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Original poster

Period pain proof required for school sick days

162 replies

Amallamard · 07/10/2024 20:31

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly4zd8xp74o

Aside from the utter madness about period pains (which im sure MNers will have plenty to say about), is it just me that thinks a cold can be bad enough to need time off? One of mine was off with a cold last week. They ended up on antibiotics and steroids. In no way fit for school. It's no wonder schools are such germ factories when they insist children should come in when they're ill!

A woman lying on settee with her hand on her forehead. She is wearing a white top and lying on a blue and white cushion

Neale-Wade Academy in March wants proof for period pain absences

The school says it is also not accepting explanations such as "unwell, poorly or ill".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly4zd8xp74o

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 07/10/2024 21:00

mitogoshigg · 07/10/2024 20:47

I've never taken a day off for a cold, nor have I taken time off for period pain. School is there to educate children but they need to actually attend to benefit. There are illnesses that require them to miss school but in my book it needs to be more serious than above

I have endometriosis.

For women with endometriosis "period pain" can include:

Severe bowel cramps
Diarrhoea
Vomiting
Loss of blood at a rate that leads to anemia

and that's without mentioning the pain,

I have less than fond memories of spending nights on the bathroom floor only moving to alternatively vomit or diarrhoea in the toilet.

Fun.

And then it took seven years for a diagnosis and that was only because my grandparents paid for me to go private.

"Period pain" can be very very severe.

OneEdgySheep · 07/10/2024 21:00

I’m a teacher and I had to go home a couple of months ago because I was vomiting from my period pain.
I will not hold girls to an ideal I can’t reach myself.
This would be the hill I die on with SLT.

ColdinSeptember · 07/10/2024 21:00

My PP were horrendous as a teenager, they got better with age. But literally felt like I was dying at some points.

I also have never ever been able to tolerate tampons, we aren’t all the same inside!

bergamotorange · 07/10/2024 20:58

Ozanj · 07/10/2024 20:43

The thing is if a girl has such severe period pain it impacts attendance (because painkillers don’t touch it) you would want the parents to seek medical help. But a lot of parents often help girls take time off on PE / swimming days while on their periods because they don’t want them to wear tampons / take medication which isn’t right.

No one should have to use a tampon just to suit you. It is 2024, a woman's body should be her own. It's not for you to tell any girl how to deal with their period.

And as if a GP will do anything about period pain! It takes years to get proper investigations.

colourfulchinadolls · 07/10/2024 20:58

mitogoshigg · 07/10/2024 20:47

I've never taken a day off for a cold, nor have I taken time off for period pain. School is there to educate children but they need to actually attend to benefit. There are illnesses that require them to miss school but in my book it needs to be more serious than above

Good for you?

KateDelRick · 07/10/2024 20:58

SunnyHedgehog · 07/10/2024 20:56

The fault here lies with the pressure put on schools for attendance. It is honestly an immense and ridiculous amount of nitpicky pressure and it forces headteachers to enforce these kinds of rules. If they don't do everything possible to keep children in school then the DofE comes down on the school so hard.
It's time for a rethink about school attendance but it has to come from the top and it has to be a parent/carer partnership where students actually use independent learning and catch up the work they miss.

This.

Owmyelbow · 07/10/2024 20:57

As a teenager I would regularly pass out from period pain. Sadly my daughter also suffers badly. The doctor was very unhelpful, so I don't know what medical information they think they'd get. I'm a teacher btw and I think this is shit

WhistPie · 07/10/2024 20:57

mitogoshigg · 07/10/2024 20:47

I've never taken a day off for a cold, nor have I taken time off for period pain. School is there to educate children but they need to actually attend to benefit. There are illnesses that require them to miss school but in my book it needs to be more serious than above

I have, and I'm in my late 50s & self employed so I don't get paid!

RaiseYourSkinnyFists · 07/10/2024 20:57

SharpLily · 07/10/2024 20:54

You do realise not everybody's experience is the same as yours? This is like those who claim period poverty can't exist because they buy one packet of light tampons and it lasts them a year 🙄.

Show quote history

Very true. I actually do have very light short periods and very rarely get period pain and even I know this school is being ridiculous. If someone says they're in pain, that should be sufficient evidence.

SunnyHedgehog · 07/10/2024 20:56

The fault here lies with the pressure put on schools for attendance. It is honestly an immense and ridiculous amount of nitpicky pressure and it forces headteachers to enforce these kinds of rules. If they don't do everything possible to keep children in school then the DofE comes down on the school so hard.
It's time for a rethink about school attendance but it has to come from the top and it has to be a parent/carer partnership where students actually use independent learning and catch up the work they miss.

Original poster
Amallamard · 07/10/2024 20:56

frijolito · 07/10/2024 20:54

The pill does NOT prevent PCOS. It can mask some symptoms but it’s still there and in some cases the pill can even be the cause.

Show quote history

The pill gave me high blood pressure, killed my libido and made me slightly depressed.

