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.

So are you going to ask your employer for menstrual leave OP?

@chloemol they don't work for everybody. Even when you run the pill together all the time, you can still have a bleed

No. But adequate and helpful medical intervention should be available for all women. Without that women can't be equal as menstruation isn't a disability except in exceptional circumstances.

I just think that women should be given so much more respect in so many areas.

Those are all countries in which women's rights are pretty poor. I don't think volunteering to surrender to our biology will advance any case for equality. You can't be equal and want special treatment.

I find this an interesting proposition @Sarahpaula

Until a few years ago I'd probably have been really against the idea, and making the same points some PPs have.

I've never had any major issues with periods, only minor cramps / mild PMT. I recognise how lucky I am.

Since I turned 40, everything's changed for me. Variously I've had dreadful anxiety around my period, complete brain fog, joint pain, and utter exhaustion. I know comparatively this sounds fine, placed against the awful physical symptoms others have.

But I really struggle to work effectively those days. I'm desperate to rest - even in work in normal times I've made use of the first aid room on my breaks but it's not great.

But I don't know how it could be managed fairly & I'd honestly probably feel bad if I did take leave on this basis.

It's a man's world and will be thus for a long while.

FK them. Sorry now.

But that is because many women hide their pain in front of their male colleagues or bosses, . True or not?

You can't be equal and want special treatment.

What does ‘equal’ mean?

@Bluntness100

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

😂😂😂

I was wondering what was going on.

@Pumperthepumper why do you keep saying this? 🤔

No.

If women are too ill to work when they have their period they should use sick leave. Too many people would take the piss if they were entitled to extra paid time off every month. You can’t expect people to prove they’re on their period, so easy for people to work through their period and take a day or two off when they fancy a duvet day.

I agree with PP that better investigation and treatment for menstrual issues is needed, and would be more beneficial than giving employers another reason not to hire women.

No. People would abuse it and 3 days isn't much help to those who need it. I have PCOS and endo so flexible working would be ideal but I imagine any system would cause more inequality in the workplace.

If your periods are preventing you from functioning in normal day to day activities eg working, then you need a medical intervention.
Sorry if that sounds harsh.

No

I agree that more flexible working and better work environments would help a lot of people, not so sure on leave specifically for menstruation would help anything. I also agree with others that better medical care that actually respects women's pain would help a ton too. Most women experience cramps & flooding at some point, but that doesn't mean most experience them at a level that it that gets in the way of most functions without there being other medical issues involved. I cannot find any data to back up that assertion, all I'm finding are lists and stats of the many menstrual disorders and other disorders that can cause dysmenorrhoea / painful periods.

I find it very dismissive to act like if a doctor didn't see it once, there can't be an issue. Many people for many reasons take years to get a diagnosis, some have go through multiple diagnoses to get the care that makes it bearable. Women's health issues are notorious for being fobbed off. It takes on average over 7 years to get an endometriosis diagnosis, I know people who fought for well over a decade and are still on-going to get treatment for menstrual-related problems often because once it's finally recognized properly, it takes longer to fix because of how long they've had to live with it. It's hard enough to live without a diagnosis to not have this idea that if there isn't one, there can't be anything really wrong.

I've had mine checked, internal ultrasound, bloods, all of it short of surgery. I spent 5 years fobbed off with the wrong diagnosis. I had to go through it again because I could not cope anymore, with symptoms of vaginal atrophy. Hurt like hell getting that wand shoved in my and moved around to see all of it. Yup, my reproductive system is all clear, my sex hormones are all fine, way better than I had been led to believe when I was misdiagnosed -- but expand the search a little and turns out some of my other hormones were through the floor and I had nutritional deficiences which meant even when my reproductive system is fine, it couldn't work properly. One hormone goes off and it can fuck with the rest of them and their receptors. I finally got the care I need and, other than it being a migraine trigger (though those have improved as well), I tend to feel better when I menstruate than in the days leading up to it. It's become a noticeable relief when I start menstruating more often than not.

Menstruation isn't fun, but it shouldn't be expected to be as horrible as many women experience for years without help. We can look at the systems around work and the medical systems as well that make things harder than they need to be.

I think this is a really tough issue.

I have been investigated for suspected endo over the last year. In the first day or 2 of my period, my brain turns to mush and the pain can be unbearable. I have sat in work wanting to scream out loud and yet smiled through it.

I took 2 days off work last year because of it. I had another awful period last month that, if I had still been in the office, I would be had to take the day off. Because I am working from home I was able to power through on the couch and scream to the four walls instead!

To those who say, 'no you shouldnt get time off' and 'you need to see a GP if it is that bad' in the same breath, it isnt that simple. I saw an amazing female GP who took me seriously and referred me to hospital. I then saw a male gynae who did all he could to talk me out of a laparoscopy and said I couldn't have one for now. He then he gave me med that havent worked so it is back to the drawing board. The journey from seeing the GP to diagnosis or a meaningful solution can be a long one, if it happens at all.

Endometriosis is still not taken seriously. So if that is the case, how are we going to expect workplaces to take it seriously? Because I will be flexible working when I go back my hope is my female boss who knows about this would let me swap my wfh days if and when needed.

Sarahpaula they are strange to get used to at first, but yes. In my experience more so than disposable dressings as you never get that heavy, uncomfortable, dragging feeling when they need changing. I've rarely ever leaked from them, too. They were recommended to me after I had my DC and wish I'd discovered them years before.

I think the main issue with menstruation is that because it's seen as a "woman's issue" and isn't life threatening in general, there is very little research concerning why some people suffer so much more than others.

Having had really bad periods myself, there are times when I would have killed for a day off. I'm surprised at the number of people who are against the idea.

I don't think I suffer as badly as some of my friends who have horrendous pains and flooding but my periods can be heavy.
Worse for me is the week before when I'm dizzy, nauseous, have diarrhea and can't stop fucking crying. Damn right I should be able to take time off when I feel like I'm going to faint, but I can't. I'd be sacked if I took time off when I felt like that.

If menstrual products are made free for all women, can toilet roll and soap and shampoo etc also be free? What about food and clothes?