A commitment to creating a gender-neutral society is launching a bigger debate about making menstrual breaks obligatory. The availability of menstrual period leaves to female students and then going on and offering leaves to women who are employed is a significant move towards acknowledging and dealing with the debilitating pain and suffering that many are forced to suffer through. Implementing period leave could assist in creating workplaces and classrooms that are inclusive, and welcoming.

But in the context in which these decisions are taken is important. In a society like India menstrual flow is an issue and it is still considered taboo. However, it is possible that the special period leave could become a reason for discrimination. Then there is also the possibility of medicalizing a natural biological process that could increase prejudices towards women, and the economic and productivity costs of compulsory period leave could cause employers to be less likely to hire women.

Menstrual Cycle and Mental Health

Bloating. Headaches. Moodiness. Cramps. The signs of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are well-known as more than 90 % of women suffer from at least one of these symptoms before or during their period. For some women, symptoms can go beyond mere discomfort and an impression of being unwell. Being depressed before or having a disturbed mood during menstrual periods is not uncommon. Researchers believe the mood changes are the result of fluctuating hormone levels.

The severity of PMS symptoms could also indicate a different disorder, known as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). In addition, mental health issues can be aggravated temporarily during menstrual periods. In both PMS and PMDD, the precise cause is unclear; however, many experts think that PMDD is a result of hormonal changes associated with cycles of menstrual flow. Serotonin levels fluctuate and can be a contributing factor to PMDD as serotonin helps in managing Sleep, mood, and pain. People in Relationships can be affected by the psychological signs of Anxiety, Depression, and irritability, which can lead to stressors on the emotional and mental health of people. Although anxiety and depression are prevalent with the two conditions of PMS and PMDD, hormonal changes that cause menstrual cycles can exacerbate the symptoms of mood disorders.

Online Counselling can provide valuable support for individuals experiencing emotional and psychological symptoms associated with PMS and PMDD. It offers a safe space to explore feelings, develop coping strategies, and understand how hormonal changes impact mental health, empowering individuals to manage symptoms effectively. Seeking counseling from the Best Psychologists in India can be a proactive step toward greater emotional well-being during menstruation.

Menstrual Cycle and PCOS

For many women, PMS can be extremely painful and debilitating. In addition, while many will suffer from headaches, mood swings as well as stomach cramps, PCOS makes this more challenging.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition where the ovaries produce an excessive amount of androgens. These are male sex hormones, which are typically present in females in tiny quantities. The precise reason for PCOS is not known. Women who suffer from insulin resistance are more likely to develop PCOS. Being overweight can also increase the levels of insulin and cause PCOS symptoms to be more severe.  Women who suffer from PCOS are prone to irregular menstrual periods that can be unpredictable or even prolonged. When women who suffer from PCOS are experiencing menstrual cycles typically suffer from massive bleeding, clots, and extreme pain in the menstrual cycle. Similar to endometriosis, when PCOS develops, symptoms such as menstrual pain can get worse too. Other signs of PCOS include an increase in weight, fatigue, pain in intercourse, excess body and facial hair growth, baldness of the male pattern as well as ovarian cysts, and infertility.

If you're experiencing severe PMS symptoms for a few days to two weeks before your period, and are accompanied by intense frustration, sadness, and Anger, you should speak with your doctor or PCOS medical team. In such cases addressing severe symptoms of PMS becomes extremely important and people with initial diagnosis of PCOS would require random leaves to take care of their physical and mental health.

Question regarding Menstrual Leave

Women who take a period leave can take a break from menstrual cycles. It's been proven that women suffer from a broad variety of health problems during their monthly cycle, including menstrual cramps, back or muscular discomforts, headaches, bloating, nausea, and cramps, among others. These symptoms may become more intense for women with chronic diseases like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis.

Although the feeling of menstrual flow differs for women of different ages and varies from month to month in some cases for the same women. Notions of menstrual leaves are thought of as an excuse to many and recognizing the physical and mental impact of a painful menstrual cycle is extremely important. It can also be used as needed, as a method to promote equity in the workplace and to normalize conversations about menstrual cycles.

To achieve the stated goals it is imperative to consider the economics of menstrual leave. The most significant reason to not adopt the policy of menstrual leaves is the worry of hiring biases because of the financial cost for employers of hiring a woman employee. Menstrual leave is also compared with the decrease in labor force participation of women after the introduction of compulsory paid mothers' leave. This issue of discriminatory hiring is a concern in some countries. 

Way forward

In numerous European as well as North American countries, mandatory paid paternity and parents' time off (shared with both parents) as well as flexible or remote work hours to parents who have children younger than 12 years old are available. In addition, certain governments offer companies financial aid to cover the cost of paying employees for maternity/parental leave. There are also strict sanctions for discrimination in the hiring or promotion of pregnant women and those who are on parental leave or maternity leave.

Similar equitable solutions could be considered when implementing policies on menstrual leaves in India. Employers can provide a compulsory "self-care time off" for those who are unable to take the period leave. Employers can also provide support to female employees by offering them Employee Assistance Program that are women-centric and driven to address women’s mental and physical health. This can tremendously help women reduce the risk of Burnout, manage Stress, and address mental and Physical Health. EAP Program can also be used as preventive care for women who face stress and anxiety daily, which are precursors of developing PCOS symptoms. The terms "menstrual leaves" as well as "self-care time" will also de-stigmatize self-care and menstrual cycle. 

Reference:https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/time-to-act-period-no-room-for-debate-on-menstrual-leave-8420201/

Contribution by: Dr (Prof) R K Suri, Best Clinical Psychologist & Life Coach & Mr. Utkarsh Yadav, Counselling Psychologist