Why Is Menstrual Support at Work Still an Afterthought?
I was chatting with one of my lovely HR LinkedIn connections this week, and they told me:
"My workplace says they care about wellbeing, but when I asked about menstrual support, they said they had 'other priorities' right now. How do we get businesses to take this seriously?"
This tracks.
In some market research I’m doing, perceived stigma, lack of awareness, and competing priorities came up as the biggest barriers stopping organisations from investing in support like menstrual wellness education.
The Gender Pain Gap
Yet, the Gender Pain Gap is real.
Studies show that women’s pain is taken less seriously than men’s, both in medicine and at work.
A recent survey of more than 5,000 UK adults revealed that over half of women (56%) feel their pain is ignored or dismissed by healthcare professionals. Of those, about 1 in 4 women said no one took their pain seriously, compared to 1 in 6 men in the same situation
This isn’t just bias; it’s discrimination.
The gender pain gap means women’s pain is often dismissed as ‘a normal part of womanhood’ or simply not worth addressing.
The research suggests that when women describe pain, it’s more likely to be framed as ‘emotional’ rather than physical, making it easier to brush off.
No wonder menstrual struggles get ignored.
Presenteeism in Action
I remember sitting in a meeting once, fighting through a PMS headache so brutal it felt like my brain was trying to crawl out of my skull.
My vision was fuzzy. My words were slipping.
But did I say anything? Of course not.
Because periods (and everything that comes with them) aren’t seen as real problems at work. We’re expected to ‘man up’ (don’t even get me started on how much I hate that phrase) and just get on with it.
I fumbled through that meeting, terrified someone would notice I couldn’t string a sentence together. And t hat’s the thing, when you’re dealing with that level of pain and discomfort, you’re running at half capacity.
And that is presenteeism in action: going through the motions, but not truly there.
When people are struggling in silence, businesses lose focus, energy, retention, and trust.
And that’s the problem, isn’t it? It’s not that organisations have ‘bigger priorities.’ It’s that menstrual pain, brain fog, and exhaustion don’t look serious enough to count.
They’re invisible and they’re dismissed as ‘just part of life.’
Quiet Struggles at Work
Workplaces are still deeply uncomfortable acknowledging that people bleed.
But behind every statistic is a human being quietly suffering.
🩸 People push through, take painkillers, and ‘power on’... but at what cost? The reality is they’re slower, distracted, and exhausted.
🩸 When periods hit hard, many don’t take time off because it feels ‘not serious enough’... but if they do, they’re seen as unreliable.
🩸 People on the hunt for pain relief while trying to act like they’re fine. Hot water bottles and tens machines hidden under desks.
Everyone’s dealing with it, but no one’s really talking about it.
Menstruation is still treated like an awkward side note in professional spaces, despite the fact that at least half the workforce experiences it.
Changing the Conversation
So, how do we change the conversation?
1️⃣ Call out the hypocrisy. Businesses already support mental health, chronic pain and menopause... but periods? Why is that too ‘taboo’?
2️⃣ Instead of buzzwords like ‘absenteeism,’ talk about real people struggling at their desks, hiding symptoms, and feeling like they have to prove they’re ‘fine.’
3️⃣ Menstrual support doesn’t mean a full policy overhaul overnight. Offering free period products, acknowledging symptoms, and normalising flexible working? That’s a solid start.
Even small changes show this isn’t scary.
And most importantly, they start to change the conversation and invite open discussion.
Becuase menstrual pain isn't normal!
Yes, it's common, but it is not normal.
Menstrual support isn’t ‘extra.’
It’s overdue.
The workplaces that get that?
They’re the ones people actually want to work for.
Your Turn
What’s your take?
If you have 5 mins to answer 7 quick Qs I’d really appreciate your input. 🙏
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