Zeitschrift für Frauengesundheit
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The Impact of Menstrual Periods on Performance of Female Workers

Asmaa S. Al-harbi, Mohanned Alrahili and Shaima S. Al-harbi*

In line with legislative future vision, number of female employees has been increasing in Saudi Arabia. Female workers experience challenges that male counterparts may not face such as monthly physiological and hormonal changes. Consequentially, raising the question; would this affect female work performance? Hence, this study aimed to survey menstrual cycle effects on performance, physical condition and habits of workers for Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU). Target subjects included variable departments and different ages to ensure representatives sample as much possible. Next, data was collected using self-reported surveys approaching convince sampling method. Then, data were coded to SPSS and analysed in forms of descriptive frequencies and percentages with P value less than 0.05 deemed to be significant. 395 useful questioners were analysed. 95% of workers thought that their physical activity decreases during period. 67% of them usually suffer from back pain and 33% reported abdominal pain. Almost halve (47%) feel depressed through their period. More than halve (60%) believed their focus and concentration level is not decreased during menstruation and 73% have never needed to request vacation due to menstrual pain neither permission to leave work 36%. Also, (73%) do not require assistance from colleagues to perform office duties. 50% will take Panadol as analgesic for period pain. As well, 10% will use water bags in workplace to relive menstruation pain, while (66%) will use herbs to manage period pain. Finally, the study concluded that menstruation do affect PNU workers Physical condition and habits. Yet, they believe their cognitive and focus level is not affected.