Research shows that women can lose up to nine days of productivity per year due to menstrual symptoms
It is increasingly clear from a scientific point of view that menstrual pain can cause a loss of productivity in women. Menstrual symptoms are estimated to be responsible for nearly nine days of lost productivity per year, both at work and at study. In addition to cramps, other factors affect mood and performance, such as very intense blood flow and mood swings.
According to a study published in the medical journal BMJ Journals in 2019, only 14% of the women surveyed had already missed their appointments due to periods. However, around 81% said they were less productive due to symptoms.
The research also found that women are absent from their activities for 1.3 days per year annually due to menstruation. However, the loss of productivity amounts to 8.9 days, as they are unable to perform activities normally due to symptoms.
Taboo
Although some countries around the world have already instituted the so-called Mestrual Leave (paid leave during the menstrual period), this topic is still taboo. Many women feel uncomfortable disclosing their distress to superiors and, therefore, end up working or attending classes in pain.
It is also common for women to leave without explaining the real reason, as highlighted by research published in BMJ Journals. According to the study, only 20% of respondents who took a break from work due to their period disclosed the real cause to their employers.
This feeling of being forced to work or study even with pain also decreases women’s productivity, hindering more than absence could. “There is a need to raise discussion and awareness of the impact of menstrual symptoms at work and organizations should be open to this,” says Patrick Bellelis, a gynecologist who specializes in endometriosis.
The doctor notes that it is still uncomfortable for women to talk about the subject. “It’s about health and we need to make this discussion more humanized,” he points out.
endometriosis
Bellelis says not coping with menstrual discomfort at work, school, or college can be dangerous. This is because it discourages the investigation of these symptoms, which can be a consequence of more complex problems, such as endometriosis, for example. “Medical follow-up is essential for women to have access to the necessary care, which can restore their quality of life,” adds the doctor.
The specialist reveals that although mild pain and discomfort can be common during the menstrual period, it is necessary to understand if they occur acutely, with repercussions on daily activities. “The sooner a woman, as an adult or adolescent, seeks a diagnosis, the sooner she will have a more comfortable routine. Moderate to severe pain, by itself, doesn’t necessarily mean she has endometriosis, but something is likely wrong. done to reduce the impact of these pains on your routine, “warns Bellelis.
Endometriosis occurs when cells in the endometrium, the inner layer of the uterus that is expelled during menstruation, end up depositing outside the uterine cavity, causing inflammatory reactions and damage. It is common for these cells to accumulate in the ovaries, abdominal cavity, bladder region, intestines, and other places. In accumulation, they can form nodules that affect the functioning of the body’s organs.
Without treatment, the disease can reach severe forms, such as so-called deep endometriosis, characterized by more severe symptoms that leave the patient unable to carry out a normal routine. According to the Brazilian Endometriosis Association, 10% to 15% of women of reproductive age (13 to 45 years) have the disease.
Source: Patrick Bellelis, gynecologist specializing in endometriosis.
Source: Terra
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