Yes, menstrual leave matters. There are times when the pain, the bleeding, the exhaustion can be overwhelming, when getting out of bed feels impossible. And yet, so many women are still expected to show up: lead meetings, care for others, teach, support, carry on as if nothing is happening.

But I think we’re focusing on the wrong thing.

Because while time off can help, life doesn’t just pause. The responsibilities many women carry, caring for children, supporting elderly parents, running households, they don’t disappear. And often, we don’t even want them to. Or we feel like we shouldn’t stop.

So yes, I believe menstrual leave should absolutely be available for those who need it.

But it’s not the full solution.

What we really need is proper care. Proper support. Proper understanding.

We need faster diagnosis times. Better education around women’s health. A healthcare system, and a society, that recognises this isn’t “just a painful period.”

Because let’s be honest…. if someone was having symptoms comparable to a heart attack at home, we wouldn’t say, “take a couple of days off and see how you feel.” We’d get them medical attention, treatment, answers.

So while menstrual leave is a step forward, it’s a sticking plaster on a much bigger issue and one we’re still not fully addressing.

Do better, government. Supporting employers to offer time off isn’t enough when what people really need is care.