UK Government Urged to Introduce Monthly Menstrual Leave for 1.5 Million Sufferers
The UK Government is under increasing pressure to introduce statutory menstrual leave, as campaigners rally for new protections for around 1.5 million people across the country living with endometriosis and adenomyosis.
A petition currently circulating online calls for up to three paid sick days per month for those who have a formal medical diagnosis of either condition.
The proposal mirrors new legislation introduced in Portugal earlier this year and aims to offer vital relief to sufferers dealing with chronic pain, fatigue and other distressing symptoms.
Campaigners stress the need for urgent reform. Quoting from the petition, they said: “We call on the UK Government to introduce statutory paid menstrual leave of up to three days per month for people with conditions such as endometriosis and adenomyosis, following the model introduced in Portugal in 2025.”
The message is clear – action is overdue.
The request outlines several key protections:
- Three days of statutory menstrual leave per month
- A single annual medical certificate to validate the condition
- No loss of pay, career progression or workplace benefits
- Strong guarantees around confidentiality and workplace dignity
Support is growing fast. Over 3,450 signatures have already been collected. If the campaign reaches 10,000 signatures, the Government will be obliged to respond. At 100,000, the petition could be debated in Parliament.
Endometriosis and adenomyosis are often dismissed or overlooked, despite their impact. Endometriosis causes tissue similar to the womb’s lining to grow elsewhere in the body. Adenomyosis involves the womb’s lining invading the muscle wall.
The result? Pain. Heavy bleeding. Debilitating fatigue.
Sex can become uncomfortable. Normal daily life can grind to a halt.
According to the NHS, sufferers may also face:
- Severe cramps that disrupt work or school
- Heavy menstrual bleeding, requiring frequent pad or tampon changes
- Pain during urination or bowel movements
- Lower back and pelvic pain
- Infertility concerns, mood swings, and mental health strain
- Rare cases of bleeding in the lungs, leading to breathlessness or coughing up blood
Yet despite these serious symptoms, diagnosis remains frustratingly slow.
While it’s believed that one in ten women in the UK has endometriosis, official statistics suggest only two percent receive a formal diagnosis. That’s a huge gap.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) linked census and hospital data between 2011 and 2021 and found the average age at diagnosis is 35, often many years after symptoms first show up.
“Using 2011 Census data linked to hospital records from 2011 to 2021, we estimate the prevalence of an endometriosis diagnosis to be approximately two percent of reproductive age women in our linked population.
With an average age at diagnosis of 35 years, this is likely an underestimate of the true prevalence, as many women will not have a diagnosis,” the ONS stated.
Charity group Endometriosis UK calls it the second most common gynaecological condition in the country. But diagnosis can take up to eight years and ten months after the first GP visit.
Treatment options exist, but they vary widely. Painkillers and hormone therapy can offer temporary relief. Surgery might be necessary for more severe cases. In instances of extensive adenomyosis, a hysterectomy may be the only option.
Crucially, campaigners are calling for more than just medical treatment, they want recognition and support in the workplace.
“We urge the UK Government to implement a statutory menstrual leave policy similar to the one recently passed in Portugal,” the petition states again, highlighting the urgency of bringing UK policy in line with international progress.
As the petition edges closer to its first milestone, campaigners are hoping this time, the pain won’t be ignored.
