UK government urged to provide endometriosis sick days

A petition urging the introduction of paid menstrual leave for endometriosis and adenomyosis has gained more than 3,450 signatures across the UK.

The campaign calls for up to three days of statutory leave per month for those with a confirmed medical diagnosis of these chronic conditions, which affect around 1.5 million people nationwide.

It follows Portugal’s introduction of new legislation, due to take effect in 2025, that grants employees experiencing acute menstrual pain from these conditions up to three days of paid leave each month.

In the petition, campaigners said: “We call on the UK Government to introduce statutory paid menstrual leave of up to three days per month for people with conditions such as endometriosis and adenomyosis, following the model introduced in Portugal in 2025.

“We urge the UK Government to implement a statutory menstrual leave policy similar to the one recently passed in Portugal.”

If the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the Government will issue a written response. At 100,000, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

Though thought to affect around one in 10 women, endometriosis remains severely underdiagnosed.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that between 2011 and 2021, only around 2 per cent of women of reproductive age received a diagnosis.

According to the ONS: “Using 2011 Census data linked to hospital records from 2011 to 2021, we estimate the prevalence of an endometriosis diagnosis to be approximately two per cent of reproductive age women in our linked population, with an average age at diagnosis of 35 years; this is likely an underestimate of the true prevalence, as many women will not have a diagnosis.”

Endometriosis UK states that the condition is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK, yet it takes an average of eight years and 10 months from first GP visit to diagnosis.

According to the NHS, symptoms occur when patches of endometriosis break down and bleed during a period but cannot leave the body.

Adenomyosis may cause similar symptoms, although some people do not experience any.

Treatment options include painkillers and hormone therapies. In more severe cases, surgery may be offered.

For severe adenomyosis, this can include a hysterectomy or surgery to remove the womb lining.