There’s been quite a few discussions on period leave very recently and I’m glad. I’d like to contribute to these discussions by sharing my experience of period pain and the solutions that might work for women like me.
I had experienced severe period pain ever since my periods began, and was diagnosed with endometriosis very soon after my marriage. I had 3 to 4 days of severe pain every month followed by 3 days of moderate discomfort and extreme tiredness. Those were the good years and it got much worse later.
I had 2 medicated menopauses, on-off hormone treatment because I was unable to handle the side-effects of the medication that worked for me. A gluten-free and lactose-free diet, adequate rest and meditation helped minimize the pain until I could cope with just a few doses of crocin each monthly cycle. But this didn’t solve the underlying medical issue and I made a much needed choice to have a total hysterectomy in 2016.
It was a very joyful choice for me after years of the daily struggle of living with pain and discomfort. I think my doctor was quite taken aback by how excited I was about my surgery – she’d never seen anyone approach it with such happiness. I went into the operating theatre smiling and woke up from surgery with a feeling of great joy and hope. And a readiness to handle whatever menopause threw my way in order to have a life free of pain.
I write the following based on my experience of period pain. These are my opinions and they do not represent the opinions of other women because every woman’s experience is unique. I think every womans voice matters and that discussions will help bring a policy that has flexibility and provides leeway to those who need it.
What I think helps women with period pain at work
- Clean toilets.
- Toilets with adequate space so one can enter them without ones clothes brushing the commode, dust-bin and wash-basin.
- Toilets with secure hooks for handbags so one can carry sanitary towels in and access them easily.
- Access to sanitary towels at work.
- Access to light and healthy food at work.
- A place to lie down and rest with some level of privacy when pain gets severe and pain medication hasn’t yet had an effect.
- Work from the office days for women in careers that keep them on their feet constantly. I guess this might need some level of job rotation for example – women who do door to door delivery for couriers might need to also rotate with a desk job at their office.
- Work from home flexibility for careers where work from home is possible.
- An organization policy that allows women (or anyone with medical conditions that need rest) adequate leave. I think talking to entrepreneurs and organizations that have an effective working policy for this might provide better guidance.
- A social and work culture where long working hours and gender roles do not deprive women of care when they need it. A culture where every person is expected to be a support system for their loved ones and where organizations value the strengths that this brings to their workforce. I’d like this point to enter the discussions Mr. Narayanmurthy has raised in his comment of the 70-hour week.
My first career was a corporate career in accounting and I was lucky enough to have all except points 8, 9, and 10.
I rarely took leave for period pain and managed with pain meds – had a clean office toilet to throw up in when pain rose to levels that gave me nausea – and shared a cabin with one other colleague so it was private enough that I could use my electric hot bag that made working on high-pain days possible. We had an unoccupied space when the office doctor wasn’t in, so I was able to lie down and rest on couple of really bad days and this helped a lot too.
I didn’t take leave during my period unless it was a time with no work deadlines. My work in accounting had due dates that couldn’t be pushed and I accepted that this career choice gave me limited flexibility to take leave. I accepted this for a while and then, when pain management and getting adequate rest grew challenging, I didn’t.
I gave up my corporate career and started teaching piano lessons at home – a choice that worked out really well and gave me a profession I really love. And the flexibility to formulate working hours that worked for me! Yaayyy!!
I actually work long hours and much more than a 70-hour week. My career in piano teaching needs regular piano practise and a high level of teacher education that is ongoing. Apart from this, I manage our home and put quite a bit of time and effort into family relationships. I function as a caregiver during times family is unwell. And while I do receive care and consideration when I’m unwell, cultural expectations that women look after themselves, have given me a fair level of independence and ability to be a support system for myself.
Many thanks to Faye D’souza and her panel of women for the discussion in the video below.
I think discussions relating to point 10 in my post should feature in any discussion on the 70-hour work week – video below. I think sections of society do see women as primary caregivers and that there can be a social culture that minimizes or ignores the need for women to receive care when they’re unwell.
So, is period leave necessary? What are your thoughts on this? And what are your thoughts on the 70-hour week vis-a-vis the responsibility every person has to be a caregiver and make time for children and elders?
I’ve disabled comments in this post because I’d like you to comment on the videos directly. Your voice will get heard better there.
the relaxed housekeeper 