KUALA LUMPUR: The conversations surrounding menstrual leave show that women's needs that have long been ignored are now being addressed.

Spain recently approved a draft bill that grants menstrual leave for women suffering from severe period pain (or dysmenorrhea). The draft law still has to pass through the country's Parliament. 

Women employees said monthly leave for dysmenorrhea, the medical term for painful menstrual periods, should not be viewed as a sign of weakness or criticised as contributing to unhealthy practices and discrimination against women. 

By granting women this basic right, societies are beginning to recognise that, while women and men are equal, they are not the same, and that women have different needs that have been neglected for so long, they said.

"I suffer from menstrual pain from time to time, and when it does happen, it can be quite brutal," said communications specialist, Syazana, 26, from Petaling Jaya.

Period cramps, she said could be painful, even with a perfectly healthy uterus.

"In my personal experience, the first few days of my period I don't just suffer from stomach cramps, but have period flu (symptoms that some people experience just before their period), where my whole body aches, I feel fatigued and sometimes nauseated too.

"I am usually walking around with a hot water bottle all day and would prefer to lie down whilst working which is not ideal in an office environment and I also get flu like symptoms and the fatigue can affect my overall productivity."

She added that applying for medical leave for period cramps might at times be a challenge when the doctor denies a medical certificate (MC).

This, she said might stem from people lying about their symptoms to get a day off, but it affects women that are actually suffering.

"Similarly, there are loads of women suffering from endometriosis and adenomyosis that have yet to be diagnosed due to lack of awareness on sexual health in Malaysia; so there is probably no pain management for them.

"I have heard of women suffering from either endometriosis or adenomyosis that have said that labour pain feels less intense than having menstruation cramps. But this of course does not invalidate the pain of women that are only affected by said cramps once every so often."

Syazana shared that she has taken medical leave, even been denied twice because the doctor didn't believe that her cramps were "painful enough" to get a medically-certified day off.

"I resorted to using my annual leave then. Thankfully due to Covid-19, my boss has been more generous about allowing us to work from home, without really asking for reasons," she told the New Straits Times.

Another reason why menstrual leave could have a positive impact, she said is because it saves the awkwardness of asking a male superior for the day off and having to provide a reason for it.

"Besides, it would also increase awareness among people about how painful menstruation cramps can be as whether you're for or against the idea, you are still probably going to Google about it."

Having period day-offs, she said should not be seen as a sign of weakness since as more women have open discourse about their periods especially with the opposite sex, the less taboo the topic could potentially become.

"Same holds true for the notion of viewing menstrual leave as discriminatory," she said, noting that the more people openly talk about it, things could change.

"Having a uterus can sometimes be a difficult thing," she remarked.

"I still feel menstruation is seen like a taboo topic in this country rather than respecting and understanding what women actually go through during this time," said Mahes, a 32-year-old who works as a senior marketing specialist in Kuala Lumpur.

"Women should be allowed the right to take medical leave if we suffer from pain. I don't believe it's a sign of weakness, in fact we need the break as during this time we go through a lot of things physically, emotionally and mentally.

"I have bad cramps and some days are horrible where I just couldn't get up to go to work. Thankfully, I was allowed to take sick leave," Mahes said.

"I dread the time of the month. Heavy bleeding and painful cramps keep me awake throughout the night. There is no right way to sit or sleep to ease the ripping pain," Jenny, 36, who has been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) said.

She added that often times, she has to fight through the pain and endure a 20-minute drive to the clinic nearby to obtain an MC.

"My doctor is aware of my condition, so getting the slip is not the issue, but having to do it on the same day is the problem when all I need is a good rest.

"Therefore, I hope Malaysia would look into adopting a menstrual leave policy that would perhaps grant women diagnosed with dysmenorrhea (painful periods) at least two days off work monthly.

"Instead of having to present an MC each time, we could submit a doctor's letter to be entitled to the monthly leave."