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Statutory Menstrual Leave
13 April 2026
Lead MP
Paul Davies
Colne Valley
Lab
Responding Minister
Kate Dearden
Tags
Women & EqualitiesNHS
Word Count: 11643
Other Contributors: 7
At a Glance
Paul Davies raised concerns about statutory menstrual leave in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
I urge the government to support statutory menstrual leave for those diagnosed with endometriosis or adenomyosis, allowing up to three days per month off work. Additionally, I call for significant improvements in early intervention, diagnosis, and GP training on these conditions.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
I am concerned about the significant impact of endometriosis and adenomyosis on women's health, including chronic pain, fatigue, and infertility. These conditions affect over 1.5 million UK women, with an additional 40% suffering from adenomyosis. They cost the economy more than £8 billion annually, impacting workplace productivity and participation. Many women face difficulty obtaining a diagnosis, often waiting nine years on average, and suffer continuous dismissal of their symptoms by healthcare providers.
Clapham and Brixton Hill
Responding to Emily Darlington's speech, Bell Ribeir [6D [K Ribeiro-Addy noted the average diagnosis time for adenomyosis is nine years [5D [K years and four months. The MP highlighted the universal nature of menstruat [9D [K menstruation while emphasizing the shame and stigma surrounding it. She dis [3D [K discussed the need for statutory menstrual leave to address workplace discr [5D [K discrimination and underinvestment in female reproductive health conditions [10D [K conditions, such as endometriosis, which often take years to diagnose. The [K MP cited global examples where menstrual leave is already implemented succe [5D [K successfully.
Emily Darlington
Lab
Milton Keynes Central
She shared her personal experience of adenomyosis, h [1D [K highlighting the long diagnostic journey that took over 30 years and affect [6D [K affected many women from ethnically diverse communities for more than eleve [5D [K eleven years. She detailed issues with misdiagnosis, dismissive medical adv [3D [K advice, and inadequate treatment, emphasising the impact on work life and c [1D [K career progression.
Joshua Reynolds
Lib Dem
Maidenhead
Mr Reynolds highlighted the impact of endometriosis [K on his constituent's life, emphasizing long wait times for diagnosis and so [2D [K societal normalization of severe period pain. He cited statistics from Endo [4D [K Endometriosis UK indicating an average nine-year wait time for a diagnosis, [10D [K diagnosis, with women from ethnically diverse communities waiting 11 years. [6D [K years. Mr Reynolds argued that this issue is both a health crisis and an ec [2D [K economic one, costing the UK £11 billion annually in absenteeism due to con [3D [K conditions like endometriosis.
Kirsteen Sullivan
Labour/Co-opera [16D [K (Labour/Co-operative
Bathgate and Linlithgow
Ms Sullivan highlighted the challenges faced by wome [4D [K women with endometriosis, noting that one in six leave their workplace due [K to health conditions. She called for an endo-friendly employer scheme certi [5D [K certification and shorter wait times for diagnoses under the women's health [6D [K health strategy refresh. The MP agreed with her colleague about the impact on [2D [K on women's mental health, noting that constant pain and anticipation of it [K can lead to feelings of being ignored and dismissed, which is rarely acknow [6D [K acknowledged but must be addressed. Menstrual health conditions, including endometriosis [13D [K endometriosis, result in an estimated cost of £11 billion a year to the UK [K economy. She agrees that supportive workplaces without stigma will positive [8D [K positively impact both women with these conditions and the overall economy. [8D [K economy.
Michelle Welsh
Lab
Sherwood Forest
Women living with chronic pain and exhaustion caused [6D [K caused by conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS [5D [K (PCOS), and similar conditions face severe menstrual symptoms that affect t [1D [K their ability to work. Ms Welsh highlights the need for menstrual leave in [K law to prioritise health without fear of losing income or facing workplace [K repercussions. She also calls for a menstruation action plan akin to Portug [6D [K Portugal and Spain's policies, emphasising the importance of timely diagnos [7D [K diagnosis to access appropriate treatments and reasonable adjustments at wo [2D [K work.
Rebecca Paul
Con
Reigate
Recognised Michelle Dewar's campaign for menstrual r [1D [K relief, highlighting the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and a [1D [K adenomyosis. Emphasised that these conditions affect one in 10 women of rep [3D [K reproductive age, causing chronic pain and heavy bleeding, leading to an av [2D [K average delay of eight years and ten months before diagnosis. Noted a drop [K in monthly earnings among diagnosed women due to the condition, citing a £1 [2D [K £130 monthly reduction post-diagnosis. Praised the roll-out of community di [2D [K diagnostic centres but argued that statutory sick pay already covers necess [6D [K necessary time off without discrimination.
Scott Arthur
Lab
Edinburgh South West
The MP highlighted the impact of adenomyosis and end [3D [K endometriosis on personal and work life, citing a constituent's struggle wi [2D [K with severe pain. He noted that around 10% of menstruators suffer from one [K of these conditions, potentially affecting thousands in Edinburgh South Wes [3D [K West. The MP also discussed inconsistencies among employers regarding menst [5D [K menstrual leave, emphasizing the need for evidence-based best practices and [3D [K and supporting businesses or organisations introducing such policies. Mr Arthur intervened to question the Liberal Democra [7D [K Democrats' position on sick pay measures for workers' rights, noting that h [1D [K his party supported these changes while the Liberal Democrats opposed them. [5D [K them.
Government Response
Kate Dearden
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Mundell. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Paul Davies) for opening today's debate and for bravely sharing his wife Leah's experience of living with endometriosis. The minister recognises the strength of women and girls living with endometriosis, adenomyosis, and other menstrual conditions, acknowledging that health-related issues are a leading cause of women being excluded in the workplace; over the past six years, the number of women who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness has risen by 425,000, reaching 1.48 million—close to a record high. The Government's landmark Employment Rights Act extends statutory sick pay to employees from day one regardless of earnings and ensures that those with fluctuating conditions like endometriosis are eligible for statutory sick pay from the first day they cannot work. The minister also discusses flexible working arrangements, equality action plans, Mariella Frostrup's role as the Government's women's employment ambassador, community diagnostic services, online hospital facilities, menstrual health awareness improvements, and the ongoing development of the women's health strategy to address gaps in care and ensure high-quality service delivery.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.