Everything you need to know about the viral menstrual leave petition
Photo by Annika Gordon on Unsplash
On 29 July 2025, women’s health advocate, Michelle Dewar, launched the petition: Introduce Statutory Menstrual Leave for People with Endometriosis & Adenomyosis. Announcing the petition on Instagram, she wrote:
For too long, people with endometriosis and adenomyosis have had to suffer in silence, pushing through days that would put most in bed - all to avoid judgment, job loss or being labelled “dramatic.”
It’s time for the UK to wake up.
It’s time to follow Portugal’s lead.
Statutory menstrual leave is not radical — it’s overdue.
“For too long, people with endometriosis and adenomyosis have had to suffer in silence.”
What is the petition asking for?
The petition is calling on the UK Government to introduce statutory paid menstrual leave for people with gynaecological conditions including:
Endometriosis
Adenomyosis
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Uterine Fibroids
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Primary Dysmenorrhea (severe period pain)
Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding)
Congenital uterine anomalies (e.g. uterine septum, obstructed hemivagina)
It asks that employers:
Provide up to three days of paid menstrual leave per month for individuals with a valid medical diagnosis
Require only a single annual medical certificate confirming the condition
Ensure full employment protections, including no loss of pay, benefits or seniority
Guarantee confidentiality and non-discrimination in the workplace
How many people have signed the petition?
At the time of writing, more than 65,000 people have signed the petition.
Per Parliament guidelines, petitions get a response from the government after they’ve reached 10,000 signatures. After 100,000 signatures, petitions are considered for debate in Parliament.
How did the government respond?
On the 20 August 2025, the Department for Business and Trade issued the following statement:
The Government has no plans to introduce menstrual leave for those with endometriosis or adenomyosis. We know the hardship they cause. Our employment rights reforms will help manage health at work.
We recognise the difficulty and pain many women with endometriosis, adenomyosis and other menstrual or reproductive health issues face. We understand that for some women, menstrual or reproductive health issues can have a significant impact on their physical and mental wellbeing, including their participation in education and the workforce.
The Government takes women’s health issues very seriously, and we are committed to tackling them and supporting women to balance work with wider life circumstances.
Read the full response here.
“The Government has no plans to introduce menstrual leave for those with endometriosis or adenomyosis.”
What’s next for the petition?
Following a demonstration in London to raise awareness of the petition and encourage more signatures, Michelle announced that she will be embarking on the UK Menstrual Leave Petition Tour in partnership with flushable period care brand, Fluus.
The tour kicks off in Glasgow on 28 September 2025, with additional dates planned for Liverpool, Cardiff, Belfast and Edinburgh.
Sign the petition here.