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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Menstrual leave support among Polish women: Linking social and menstrual health challenges to workplace gender equity
1
Jagiellonian University Medical College- Faculty of Health Sciences- Institute of Nursing and Midwifery, Laboratory of Midwifery Care Fundamentals, Kraków, Poland
2
Jagiellonian University Medical College- Faculty of Health Sciences- Institute of Nursing and Midwifery, Department of Mother and Child Health, Kraków, Poland
3
Jagiellonian University Medical College- Faculty of Health Sciences- Institute of Nursing and Midwifery, SSG of Midwifery Care, Kraków, Poland
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A941
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Menstrual leave policies are increasingly recognized as a means to support women’s health and well-being in the workplace. Attitudes toward such policies vary and may be influenced by personal experiences of menstrual pain and related challenges.
OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to assess women’s support for menstrual leave and to identify menstrual and social factors associated with it, focusing on menstrual pain, use of pain-relief medications, functional impairment, and menstrual poverty.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 565 menstruating Polish women. Participants reported menstrual pain intensity, medication use, functional impact, menstrual poverty, and sociodemographic characteristics. The data were analyzed using chi-square tests, odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), Phi coefficients, Mann–Whitney U tests and rank-biserial correlation. A significance level of α=0.05 was applied.
RESULTS:
Overall, 84.2% of respondents were in favor of menstrual leave. Endorsement was significantly associated with menstrual health factors, showing effect sizes from small to large. Women experiencing painful menstruation had over three times higher odds of support (OR=3.07, 95% CI: 1.93–4.88; Phi=0.206), and those using analgesics (OR=3.15, 95% CI: 1.98–5.00; Phi=0.211) or spasmolytics (OR=2.15, 95% CI: 1.32–3.52; Phi=0.131) were also more likely to agree. The likelihood was 3.7 times higher among those reporting absenteeism due to menstrual pain (OR=3.72, 95% CI: 2.19–6.32; Phi=0.215). The strongest link was found for negative functional impact, increasing odds more than eightfold (OR=8.54, 95% CI: 5.00–14.60; Phi=0.369). Those in favor were younger (U=12,698, p<0.001; rrb=0.40) and reported higher menstrual pain intensity (U=14,099, p<0.001; rrb=0.33).
CONCLUSIONS:
Most women support menstrual leave, particularly younger individuals and those affected by menstrual pain and functional impairment. These findings underscore the need for workplace policies that address menstrual health to enhance well-being and promote gender equity.
KEY MESSAGE:
Menstrual health is a workplace issue — policies must catch up to support equity at work. Poster session 4 (Group B)
Menstrual leave policies are increasingly recognized as a means to support women’s health and well-being in the workplace. Attitudes toward such policies vary and may be influenced by personal experiences of menstrual pain and related challenges.
OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to assess women’s support for menstrual leave and to identify menstrual and social factors associated with it, focusing on menstrual pain, use of pain-relief medications, functional impairment, and menstrual poverty.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 565 menstruating Polish women. Participants reported menstrual pain intensity, medication use, functional impact, menstrual poverty, and sociodemographic characteristics. The data were analyzed using chi-square tests, odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), Phi coefficients, Mann–Whitney U tests and rank-biserial correlation. A significance level of α=0.05 was applied.
RESULTS:
Overall, 84.2% of respondents were in favor of menstrual leave. Endorsement was significantly associated with menstrual health factors, showing effect sizes from small to large. Women experiencing painful menstruation had over three times higher odds of support (OR=3.07, 95% CI: 1.93–4.88; Phi=0.206), and those using analgesics (OR=3.15, 95% CI: 1.98–5.00; Phi=0.211) or spasmolytics (OR=2.15, 95% CI: 1.32–3.52; Phi=0.131) were also more likely to agree. The likelihood was 3.7 times higher among those reporting absenteeism due to menstrual pain (OR=3.72, 95% CI: 2.19–6.32; Phi=0.215). The strongest link was found for negative functional impact, increasing odds more than eightfold (OR=8.54, 95% CI: 5.00–14.60; Phi=0.369). Those in favor were younger (U=12,698, p<0.001; rrb=0.40) and reported higher menstrual pain intensity (U=14,099, p<0.001; rrb=0.33).
CONCLUSIONS:
Most women support menstrual leave, particularly younger individuals and those affected by menstrual pain and functional impairment. These findings underscore the need for workplace policies that address menstrual health to enhance well-being and promote gender equity.
KEY MESSAGE:
Menstrual health is a workplace issue — policies must catch up to support equity at work. Poster session 4 (Group B)
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
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