowledge they need to identify their own symptoms in time. Men who have sisters, daughters and wives may not be mindful of what’s going on in their lives, and may not be equipped to support them when needed.“If you're not talking about pregnancy until you're at that point, you have no idea what's involved. So when it actually happens, it can be overwhelming, and it can be a bit shocking,” says Dr Natalie. However, holding a more open discussion looking at the different stages of women's reproductive health across the entire lifespan, “not just with women, but with men too” – means everyone will be mindful of what’s going on in women’s lives and better equipped with ways to support them in the workplace. For example, through offering flexible working hours for those who need to attend multiple appointments, inclusive leave policies and offering free menstrual products in bathrooms.This also means that women themselves can be more prepared for what’s to come, what signs to look out for and where to go for support when the time comes.3) Make support accessible “Women’s health is often viewed as a tick box exercise, where employers create a policy, give it to employees when they join as part of their welcome pack, and then put it in a drawer somewhere and forget about it,” points out Dr Natalie – but this has got to change.Did you know that one in ten women who worked during the menopause left their job due to their symptoms? And more than nine in 10 women said that their struggle to conceive had impacted their career. That’s why it’s so important that companies support women as they seek treatment, especially as the cost of replacing talent is high – it is estimated that it costs 33% of a worker’s annual salary and an average of 27.5 days of collective team time to replace them.“For too long, women have been told that [these symptoms] are just part of being a woman. But by businesses waking up, taking action and introducing reproductive health benefits, women will be encouraged to take better care of themselves, and therefore be more productive and better at their jobs,” says Dr Natalie. But with private clinics being so expensive, and medical insurance often not covering women’s health either, what solutions can employers provide that cater to this? And how can they ensure that women are actually using them? If you want to do more, then start by providing employees with accessible and proactive support to women at all life stages and phases of the reproductive journey. By partnering with Hertility, companies can connect their employees to instant online expert care and help them make informed decisions with regards to their reproductive health.These can include things such as: Proactive testing opportunities with actionable insights Fertility counsellingReferrals to trusted clinics and specialist care with experts in the fieldHormonal tests for womenYuLife is proud to have teamed up with Hertility to provide their services as an employee benefit in the YuLife employee app - with YuLifers getting access to an exclusive 20% off advanced hormone and fertility testing in the in-app rewards store. Read more about our partnership here.