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.

@LunaTheCat

Imagine if men had periods - would be absolutely standard, 7 days every month, special hospitals they could go to..

But the reason men are the men in this society is precisely because they don’t have the periods or the babies....

No. You can already self certify if needed.

@Ohtherewearethen no, what annoys me is people like @Bluntness100 , who tell women that they can't possibly be having painful periods as part of their normal monthly cycle.

I have met women like her before.

Oh dear, this isn’t going well.

Op look the majority of posters are female and don’t agree this should be a thing.

And don’t go to th doctor, whatever

@Bluntness100

Op.

I’m a woman,

I know what having a period is like.

But thanks for the lesson in menstruation.

In fairness Bluntness you know what it's like for you

You can't really speak on behalf of all women just because you are one!

Bluntnesss isn’t a woman.

@Bluntness100 fine, maybe get off this thread? Bye

Eh what now? I never said women couldn’t have painful periods ? I said it wasn’t normal to be gushing blood, in so much pain that otc medicine doesn’t help and weak from it, and that if that was the case then something was wrong, I didn’t dispute it happened.,

This is just getting odd. Really odd.

I think there should be a slight flexibility to those that suffer terribly. I suffered really bad periods until I gave birth and now it's so much better (touch wood) but going to work and nearly fainting many times, is when I wished I could work from home with a hot water bottle, a cup of tea and curled up in bed with laptop beside me.

@Sarahpaula - which is it though? If it's only slightly painful it wouldn't stop you from working so you wouldn't need to take period leave. If it's bad enough to prevent you from working then yes, I'd fight for a second opinion as it's not something women should have to suffer every month. You seem so contradictory.

@Nameandgamechange123

We should pay for sanitary products in the same way we pay for all our hygiene products like toilet paper etc. I don't see why pads/tampons are special.

Also don't think we should get menstrual leave. It would just end up as another reason for some employers to not employ women. Whilst some women definitely do suffer badly with periods I don't think they're as common as the OP thinks. Not in my experience anyway.

We should pay for sanitary products in the same way we pay for all our hygiene products like toilet paper etc. I don't see why pads/tampons are special.

Do you really not see any difference between toilet paper and sanitary towels?

OP if you want or need menstrual leave you should ask your employer about it. You could talk about annualised hours if you wanted to tone it down a bit.

If you have gynae problems, you should either grin and bear them (not preventable) or pro-actively sort them out.

In answer to your question, most women here don't want menstrual leave.

What they do want is good health-care and supportive employers for those women, and at those times, when female reproductive issues interfere with women's ability to work.

I didn't have any issues until I was in my 40's - and then had really heavy periods that I occasionally took sick leave for.
I know it won't help all women, but I think a big move in more flexible working will be useful to many - no commutes, being able to get on with work clutching a heatpad & no one questioning why.
Unfortunately, I think it could lead to men being favoured in recruitment - I don't think that's fair, nor do I condone it, but I expect it would have an effect.

I work with three other women. 3 days a month each would be 12 working days, of around 22 lost every month.

How would it be monitored? Julie is going to take it off, even though she doesn't need it, because Sandra is.

I'd be saying that mine is conveniently around pay day.

• not advisable!

No. However, GPs should investigate painful and heavy periods and not just fob off sufferers. I have been lucky and have never experienced real pain but I know plenty of women who have.

Blimey I’m gonna have to tell my husband and daughter I’m not female...🤣🤣🤣

It’s also a thread full of ‘women’ saying debilitating periods are extremely rare - so much so that they’re convinced they know more about the OP’s medical problems than her own doctor.

They're not rare. They're exceptionally common. Apparently one in 10 women has endometriosis. And it's possible to have painful, debilitating periods even if you don't suffer with that specific condition.

It's not something I think should be legislated for, but nor do I believe women should suffer discrimination if they really do suffer with this to extremes. There are laws which state you can't be sacked for being pregnant, for example. Blanket legislation would be ripe for abuse and could end up being detrimental to women in general.

For others who suffer with this: my periods have been less painful (and I've felt cleaner and fresher) since I started using a moon cup. I have no idea why they should make menstruation any less painful, but IME, that is the case.

@MarieIVanArkleStinks that is interesting. Is a moon cup comfortable? I must get one

@Bookaholic73

Depends. Some women don’t get any pain, their mood doesn’t change too much etc.

For some (like my sister), the only thing they can do is lie in bed and cry for 5 days a month.

So yes, I do think some women should get leave.

but how would you 'police' this

Personally - I would have it as a protected characteristic (in the same way that someone with depression needs a duvet day) to be used as required.

No because there are options to stop them. If you choose not to do that, then that’s your choice.

And I am speaking as someone who suffered very badly each month

No, of course not.