Endometriosis and work

Severe period pain is one of the key symptoms of endometriosis. Other symptoms of endometriosis, such as pain when going to the toilet, can also become worse during a menstrual period. Evidence suggests that 25% of women don’t talk about periods at work, yet 89% have experienced anxiety and stress in the workplace due to their periods.

An example of how this affects the workforce can be seen by looking at the NHS. The NHS workforce in Wales is made up of 77% female employees with evidence showing that female employees having higher sickness rates than their male colleagues, most often due to ‘minor illnesses’ which is how many women describe menstruation-related issues. The data also shows that people with long-term health conditions have a higher rate of sickness absence, which may include conditions like endometriosis.

It therefore makes sense to ensure that workplaces foster a culture where women and people assigned female at birth can discuss their symptoms and needs, and to also work collaboratively with staff to create spaces that can meet these needs.