Do you think that we should get menstrual leave?

[Sarahpaula]

I have had such a terrible period this month. I was in so much pain. I feel so weak and tired. I know that many women feel like this. Do you think we should have an entitlement to menstrual leave from work?

Some countries already have menstrual leave in place. Mainly in Asia, from what I can see.

Here is an article:

in Taiwan, menstrual leave legislation was amended as recently as 2013. It guarantees women three days of menstrual leave a year on top of the 30 days half-paid sick leave given to all workers.
The extra three days came after a coalition of politicians claimed that incorporating menstrual leave into regular sick leave would be a violation of women’s rights. Indonesian women, too, are allowed two days a month menstrual leave and South Korean workers AND students are entitled to take days off when they’ve got their period as sick leave.

Op.

I’m a woman,

I know what having a period is like.

But thanks for the lesson in menstruation.

If you’re gushing blood you need tranexamic acid.

All I’ve ever been offered is the coil or hormonal contraception. I have issues with my cervix so a cool isn’t suitable and hormonal contraception makes me unwell. You can bet if men had periods they would have got it all sorted out by now!

It would absolutely need an overhaul in societal thinking - a removal of the idea that equality means ‘everyone treated exactly the same’. Also that women aren’t just short men, but have different hormonal reasons for time off that men don’t.

@Bluntness100 what do you mean "the overwhelming majority of women don't need time off work or school". Have you talked to them all?

Just having a period is hard work

Not for everyone. I am with bluntness on this. And others. Women can take sick leave if it's that bad they can't work, it is a minority of women who have issues and I agree that in lots of cases that issues are medical. Not all, but lots.

It will get to a stage where employers won't want to hire women if they keep asking for time off. These things have occurred since the beginning of time and people managed to cope with it before. Take a sick day if you must!

What we need isn't menstrual leave but a health system that takes gynaecological pain seriously.

You shouldn't be in so much pain that you're incapacitated, OP. The doc may have told you that all is fine, but it clearly isn't. Go back and explain that you're in so much pain that it's hard to work, and be persistent.

It took almost 10 years for my endo to be diagnosed, so I am not talking out of my hat here.

Yes definitely

It will never end. women are just not respected in life or work.

They have periods. they have to birth children, they in the end have menopause.

Most men don't care. Sorry now, but that is the reality as it always was.

When you say you got a check, what did that involve exactly? I had 4 trips to the GP, ultrasound and 2 laparoscopies over the course of one year before I was disgnosed with endometriosis, and even then the gyno said that around 1/4 women experience pains that remain unexplained. Personally, I'd rather see us create more flexible and female friendly workplaces than have few days off that don't cover the whole time nor are substantially different from sick leave provision that already exists.

I am menopausal and my periods have just become horrendous. I'm working from home at the moment but I'm making plans for my return by getting a prescription for trans (sp?) acid, period pants and mattress towels. For the pain I have ibuprofen.
No way would I want time off for this.

@SchrodingersImmigrant I just don't agree that only a minority of women who have issues.

I have talked to so, so many women throughout my life who have talked about having severe pain in their periods. Not in every one of their periods, but in some of them.

The same for me. Many of my periods have been fine. I would say about 10% of my periods have been severely painful, and 10% of my periods have been absolute agony.

Many women don't have terrible, agonising periods every month, but many women have these kinds of severely painful periods at some time in their lives. Which makes sense that you could take menstrual leave for the really painful periods

Not menstrual leave specifically, it just gives employers another reason to discriminate against women (and male colleagues an axe to grind). But I think allowing each employee a few personal days every year, that can be taken at short notice if necessary (needs of the business permitting), as some companies do, is a good idea. Burst pipe, sick kid, period... whatever. Life happens.

Maybe, if it’s really bad. I was diagnosed with PMDD after my second child and every month the physical and mental symptoms seem to be getting worse. At the moment I don’t think I could actually function well enough to go to work so I’m glad I don’t have to. The other day my husband found me curled up asleep on the floor. I had been sitting there playing with the baby when I just passed out from exhaustion. That has never happened to me before. I think there should be some allowances made for women who really suffer because of their periods.

No, terrible idea. It wouldn't help women at all if they are entitled to days off for things men aren't. Another reason not to hire them. Who would want to claim them anyway? I wouldn't want to advertise to an employer or manager that I was menstruating.

I worked in Japan in the 90s and we got 2 days a month. I never used it, but it was good to know it was there. For some people, the pain can be crippling and, at the time, it was also frowned upon to use tampons or the pill unless you were married - not sure if this is still the case.

@Kay1341 Where on Earth did the idea come from that if we have pain in our period, that something is wrong?

Period pains in themselves are painful.

If it is so bad as to miss work regularly, surely you see a gynaecologist? By no means unsympathetic, and I know some women suffer horribly, but surely check out why?

The Reality is men are easier to employ, minimal mat leave and so on.

Sisters, we have still a long way to go.

@Shinycarabina that is so interesting. Well done Japan, I have to say.

What we need isn't menstrual leave but a health system that takes gynaecological pain seriously.

Agreed, but even with that in place, some employers would still trivialise period problems and be obstructive about them being used as grounds for sick leave.

They have periods. they have to birth children, they in the end have menopause.

If women have to birth children, shouldn't there be IVF leave too?

Extreme pain is something wrong. That’s why we have painkillers.

I send you a hug @HarryHarry1