Backing pledged for members suffering impact of gynaecological conditions

The union will lobby the UK Government to increase awareness of gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis and adenomyosis and the debilitating impact they can have on workers. This includes pushing for the introduction of employer-paid leave for those living with the conditions.

Conference heard the personal stories of members who are struggling with the symptoms, with one telling delegates she is often unable to stand up due to the pain.

Endometriosis is a chronic disease, for which there is no cure, that causes cells similar to those in the lining of the womb (uterus) to grow in other partsof the body. Adenomyosis is similar but instead the lining starts growing into the muscle in the wall of the womb. Both are estimated to affect around 10% of women and those assigned female at birth.

Symptoms vary and can include pelvic pain, painful periods that interfere with everyday life, heavy menstrual bleeding, pain or bleeding in other areas, pain during or after sex, pain with bowel movements and when urinating, reduced fertility, fatigue, low mood and anxiety.

Little time or funding is dedicated to research on the conditions and many women report that the symptoms are dismissed as ‘normal period pain’ and not taken seriously – it takes an average of nearly nine years to secure an endometriosis diagnosis.

Moving motion A108, Emma from ONS national branch said she was diagnosed with both endometriosis and adenomyosis last year after many years battling to be taken seriously by medical professionals.

“I am often left unable to even stand up and have been hospitalised on several occasions due to the pain,” she said, adding that without hybrid working she would have had to give up work.

She said recent developments such as the journalist Naga Munchetty speaking about the severe paid she suffers due to adenomyosis had helped others to “openly challenge the societal normalisation of severe period paid”.

In seconding, Em from R&C Wales said their symptoms were “nigh on impossible to manage”, leaving them frequently unable to function. “I am only here today because I am on a ridiculous amount of [the painkiller] co-codamol,” they told delegates.

In April 2025, Portugal enacted a landmark law to provide up to three consecutive days of employer-paid leave per month for employees who experience severe and debilitating menstrual pain caused by diagnosed endometriosis or adenomyosis. 

As well as lobbying the government on awareness and employer-paid leave, PCS will push for increased funding towards the diagnosis of gynaecological conditions and more scientific research into conditions that primarily affect women and those assigned female at birth.

The union will also work with charities and other trade unions to increase the pressure to achieve our aims, and campaign across PCS to increase awareness of the impact of such conditions and the potential implications for them to fall under the Equality Act 2010.

Read more updates from conference on our dedicated web page. Follow #PCSADC