Women's roles in our society have shifted considerably during the last several decades. Women make major contributions in every field. Female employees, especially those with children, confront obstacles that men do not, such as monthly physiological and hormonal swings and work-life balance.
The menstrual cycle is a natural, monthly physiological process that begins at puberty and concludes at menopause in women of reproductive age. Follicular, ovulatory, luteal/premenstrual, and menstrual are the four phases. The endocrine and neurological systems regulate all phase events.
Menstrual symptoms' possible impacts have been mentioned multiple times in the scientific literature and appear to be widespread. Menstrual cycles are connected with exhaustion, varied degrees of discomfort, as well as physical, and behavioural changes associated with the monthly period. These symptoms are normally mild, but they might be severe enough to disrupt everyday activities. Among other menstrual cycle signs and symptoms, premenstrual syndrome includes mood swings, painful breasts, food cravings, weariness, irritability, and anxiety.
Impact of Menstrual Periods on Working Women: Physically & Psychology
Participation of women in decent work is critical for long-term development, poverty reduction, and improved health for women and their families. Workplaces are essential settings that can promote or damage health because of the numerous hours spent there. The average woman has her period 65 days a year, but her menstrual demands at work are usually disregarded.
Menstrual health has long been recognised as an important part of sexual and reproductive health, as well as an important consideration for delivering female-friendly water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Despite the fact that youth provide a window of opportunity to protect menstrual health, menstrual needs remain into adulthood. The importance of study in understanding women's work experiences and suggesting growth levers has been underlined by calls for increased attention to menstruation throughout their lives.
Working women have identified a wide range of unaddressed menstrual health needs. These issues include a lack of adequate materials to absorb or catch menstrual bleeding, a lack of menstrual-friendly infrastructure for changing materials, cleaning the body, and laundering materials a lack of information about the menstrual cycle, inadequate support for reducing menstrual pain and discomforts, and social norms and attitudes toward menstruation that limit behaviour and participation.
Aishwarya Wanchu, founder and CEO of Circawan, shared her experience, “I remember throwing my hands in the air, saying “I’m done”, pushed my chair back and huddled under my work desk and just sat there with my arms around my knees, in dire pain, rocking back and forth, because I could not ignore the pain anymore, unlike what I have been trained to do for many years. “It’s just your period, suck it up”, we’ve all heard this, and we as women have always been told to “get over it” and move on with our day, because apparently if we don’t allow ourselves some rest for our bleeding bodies, the world comes to an end. But I decided to risk this apocalypse and take a day off because I just could not move physically and mentally all I wanted was for the pain to go away. My day off led to a pay cut in my salary because menstrual pains isn’t considered a major health reason for a sick leave, but I know it was a necessity because cramps are NO JOKE. I do wonder if the tables were turned and men were experiencing this natural phenomenon that women go through (with no choice of theirs might I add), then what would the rules be, would they have paid leave? Would they be allowed a “light” day at work and home? Will they be considered the weaker gender because they get monthly pains? Will their career graph be affected and their chances are reduced for managerial promotions because they just have to take a day or two off once a month and get “emotional”? Just some questions that run through my mind…”
She added, “But we as women are strong, we can take the hit, and we do. We get up, show up for work and even though we don’t feel good and the pain, especially in the beginning, acts as a constant reminder of what we’re going through, we push forward. At work, I do tend to slow down, and not be as bright and active as I would want to be, my mind is unfortunately not always 100% present in the situation, which does get called out negatively and claimed as “slacking”, but I don’t choose these work day traits, I try hard to fight it, but sometimes the body overpowers your will and this diminishes my work performance drastically. Had I been on leave, received my full day of rest and taken care of myself, both physically and mentally, I would have had a more productive day the next day without having a negative report on my back.”
Women's experiences were shaped by strong social expectations to keep menstruation secret and hatred for menstruation, which resulted in stringent hygiene requirements. Menstrual pain and profuse bleeding, as well as a lack of supporting infrastructure for changing menstrual materials and sanitising the body, were significant barriers. Women's experiences of menstruation at work were also influenced by their ability to obtain necessary menstrual supplies, as well as taboos perpetuated by market consumers, and variable social support from others at work. There has been no quantitative research on the prevalence of unmet menstrual needs in various groups or their impact on women's lives. The few studies that have been conducted have tended to focus on the use of menstruation pads rather than the vast variety of issues raised by qualitative research.
