Experts say 'menstrual leave' should be a thing

We all know the feeling of waking up with stomach cramps, headaches, bloating and tiredness and know straight away that our period has arrived.

And while we may want to just curl up into a ball and sleep away our monthly visitor, the real life, a.k.a. work, always calls.

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However experts have now claimed that women should be eligible for 'menstrual leave' during their time of the month, after a study revealed most women's period affects their ability to work.

The survey, which was conducted by YouGov on behalf of BBC Radio 5Live, asked 1,000 women if their period made it difficult for them to work.

Interestingly, 52% of women polled said their period affected their work life and a third of those had taken a sick day from work as a result of this.

Only 27% admitted the real reason their work was affected to their employer even though nine out of ten women said they had period pain at some point in their life.

Dr Gedis Grudzinskas told BBC News that women offer suffer in silence and he believes they should be offered 'menstrual leave'.

“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,” he said.

Japan already offers women leave when they have their period, as does South Korea, Taiwan and some parts of China.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, 20 percent of women suffer from pain associated with menstruation, which is called dysmenorrhea, at least one day of every month.

This is broken up into primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea and while the primary version can mean women cramp and suffer pain around the abdomen, the secondary can result in pain likened to passing a kidney stone.

Women with anemia are also often left weak by their period, some even pass out and others find out they are suffering from endometriosis, adenomyosis, and fibroids.

Actress and comedian Lena Dunham wrote a powerful note on endometriosis after she was forced to take leave from work due to the pain.

"I am currently going through a rough patch with the illness and my body (along with my amazing doctors) let me know, in no uncertain terms, that it's time to rest," she wrote in an Instagram post.

"So many women with this disease literally don't have the option of time off and I won't take it for granted. "

However many people believe women already face inequality in the office and this could only feed the fire and others claim it could widen the gender pay gap.

Whatever way you look at it, it's not a decision that's likely to be entered into easily by companies.

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