Proving the pain: How a school’s policy reflects vast inequality in women’s healthcare

Anybody that has had one will tell you, periods are not fun. For most the discomfort is annoying period pains, irritable moods, and quite often the dreaded backache. 

Whilst these inconveniences aren’t ideal, many can go about their lives with minimal disruption. However, for others, periods can be debilitating pain and sickness - sometimes all year round. So with invisible symptoms hitting at various severities, how can we be expected to prove our pain?

A Cambridge school sparked controversy last week after implementing a new policy requiring a doctor’s note for period pains. The policy, sent to parents in an email, stated: “From immediate effect, we will not be accepting terms such as 'unwell, poorly, ill' or similar as explanations relating to student absence. Communications made using these and similar terms will be recorded as unauthorised.”

Considering that, under national rules, schools have to consider fining parents for unauthorised absences spanning over 5 days, this policy is incredibly unfair to those who suffer from gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis. 

Usually going undiagnosed because symptoms can vary and may be caused by other conditions, Endometriosis is a chronic disease that can cause severe pain, bloating, nausea, fatigue, and sometimes depression, anxiety, and infertility.

Endometriosis is a common condition. It affects around 1.5 million females in the UK, which is approximately 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Despite its commonality, the average wait time for a diagnosis is 8 years and 10 months in the UK - though researchers at the University of  York have found it can take up to 27 years. This is usually because the only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis is surgery.

Although categorised as a gynaecological condition, endometriosis has been found in every single organ in the body which is why the symptoms vary so largely. Due to this, many people are misdiagnosed with other chronic illnesses or don’t feel they get taken seriously. 

With diagnosis nearly impossible, and no known cure, how can we force women to prove their pain to be treated fairly? Fortunately for the pupils at Neale-Wade Academy, the school administration was forced into a U-turn by Harry Potter Author, JK Rowling. 

She took to social media and wrote: "Girls must prove that their uterine cramps are painful, boys must be believed when they say 'I'm a girl'.

Following the backlash, Principle Graham Horn sent a second email addressing concerns about the policy. He said: "We are aware of the pressures on local GPs and the resulting difficulties in getting appointments, as well as the challenges faced when trying to get a medical diagnosis for some conditions. I can confirm we do not require doctor's notes or other medical information to support reasons for absence, such as period pains."

The introduction of the policy in the first place has shone a bright light on the inequity women still face in both healthcare and education systems. In response to the policy, leading charity Endometriosis UK said: “We would urge all schools to improve their awareness of menstrual health conditions so they can make sure all their students are well supported.”

Edited by Marianne Hamilton