52% of women say monthly pain takes toll on their work

HALF of women workers have suffered periods so painful they affect their ability to work, a survey has found.

A poll of 1,000 women found that 52 per cent had suffered severe pain that had taken a toll on them at work. But only 27 per cent had told their boss that period pain was responsible.

Of the 52 per cent, nearly a third told the BBC-commissioned survey they had taken at least a day’s sick leave as a result.

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

Dr Gedis Grudzinskas, a Londonbased consultant gynaecologist, said women should be more open about period pain – and employers more understanding. He told the BBC: ‘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.’

Dr Grudzinskas said one option was to offer female employees ‘menstrual leave’, already granted to women in countries such as Japan.

‘Menstrual leave would make people feel more happy and comfortable in the workplace, which is a positive thing,’ he added.

‘People forget that women make up half the workforce. If they feel supported, it will be a happy and productive workforce.’

Employment lawyer Fiona Morrison said that in some cases, severe period pain could be considered a disability.

‘Under UK law, if someone is in extreme pain and it is stopping them from working effectively, a tribunal could say that this woman is disabled,’ she added.

During a period, the wall of the womb starts to contract more to make the lining shed away.

When the muscular wall contracts, it compresses the blood vessels lining the womb. This cuts off the blood supply temporarily – causing tissues in the womb to release chemicals which trigger pain.

The body simultaneously produces prostaglandins which encourage the womb muscles to contract even more – increasing the pain.

Teacher Nancy Eccles, 48, left fulltime work partly because of her painful periods. She is now due to have a hysterectomy.

She said: ‘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.

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

‘In my last two years of teaching full-time, I struggled to get through an hour’s lesson.’

‘Happy and productive’