Today’s Solutions: September 23, 2026

While some governments seek to limit women’s access to safe abortions, there are some in the developed world aiming to do just the opposite and even go a step or two further.

The Spanish government is poised to approve proposed legislation that will allow women who suffer from severe period pains to take several days of “menstrual leave” from the workplace each month. The measure is part of a more expansive draft bill on reproductive health and abortion rights.

According to local news outlet El Pais, the “medically supervised leave” could be extended to five days for women who suffer from severe and disabling cramps, nausea, dizziness, headaches, fever, and vomiting. The Spanish Gynaecology and Obstetrics Society state that approximately a third of women who menstruate suffer from severe menstrual pain, otherwise called dysmenorrhea.

In a recent interview with El Periodico, Spain’s Secretary of State for Equality and against Gender Violence Angela Rodríguez said: “when the problem cannot be solved medically, we think it is very sensible that there should be temporary incapacity associated with this issue.”

She goes on to clarify what constitutes a painful period, saying “we are not talking about a slight discomfort, but about serious symptoms such as diarrhea, severe headaches, fever.”

The draft law will also lower taxes on feminine hygiene products and ensure that free period products are available at schools and educational centers. It would effectively make menstrual health a part of Spaniards’ right to health and specifies that “stereotypes and myths about menstruation that still exist and that hinder women’s lives will be combated.”

On top of this, the health bill will also guarantee the right to seek an abortion cost-free within the country’s public healthcare system.

Currently, very few countries offer menstrual leave, among these are Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea, and Zambia.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

How Reefvive is rebuilding coral reefs from discarded oyster shells

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Most artificial reef structures are built from concrete. Concrete is smooth, and smooth surfaces give young coral little ...

Read More

Pomegranates and berries produce a gut metabolite that may improve IBD outcomes

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Gut bacteria that break down compounds in pomegranates, walnuts, and berries produce a metabolite called urolithin A. New ...

Read More

French record label brings forgotten women composers into the spotlight

A new record label is helping to bring classical music's unsung heroines into the spotlight. Héloïse Luzzati, a French cellist, established this revolutionary record label, La ...

Read More

Is a “workcation” right for you? How to balance work and play in the era of f...

You’ve probably already heard about the latest work-life balance trend. It's known as a workcation or a bleisure trip, and it combines work and ...

Read More