A recent study from the Australian Women and Girls’ Health Research (AWaGHR) Centre has found a link between menstrual disorders and women's participation in the workforce, with those suffering from severe period pain being most affected in maintaining full-time employment.
From the study, women aged 41 and above who experienced severe period pain and irregular period pain were more likely to be unemployed than to work full-time. While women who often had irregular periods were more likely to work part-time than full-time.
The study was conducted by PhD student Biresaw Alemu with UQ supervisors Associate Professor Leigh Tooth and Dr Michael Waller. Mr Alemu said the study was the first of its kind to measure workforce participation longitudinally.
“Previous studies have looked at absenteeism and reduced productivity but by using longitudinal data we can see a larger picture by comparing age and work statuses across twenty years with data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health,” Mr Alemu said.
“We asked women born between 1973 and 1978 to self-report their health outcomes via survey and at each survey, menstrual disorders and workforce participation were measured.”
The study was recently published in the international British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The research found that supportive workplace practices may help improve this barrier.
“The provision of adequate leave and flexible work arrangements such as remote work options by workplaces, may assist women who have irregular periods and severe period pain and help create positive, more stress-free environments free from stigma and discrimination,” Mr Alemu said.
