The Importance of Taking Women’s Health in the Workplace Seriously

Research has highlighted that women’s health concerns are routinely ignored in the workplace; 32% of women believe their employer offers too little support for their health issues, and 34% of women with symptoms or a diagnosis of a women’s health condition say it has affected their ability to work.¹

Having to change to part-time work, or even quitting, due to their health condition is another barrier many women face.

The Silent Struggle

Over a third of women feel they can’t be honest with employers about reasons for taking sick days when it relates to severe period symptoms; they don’t know if it’s a valid reason to call in sick, are embarrassed to give the proper reason, and are concerned their employer won’t understand.²

Women’s Health is an area of growing priority in workplaces, but one where employers lack confidence and support to act.³ What needs to be acknowledged is the impact of women’s health issues on their ability to work, and the role of employers in addressing them.  Three of the most common issues are:

1. Menopausal leave

Half of women think about leaving work altogether due to their experiences of menopause.⁴ Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods.⁵ Approximately 60,000 women in the UK are not currently in employment due to menopause symptoms.⁶

2. Menstrual leave

Half of the women who took part in Wellbeing of Women’s “Just a Period” survey said that they worried if they took time off for period symptoms it would negatively impact their career.⁷

Almost a quarter of women who currently menstruate (24%), say their period pains affect their ability to work, and yet it is rare for women in general to regularly take time off work for period pain, if at all, with many women opting to work through the pain.⁸

3. Medical misogyny

Research shows that women’s concerns over gynaecological issues are felt to be frequently dismissed or misdiagnosed, largely due to a lack of research into women’s health: the proportion of women who reported their pain being ignored or dismissed by healthcare professionals has increased from 49% in 2023 to 62% in 2024.⁹

Less than 2.5% of publicly funded research is dedicated solely to reproductive health, despite the fact that one in three women in the UK will suffer from a reproductive or gynaecological health problem.¹⁰ For example, women living with endometriosis and adenomyosis wait on average more than 8 and 10 years respectively for a diagnosis.¹¹

Closing the Gender Health Gap

Raising awareness for the lack of research into female sexual health can lead to new or more effective treatments for such issues. Having these issues taken seriously and researched can mean a better quality of life for women as a result, and subsequently, improved work participation.

Many charities and awareness groups, such as Wellbeing of Women¹², Endometriosis UK¹³, and The Vulval Pain Society¹⁴, offer information and support for conditions affecting women’s intimate health. Reproductive and sexual health is complex, so you should also speak to your GP or a specialist medical consultant if you have any concerns.

Clinical Trials

MAC Clinical Research is currently looking for people with a diagnosis of vulvodynia (a chronic pain condition affecting the vulva, with no known cause) to participate in a clinical trial. If this is you, you may be able to contribute to scientific research, which may lead to a new medicine to help people living with vulvodynia.

If you are eligible and choose to take part, you will be compensated up to £1,730 for your time and commitment, plus reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed or transport provided.

To find out more and register your interest, visit our vulvodynia research webpage.

1. Women’s Health in the UK: Time for Change, Create Health Foundation – DIGITAL VERSION_CHF_Time for Change_Report.pdf – Google Drive
2. Why more than a million women are keeping period sick days a secret | Bupa Group
3. Keep Britain Working Review: Final report – GOV.UK
4. Menopause talent drain – half of women going through menopause are considering leaving work – Royal London
5. Menopause – NHS
6. Women’s health economics: investing in the 51 per cent | NHS Confederation
7. “Just a Period” survey results – Wellbeing of Women
8. Period pain and work: many women have never taken time off, despite being in serious pain | YouGov
9. Women’s reproductive health conditions
10. ‘Women have been woefully neglected’: does medical science have a gender problem? | Universities | The Guardian
11. Women’s reproductive health conditions
12. Home – Wellbeing of Women
13. Ending endometriosis starts by saying it | Endometriosis UK
14. Vulval Pain Society – Support, Awareness & Resources