For some women, the monthly arrival of menstruation is a real suffering. They suffer from dysmenorrhea , that is, especially painful periods. It is not the typical menstrual discomfort , but rather intense pain that often prevents them from getting out of bed and can even be accompanied by nausea and vomiting .
According to a review carried out by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (USA), one in ten women suffers from dysmenorrhea. These can be caused by more severe complications, such as sexually transmitted diseases or endometriosis, but many times the origin is unknown.
Working under these conditions is a real ordeal and, because of this, some countries consider the possibility of taking a menstrual leave during these days. Obviously, this permission cannot be enjoyed by just any woman: to request it, a medical certificate is necessary to confirm that these painful rules are indeed suffered.
Asia, a pioneer in recognizing menstrual leave
Japan has contemplated menstrual leave since 1947, and other Asian countries such as South Korea, Indonesia and Taiwan also include it in their legislation.
In Europe, at the moment, there is no recognition at the government level for this type of permit, although some companies do offer it to their workers. And, in Italy , the Chamber of Deputies is studying a bill to implement it. If approved, it would become the first European country to recognize menstrual leave .
Although the majority of women applaud this proposal, there are also certain fears that menstrual leave will become an added factor of job discrimination. However, it is necessary to remember that not all women can take advantage of it, only those who truly need it, and it will always be justified with a medical certificate, just like any other sick leave or sick leave.
