Women living with endometriosis consider menstrual leave and flexible working arrangements to be among the most important forms of support, as pain and fatigue lead to more frequent absences from work and reduced work performance, according to a new study by researchers at Semmelweis University.
According to a statement issued by Semmelweis University on Wednesday and sent to the Hungarian News Agency (MTI), the results of the first large-scale study in Central and Eastern Europe show that affected women lose an average of €1,757 in income per year, roughly equivalent to one month’s average salary in Hungary. The estimate only takes into account losses resulting from absenteeism and does not include the costs associated with reduced work performance or healthcare expenses.
The researchers analysed data from 566 women living with endometriosis and 447 women without the condition using internationally accepted questionnaires.
The study examined work performance, absenteeism and overall work ability. The results showed that women with endometriosis lost an average of 12.7 working hours over a four-week period due to health problems, compared with just 5.7 hours among women in the control group. Based on the lost working time, the researchers estimated the average annual income loss among affected women at €1,757.
The statement quoted Dóra Balogh, assistant professor at Semmelweis University’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the study’s final author, as saying that the impact of endometriosis is not only a healthcare issue but also a serious social and economic concern. The disease often affects women during one of the most active periods of their lives and can therefore have an impact on employment, career development and long-term financial security.
Endometriosis affects around 10 percent of women of reproductive age worldwide. The chronic gynaecological condition occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, potentially causing chronic pelvic pain, painful menstruation, fatigue and even infertility. Symptoms often persist for many years before a diagnosis is made.
According to the study, 42 percent of women living with endometriosis fell into the category of those with poor work ability, compared with just 17.9 percent in the control group.
Poor work ability means that affected individuals have greater difficulty performing their jobs because of their health condition and face a higher risk of becoming unable to work for longer periods or being pushed out of the labour market later on.
“The most surprising finding for us was that almost half of the affected women fell into this category. This suggests that without adequate support, endometriosis can not only make everyday work more difficult but can also jeopardise their ability to remain in employment in the longer term,” said Dominika Miklós, a resident at Semmelweis University’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the study’s first author.
The research also showed that most workplaces are not adequately prepared to support employees living with endometriosis. Fifty-four percent of respondents said their employer knew little or nothing about the condition, while only 17 percent believed that their workplace had adequate knowledge of it.
The study was conducted as part of the international FEMaLe (Finding Endometriosis with Machine Learning) research programme, launched in 2020. Semmelweis University participated in the programme under the leadership of Attila Bokor, associate professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
The women participating in the study said they would primarily like to see menstrual leave, flexible working hours, opportunities to work from home or in a hybrid arrangement, as well as greater understanding and support from employers. In some European countries, including Spain and Portugal, regulations already allow menstrual leave in certain circumstances.
Published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports, the study is also significant internationally because it is the first comprehensive Central and Eastern European research to examine the impact of endometriosis on work performance, work ability and workplace support at the same time. The findings are consistent with research from Western Europe and Australia, suggesting that the labour-market impact of endometriosis is similar around the world.
The research indicates that flexible working arrangements and greater awareness among employers could help women living with endometriosis remain in the workforce.
(MTI)
