A PETITION to introduce paid leave for people with conditions such as endometriosis and adenomyosis has received over 50,000 signatures in just over a week.

The petition, launched by campaigner Michelle Dewar, calls for the implementation of a statutory menstrual leave policy similar to the one recently passed in Portugal.

It demands up to three days of paid menstrual leave per month for those with a medical diagnosis, full employment protections, and a guarantee of confidentiality and non-discrimination in the workplace.

Ms Dewar has suffered from endometriosis, adenomyosis, and dysmenorrhea since the age of 14.

“I’ve lost jobs, missed out on opportunities, and spent years being dismissed or misunderstood,” she wrote on Instagram.

“I launched this petition because I want change — for every teenager curled up in pain at school, every woman dragging herself to work through cramps that feel like contractions, and every person that’s been told to just get on with it.”

Endometriosis UK suggested the government introduce menstrual health action plans under the Employment Rights Bill, and stressed the need for it to “act urgently” to improve care, noting that people are waiting an average of nearly nine years for a diagnosis. 

A Government spokesperson said: "We know the difficulty and pain many women with these conditions face and are committed to supporting people with their work-life balance.

"While we have no plans to introduce menstrual leave, our Employment Rights Bill will help people manage their health and work better as part of our Plan for Change."