The Hidden Labour of Menstrual Health at Work

Menstrual health is a workplace issue, even when workplaces continue to treat it as a private one.

A recent Master’s thesis exploring women’s experiences with menstrual health in Austrian workplaces found that menstruation is largely managed individually and discreetly. Without formal policies or organizational support, women often have to navigate pain, fatigue, heavy bleeding, emotional changes, and other symptoms while continuing to meet workplace expectations (Steixner, 2025).

This can create what researchers have described as “blood work,” the often invisible physical and emotional labour involved in managing menstrual and gynecological health in ways that fit professional norms.

Menstrual health isn’t only about physical symptoms. The World Health Organization’s definition recognizes menstrual health as a state of physical, mental, and social well-being in relation to the menstrual cycle. When someone feels they have to hide their symptoms, avoid asking for flexibility, worry about leaking, plan their day around bathroom access, or push through significant discomfort, there can be a psychological cost.

The thesis identified three ways women may navigate these environments: the Quiet Endurer, the Adaptive Strategist, and the Open Normalizer. These different approaches highlight how much workplace culture can shape whether someone feels able to ask for support or feels they need to cope silently.

There’s also an important distinction between absence and presence. Employees may come to work while experiencing significant symptoms, but being physically present doesn’t necessarily mean they’re functioning at their best. Presenteeism can affect productivity, wellbeing, and ultimately organizational health.

Supporting menstrual health doesn’t mean lowering expectations. It means recognizing that employees have bodies, and creating workplaces where health needs can be addressed without shame or discrimination.

For therapists, this is another reminder that workplace stress and wellbeing can’t always be separated from the physical experiences our clients are navigating. Sometimes creating space to talk about what has been normalized, hidden, or dismissed is an important part of care.

Access the full thesis here: https://diglib.uibk.ac.at/download/pdf/12458580.pdf