- Conference
- 2026 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 14 October 2025
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes:
• That disabled women face specific, often overlooked barriers in the workplace due to gynaecological and hormonal health conditions. These include endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), fibroids, menopause, perimenopause, irregular menstruation, and chronic pelvic pain.
• That these conditions can be exacerbated by or interact with disabilities and neurodiversity, including autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorders. Many symptoms, such as chronic fatigue, severe pain, mood fluctuations, and cognitive impact, are often misunderstood or dismissed.
• That the taboo surrounding menstruation, reproductive health, and hormonal wellbeing, particularly in male-dominated management structures, leads to underreporting, poor workplace support, and inappropriate sickness absence triggers.
• That disabled women may struggle to communicate their needs, mask their symptoms, or fear not being taken seriously by managers, especially where there is a lack of awareness or empathy.
• There is a significant lack of gynaecological appointments available to women, particularly those with disabilities. Timely and accessible gynaecological care is essential for the health and well-being of all women. However, the current system fails to adequately accommodate the unique needs of disabled women, resulting in barriers to accessing necessary medical care.
Conference believes:
1)That reproductive and hormonal health issues are occupational health matters, and failure to provide appropriate support is a workplace equalities issue.
2)That employers have a duty to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled employees, including those whose health conditions fluctuate or are hormone related.
3)That gender-sensitive and neurodiversity-informed support must be embedded in workplace policies and management training.
4)Every woman, regardless of her physical abilities, has the right to accessible and timely gynaecological care.
5)That healthcare systems should be adjusted so that disabled women can attend appointments without undue difficulty or delay.
6)There is an urgent need to review and improve the availability of gynaecological services to address the specific needs of disabled women.
Conference calls on the National Women’s Committee to work with National Disabled members Committee to:
1)Highlight that reasonable adjustments need to explicitly include support for gynaecological and hormonal health issues, especially those affecting disabled and neurodivergent women within sickness and attendance policies.
2)Raise awareness with Branches and Regions of the need for training for managers, with a focus on:
• Sensitivity in addressing menstruation, hormonal health, and reproductive health issues. Thereby supporting greater understanding of how neurodivergent women may express or mask distress differently, which may affect their ability to share gynaecological issues they are experiencing.
• Support the creating of safe inclusive spaces for open and confidential conversations about these issues.
3. Working to Update existing fact sheets or create new factsheets/guidance on women’s gynaecological and hormonal health as a workplace issue
4. Work with Labour Link on lobbying the government to support gynaecological services in meet the needs of disabled women. To include and properly consider:
Accessible buildings and locations
Neurodiversity
And physical barriers to receiving this care
