‘Menstruation not a handicap, but still debilitating’: Why women say they need paid menstrual leaves

While experts agree that menstruation is a natural biological process, they caution against having a one-size-fits-all approach to the issue. “Menstruation is a different experience for every menstruator. For some, it might be easy to get on with their daily tasks while menstruating, but for others who experience extreme symptoms that go to the extent of hospitalisation, it can be a tough time,” says Dr Puja Sharma, senior consultant, obstetrics and gynaecology, Daffodils by Artemis, New Delhi.

But how many women fall under the latter category? It’s more than you think. As per Cleveland Clinic, “about 60% of people with a uterus have mild cramps during their period, while 5% to 15% of people report period pain that’s so severe that it affects their daily activities”. However, it notes that this number is likely higher, as healthcare providers believe many people don’t report menstrual pain.

Among these many menstruators is Akankshya Samantray, 20, a BTech professional, who has not had a normal menstrual cycle ever since she reached menarche 8 years ago. “I have endometriosis because of which even dosing myself with antispasmodics doesn’t help. The pain leaves me crippled. On April, this year, I couldn’t even get out of bed. My abdomen was bulged out and it was as if I was on my deathbed. With my roommates’ help, I went to the medical centre and fortunately received help.” she says, adding that “while menstruation is not a handicap, it can be debilitating.”

Even for Mohini Mathur, a fashion designer and communication consultant, who is lucky enough to have no menstrual disorders, period leaves mean a day free from stress and a chance to rejuvenate. “I have had to take leaves due to painful menstruation because the pain becomes unbearable, which accompanied by weakness and fatigue is a double whammy. It makes it difficult for me to concentrate and perform effectively at work. Due to the long hours of sitting, it makes me feel physically weaker, so having some flexibility or understanding from the workplace really helps,” she says.

Dr Sharma makes a case even for women who go through normal symptoms of menstruation, citing a rise in cortisol levels, dehydration, fatigue and migraines caused due to lack of rest, as a cause for concern. “A supportive and inclusive environment that fosters healthier reactions towards menstruating women would help them in mitigating the symptoms of menstruation without affecting their work efficiency,” she says.

Dr Rahul Chandhok, head consultant, mental health and behavioural science, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, notes that handling work pressure while dealing with menstrual problems results in the deterioration of mental well-being in women. “Erosion of self-confidence, lack of self-esteem, and starting to doubt one’s abilities are some of the common problems that women start facing when they don’t get enough rest while menstruating. Increased stress, irritation, fatigue, and mood swings are some other impacts of lack of rest during menstruation.”

However, a lot of critics such as Irani argue that menstrual leaves can have negative effects on the women workforce. “Let’s say the government directs corporates to allow a leave of two days a month, while the number of paid leaves are limited. Wouldn’t this compel the company to hire fewer and fewer women? or reduce their salary resulting in an increased gender pay gap? And what about the workplace discrimination she will experience from her male colleagues? Sick leaves should suffice,” says Nikhil Chandra, a BTech professional.

But with big companies like Zomato and Swiggy offering paid menstrual leaves to women, Aditi Gupta, the founder of Menstrupedia, finds this argument redundant. “I run a company that gives paid menstrual leaves, and I don’t think there’s any additional cost. If a woman cannot come to work, she will anyways take a leave from her sick leave quota. But, if you as a company are saying that “hey, listen, I care about your discomfort. I care about your health. And here is one more day of leave that you can take”. By doing this, you have actually exhibited to your employees that you care about their health. And time and again, it has been shown that companies communicating empathy and support through their policies, foster a positive work environment, which ultimately enhances productivity.”

Gupta feels that one day of menstrual leave per month, in comparison to 3 to 4 days, is a more prudent way of dealing with the issue. “I think there is more backlash on the number of days the period leave should be given than the policy itself.”

Further, allowing employees to take paid leaves because of period pain can help them seek help and increase their productivity by reducing stress, giving them time to recover, and boosting their morale, says Dr Astha Dayal, lead consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram. “Even allowing flexible work hours or work from home options for 1 to 2 days per month can improve working conditions for women who face such issues. At the end of the day, menstrual leaves provide an opportunity to normalise conversations around menstruation and destigmatise the taboo topic,” she says.