She underlined, “Period pains has led me to have a negative impact financially, as I have to take days off which leads to salary cuts, it’s impacted me mentally, because I, for the longest time, saw it as a weakness and a hindrance negatively affecting my life and career which should never be the case, it affected me emotionally because my hormones are all over the place and there’s always a lot to do, but I can’t get anything done at the time unless I risk my physical health, and this feeling leads to me being disappointed in myself which sounds so unnecessary. But mostly, the physical impact is what does the worst for me, yes I am glad that I received my period, I know some don’t always, but the pain that follows, is sometimes too unbearable, where my body from waist down all the way to my little toe, hurts like someone is constantly hitting me with a hammer all over, too graphic, I know, but it’s what I physically feel and this pain overtakes all the mental strength I have that tries to ignore it or push it down and move forward. I don’t feel like this after the second day, but the first two days, the physical pain is hard, and it’s not something I chose, it’s something I, and all women, live with and continue to – this isn’t going away, but I do hope that people both at work and otherwise understand that it is important, it is an actual reason to take care of ourselves, it is natural and it is relevant and isn’t something to be ashamed about or seen in a negative light.”
Working with such physical and mental imbalances hampered women's health and productivity at the time. Employers must make appropriate provisions and arrangements at work to promote a greater sense of inclusivity for women, as well as reconsider workplace design and provide certain necessities to improve the needs that may lead to improved focus, productivity, wellbeing, confidence, and everything else that contributes to how effectively a woman works.
Creating a Period-Friendly Work Environment
Menstruation is a bodily function that affects more than half of the population. Management should consider a few basic elements while designing and setting up a workplace for their employees.
- Office infrastructure
It is vital to have regular access to restrooms when menstruating. This should be as close to the workspace as possible to minimise disruption and provide simple access. Menstrual cups are becoming more popular as an eco-friendlier way of reducing menstrual loss. These things can be cleaned with a basin-equipped, self-contained toilet. Unisex cubicles with sinks may be preferable to separate male and female units when building new facilities. Disposing of pads and tampons involves the use of specialised disposal bins.
- Office layout
Menstrual blood loss can be so severe that it leaks through any protection you wear. This can be humiliating, but it can be mitigated by providing darker chair coverings with wipe-clean surfaces. When choosing fabric for the office, consider the impact on menstruating women as well as other factors.
- Uniforms
Darker fabrics for pants and skirts are more accommodating to menstruating women. Since body temperature swings during the menstrual cycle, wearing something breathable is best. This is also something to consider if you are approaching menopause. It's also a good idea to keep a spare uniform in your locker.
- Workplace Adaptability
Flexible working hours, if possible, could be quite useful for menstruating women. Working from home can boost productivity since many symptoms can be addressed in a familiar environment with restrooms, hot water bottles, and analgesics. Breaks and flexibility, if possible, can help boost productivity.
- Healthcare Access
If a firm is large, it may be advantageous to consider building an onsite health clinic. This will encourage women to maintain their regular screenings and improve their overall gynaecological health and well-being. This will almost certainly reduce employee absenteeism and boost company productivity.
Diet & Exercise that Make Periods More Comfortable at Work
Diet and exercise provide several health benefits in addition to improving your period experience. Women who exercise regularly, according to research, are less likely to have menstrual pain, cramps, or mood swings. Exercise can cause the release of "feel-good" hormones like serotonin and endorphins, which could explain why it's beneficial. A growing body of data suggests that diets high in omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and vitamin D, while low in animal fats, sodium, and caffeine, may help to lessen the prevalence of PMS symptoms. Limiting salt intake can help with fluid retention, bloating, breast swelling, and pain. Caffeine can cause irritation, insomnia, and menstrual cramps.
Dr. Shubhi Bhalla, Founder & Director of Dr. Shubhi's Fortitude Ayush Clinic,recommended the following to assist with regulating periods and easing pain :-
-Eat a Balanced Diet
- Take more green vegetables, fruits, and nuts.
- Control blood sugar levels and sugar cravings
- Eliminate caffeine-containing foods and beverages.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking, among other things.
-Create a Consistent Schedule
- 7-8 hours of sleep, including a nap during the day (15 mins).
- Adequate water consumption.
- Mild chair exercise during office hours includes neck rotation, breathing exercises, shoulder rotation, and arm stretching.
-Try 15 minutes of meditation to manage and reduce stress.
-Reduce your computer and phone screen time.
-30 minutes of exercise before or after work should comprise basic yoga, the 12 steps of Surya Namaskar, a basic gym, and walking.
-Avoid excessive exertion and exercise.
Dr. Shubhi added, “This is exactly what we try to guide all female at Dr. Shubhi’s Fortitude Ayush Clinic. I believe that women are the pillar of the society and those pillars should physically and emotionally fit to face multitask in her daily life.”
