The Government has issued an update on calls to provide around 1.5 million Brits with additional guaranteed paid leave every month. The Department for Business and Trade provided a response to a petition demanding statutory menstrual leave for those with endometriosis and adenomyosis.
The specific requirements called for up to three days of paid menstrual leave monthly for those with confirmed medical diagnoses. Recent figures show roughly one in 10 women throughout the UK live with endometriosis, a painful condition where tissue similar to the womb’s lining develop in other areas of the body.
Adenomyosis is a frequently connected condition, where the womb’s lining begins developing into the muscle within the womb wall. Both conditions can trigger symptoms such as pelvic pain, bloating, discomfort during sex, heavy bleeding, and severe fatigue.
These demands followed Portugal’s introduction of new legislation providing employees experiencing acute menstrual pain from endometriosis or adenomyosis with up to three days of paid leave monthly.
Within the petition, campaigners stated: “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.” The request outlined these conditions:
- Providing up to three days of paid menstrual leave per month for individuals with a valid medical diagnosis
- Requiring only a single annual medical certificate confirming the condition
- Ensuring full employment protections, including no loss of pay, benefits or seniority
- Guaranteeing confidentiality and non-discrimination in the workplace
At the time of reporting, the petition been signed by more than 61,200 people. When a parliamentary petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the Government has to provide a written response.
However, in its official reply, The Department for Business and Trade said it had “no plans” to introduce menstrual leave for those with endometriosis or adenomyosis. “We know the hardship they cause. Our employment rights reforms will help manage health at work,” it said.
“We recognise the difficulty and pain many women with endometriosis, adenomyosis and other menstrual or reproductive health issues face. We understand that for some women, menstrual or reproductive health issues can have a significant impact on their physical and mental wellbeing, including their participation in education and the workforce.”
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Instead it clarified that people with endometriosis or adenomyosis could receive support in other ways. It continued: “The Equality Act 2010 defines disability as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
“‘Long-term’ is described as having lasted or likely to last for at least 12 months, or likely to last for the rest of a person’s life. ‘Substantial’ is defined as more than minor or trivial. Endometriosis and adenomyosis can classify as disabilities under this definition, and individuals with a disability are protected from discrimination and their employer is required to make reasonable adjustments.
“Reasonable adjustments can include useful changes such as phased returns to work, part-time working or flexible hours. These adjustments ensure that disabled employees are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to their non-disabled colleagues.
“Therefore, the Government has no plans to introduce statutory menstrual leave for people with endometriosis and adenomyosis.”
If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
Symptoms
According to the NHS, symptoms occur when patches of endometriosis break down and bleed during your period but cannot leave your body.
You might have some symptoms during your period, such as:
- Severe period pain, that stops you from doing your normal activities
- Heavy periods, where you need to change your pads or tampons every one to two hours, or you may bleed through to your clothes
- Pain when you poo or pee
- You can have other symptoms at any time in your menstrual cycle, such as:
- Pain in your lower tummy and back (pelvic area)
- Pain during or after sex
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Pain or bleeding in other areas, such as in the chest, which may cause shortness of breath and coughing up blood
“You may also have difficulty getting pregnant and have low mood or anxiety,” the NHS adds. Adenomyosis can cause similar symptoms, although some people with adenomyosis have no symptoms.
If you experience any symptoms you should speak to your GP. Treatment options can include painkillers and hormone therapies.
But if other treatments are not working or you have lots of endometriosis, you may be offered surgery. If you have severe adenomyosis you may be offered be a hysterectomy, or surgery to remove the lining of your womb.
To sign the petition or find out more, visit the parliamentary petition website here.