Period pain affects ‘about half’ of women workers

BBC: About half of women workers have experienced period pain that affects their ability to work, a survey suggests.

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Of the 52%, nearly a third had taken at least a day’s sick leave as a result. And one doctor has suggested employers should offer “menstrual leave”.

Nine out of 10 of the women reported having period pain at some point.

Dr Gedis Grudzinskas, a London-based consultant gynaecologist, said women should be more open about period pain - and employers more understanding.

He added: “Menstruation is normal, but some women suffer terribly and they suffer in silence.

“I don’t think women should be shy about it, and companies should be accommodating with leave for women who are struggling with painful periods.”

Nancy Eccles left full-time work partly because of her painful periods.

“Two weeks before my period I cry at the drop of a hat, feel low, think the world is ending and feel overwhelmed by everything,” she says.

“As soon as I ovulate, there is a surge in progesterone and I fly into rages at the most trivial thing.

“I always soldiered on at work, but in my last two years of teaching full-time, I struggled to get through an hour’s lesson before I had to go to the toilet and change myself.”