Not sure it was worth it to help the PCOS

OP posts:
frijolito · 07/10/2024 20:54

Ozanj · 07/10/2024 20:51

Endo isn’t the only cause. PCOS is more common (or at least it is in poc) but the only preventative medication (birth control) is often not permitted by many parents. It really, really frustrates me

Show quote history

The pill does NOT prevent PCOS. It can mask some symptoms but it’s still there and in some cases the pill can even be the cause.

SharpLily · 07/10/2024 20:54

mitogoshigg · 07/10/2024 20:47

I've never taken a day off for a cold, nor have I taken time off for period pain. School is there to educate children but they need to actually attend to benefit. There are illnesses that require them to miss school but in my book it needs to be more serious than above

You do realise not everybody's experience is the same as yours? This is like those who claim period poverty can't exist because they buy one packet of light tampons and it lasts them a year 🙄.

Original poster
Amallamard · 07/10/2024 20:53

Ozanj · 07/10/2024 20:51

Endo isn’t the only cause. PCOS is more common (or at least it is in poc) but the only preventative medication (birth control) is often not permitted by many parents. It really, really frustrates me

Show quote history

Yes, it was PCOS that made mine bad but that wasn't diagnosed until I couldn't get pregnant. Before then the Drs weren't interested.

OP posts:
KendraTheVampyrSlayer · 07/10/2024 20:53

Ozanj · 07/10/2024 20:43

The thing is if a girl has such severe period pain it impacts attendance (because painkillers don’t touch it) you would want the parents to seek medical help. But a lot of parents often help girls take time off on PE / swimming days while on their periods because they don’t want them to wear tampons / take medication which isn’t right.

You can't force a girl to wear a tampon! That would be sexual assault! I've given birth twice and I can't wear tampons! Expecting young girls who either aren't comfortable wearing them or find them uncomfortable to wear them regardless is barbaric!

bergamotorange · 07/10/2024 20:53

mitogoshigg · 07/10/2024 20:47

I've never taken a day off for a cold, nor have I taken time off for period pain. School is there to educate children but they need to actually attend to benefit. There are illnesses that require them to miss school but in my book it needs to be more serious than above

Oh what sanctimonious nonsense.

Newsflash: not everyone is you.

If you read a basic medical textbook you can learn about the different pain levels in different people having their periods, and the wide range of normal responses to colds.

arthar · 07/10/2024 20:52

Ozanj · 07/10/2024 20:43

The thing is if a girl has such severe period pain it impacts attendance (because painkillers don’t touch it) you would want the parents to seek medical help. But a lot of parents often help girls take time off on PE / swimming days while on their periods because they don’t want them to wear tampons / take medication which isn’t right.

What isn’t right is to expect girls to use tampons or take medication so they can join in with some crappy swimming lesson.

We spend absolutely years teaching our kids their bodies are their own - what is this crazy shit about tampons and tablets.

Ozanj · 07/10/2024 20:51

DoYouReally · 07/10/2024 20:45

It takes over 10 years to get an endometriosis diagnosis in most cases so it's far from as easy as seeking medical help.

Show quote history

Endo isn’t the only cause. PCOS is more common (or at least it is in poc) but the only preventative medication (birth control) is often not permitted by many parents. It really, really frustrates me

KendraTheVampyrSlayer · 07/10/2024 20:51

mitogoshigg · 07/10/2024 20:47

I've never taken a day off for a cold, nor have I taken time off for period pain. School is there to educate children but they need to actually attend to benefit. There are illnesses that require them to miss school but in my book it needs to be more serious than above

Do you understand that period pain is different for every woman and girl? That some suffer from endometriosis and probably aren't yet diagnosed? Or do you think your own experience is universal?

artfuldodgerjack · 07/10/2024 20:49

Dd not dad!

artfuldodgerjack · 07/10/2024 20:49

I'd save one of the clots my dad regularly passes and send photos to the headteacher.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 07/10/2024 20:48

mitogoshigg · 07/10/2024 20:47

I've never taken a day off for a cold, nor have I taken time off for period pain. School is there to educate children but they need to actually attend to benefit. There are illnesses that require them to miss school but in my book it needs to be more serious than above

You know the severity of period pain differs vastly from woman to woman?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 07/10/2024 20:47

It all just seems like a massive waste of drs time, if nothing else.

Obviously if antibiotics are needed, you’d have to go to the drs and they’d be proof, but if it’s just a bad cold, why waste their precious time? same as going to the drs to confirm period paid - what does that achieve? You can’t test the level of pain. I guess you could go for prescription pain killers but after that there’s no need to confirm every time.

mitogoshigg · 07/10/2024 20:47

I've never taken a day off for a cold, nor have I taken time off for period pain. School is there to educate children but they need to actually attend to benefit. There are illnesses that require them to miss school but in my book it needs to be more serious than above

DoYouReally · 07/10/2024 20:45

Ozanj · 07/10/2024 20:43

The thing is if a girl has such severe period pain it impacts attendance (because painkillers don’t touch it) you would want the parents to seek medical help. But a lot of parents often help girls take time off on PE / swimming days while on their periods because they don’t want them to wear tampons / take medication which isn’t right.

It takes over 10 years to get an endometriosis diagnosis in most cases so it's far from as easy as seeking medical help.