Menstrual Leave: It is time to start taking menstrual and reproductive health seriously

I recently led the debate considering the e-petition relating to statutory menstrual leave for people with endometriosis and adenomyosis. These conditions cause chronic pain as a result of the excess growth of tissue similar to the lining of the womb in areas outside of the womb, causing symptoms from inflammation to severe pain, fatigue, and in some cases infertility.

I first learned about endometriosis through my wife, Leah. She lived with the condition from the age of 12 to her 30s. Like many others, she was told numerous times to ‘just get on with it’, and had her pain dismissed merely as heavy periods.

I have since heard stories from other women, including Michelle Dewar, who led the petition.

Despite 1.5 million people in Britain suffering with endometriosis, the condition has been ignored and overlooked time and time again. Many believe conversation should be reserved for behind closed doors, out of the earshot of male peers.

In reality, women’s health is not just a women’s issue. It is an economic, and importantly, an equality issue.

The impact of endometriosis and adenomyosis is immense. Combined, they cost the UK economy more than £8.2 billion a year in treatment, general health costs, and loss of work.

There is also a mental health impact, with loss of work impacting women’s self-esteem and individual identity.

The number of women diagnosed with these conditions in Britain is roughly similar to the total number of those affected by diabetes. But while the challenges faced by those with diabetes is widely understood, the same cannot be said for endometriosis and adenomyosis.

So, how do we address this shortfall? Policy change is one option.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 already requires large employers to publish gender equality action plans. It also makes significant progress in supporting menopausal health in the workplace. Yet it fails to directly address reproductive and menstrual health.

We must therefore go further.

The Portuguese model could offer a way forward. A recent menstrual leave law allows up to three days of absence per month from work for those with a certified clinical diagnosis of endometriosis or adenomyosis. This approach allows women far greater flexibility and recognition of their condition.

But introducing menstrual leave will not alone deliver the transformative change we desperately need.

We must also address the serious short falls in diagnosis. On average, diagnosis currently takes around nine years and four months. This means that only 15% of those with endometriosis symptoms have the formal diagnosis that would allow them to access the statutory menstrual leave as proposed. Significant improvements in early intervention, diagnosis, and GP training is therefore a necessary first step.

A shift in culture is also vital.

We must challenge the stigma that continues to surround discussions of menstrual and reproductive health. As I said before, these conversations cannot be condemned to behind closed doors. We must recognise that endometriosis and adenomyosis are systemic, chronic health conditions that can derail somebody’s life, and challenge the taboo and shame that only accentuates patients’ suffering. How often do we still hear the dismissive remark, “Is it that time of the month?” By encouraging greater openness and understanding in how we talk about menstrual health, we can ensure that those living with endometriosis and adenomyosis receive the recognition and support they deserve.

Some progress has already been made. The expansion of the endometriosis-friendly employer scheme and the national workplace endometriosis and adenomyosis pledge allow businesses to commit to employer action plans that promote open dialogue, training, and understanding of these conditions.

But there is more we can do. A culture change will not happen overnight, which is why it is vital we continue to have these open conversations, and why I was proud to lead the Westminster Hall debate on this subject.

Dr Jasmine Hearn and her colleagues at Manchester Metropolitan University show that improving awareness and tackling stigma are key to ensuring justice for women with menstrual health concerns. So, as we begin to have more serious conversations about options such as menstrual leave, we must also push for a real and meaningful change in our attitudes, to ensure that menstrual and reproductive health are taken seriously for once and for all.