Be-A Japan Co., Ltd. March 8th is International Women’s Day. Be-A Japan conducted a survey on the theme of “Working Women and Menstruation.” Approximately 90% of women answered, “Menstruation has interfered with my work.”

[Be-A Japan Co., Ltd.] March 8th is International Women’s Day. Be-A Japan conducted a survey on the theme of “Working Women and
Menstruation.” Approximately 90% of women answered, “Menstruation has interfered with my work.” ​ Image
URL: Be-A Japan Co., Ltd. Press release: March 7, 2025 March 8th is International Women’s Day. Be-A Japan conducted a survey on the theme of “Working Women and Menstruation.”
Approximately 90% of women answered, “Menstruation has interfered with my work.” ~Towards a society where everyone can live
comfortably, regardless of gender~
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/107/60583-107-a8a560f5c0013fd9063234a975947b2a-1200×799.jpg Be-A Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kumi Takahashi; Director: Minako Yamamoto; hereinafter referred to as Be-A Japan), which develops the
super-absorbent sanitary shorts brand “Be-A,” conducted a survey on the theme of “Working Women and Menstruation” on March 8th,
International Women’s Day. ～Towards a society where everyone can live comfortably, regardless of gender～ March 8th every year is
International Women’s Day. It is a day to think about women’s rights and equality around the world, and to wish for women’s participation in society. Be-A cherishes this day as a brand that supports women’s needs during the sanitary period, which often feels inconvenient, and empowers the diversifying lifestyles of women, with the message “Girls be ambitious. Change if you want to. Change your life and the world.” To coincide with International Women’s Day 2025, we conducted a survey on the theme of “working women and menstruation.” Be-A believes that listening to the voices of women, sharing the reality revealed by those voices, and thinking about things regardless of gender is the first step toward creating a society where everyone can live in a comfortable environment. About 90% of people have trouble working due to menstruation In a survey conducted by Be-A Japan among 156 women, 92.9% of women answered that they had experienced worries and anxiety regarding menstruation. Among them, 95.9% of women answered that they had been concerned about leakage.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/107/60583-107-f62f586e0786962a8837b0f3c1fe2745-1200×564.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/107/60583-107-143ebd188479cd0287790526d9d8cabd-1200×564.jpg Before the meeting, I felt a sudden sensation as I stood up from my seat. I ended up being late for the meeting because I rushed to the bathroom. / 50s / Office worker Unable to stand due to the pain, he stopped the train. I was late for work and had to go buy a change of clothes, causing a nuisance to those around me. / 40s, office worker When the symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) are severe, I can’t get up in the morning and end up missing work. /30s/Part-time job Because she belongs to a group made up of only men, she is unable to explain the real reason behind her menstrual problems.
/30s/Professional I had been working patiently for a long time, but when my menstrual pain got so bad that I requested time off, I was complained about and my juniors glared at me. It was painful, but mentally it was also very difficult. / 40s, bank clerk Every woman has a period almost every month. It also has many physical and mental effects, such as menstrual pain, headaches, irritability, and feeling depressed. This has a big impact on working women, such as commuting during rush hours, inevitable meetings, and business trips. It was found that many women have had problems with their work.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/107/60583-107-3aa40d13dd54e0c0c3b37ff1330ed37c-1200×564.jpg Additionally, 62.2% of respondents said that they felt it was difficult to talk about or seek advice about menstruation at work. In particular, many respondents said they felt uncomfortable talking to men about their concerns, and because menstruation is different for each woman in terms of volume, weight, and pain, they may not understand.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/107/60583-107-32b8e1acfe1bfa45c0e7c701e8e4dd45-1200×564.jpg My family told me that I slept too much and that I was lazy. /30s, city hall employee When I acted irritated, my male boss asked me, “Are you on your period?” /40s/Sales When I asked to change shifts because I was in so much pain, my female boss dismissed me and said, “Everyone is putting up with it, so I wouldn’t say something like that.” / 40s, office worker When I told her that I wasn’t feeling well due to my period, my female boss told me that I wasn’t sick. /30s/Speech-language pathologist A senior colleague at work pointed out to me that the reason why I use menstruation as an excuse is because I’m mentally weak. /30s/Part-time job Her female boss asked her, “Are your menstrual pains really that bad?” and told her, “You just need to take medicine.” /30s/Professional Many women have experienced being hurt by casual words or actions. Even if you talk to people around you, they may not be able to empathize with you, and because menstrual symptoms vary from person to person, it may be difficult for them to understand. In fact, if there are 100 people, there will be 100 different symptoms of menstruation. This is an experience that men don’t have, so by acquiring the correct knowledge, your casual words and actions may lead to a more comfortable life for women. Also, the symptoms and sensations differ among women who menstruate. If you don’t assume that other people are just like you, but instead act by being close to them, you will be able to create a more comfortable working environment. Not knowing about menstruation can sometimes unintentionally hurt the other person. That’s why it’s important to know correctly, whether you have periods or not. By deepening our knowledge and expanding our understanding, I believe we can build a society where everyone can work comfortably, regardless of gender. Furthermore, according to estimates* by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 2024, the economic loss due to women’s health issues such as menstruation, menopause, and infertility treatment will be approximately 3.4 trillion yen per year, and this impact is having a major impact on society. Some people miss out on promotion opportunities or are forced to change the way they work due to poor health due to menstruation. These effects can be said to be a serious loss not only to women, but also to the men they work with and to society. I retired from the company I worked for for a long time. I temporarily gave up on working as a full-time employee. /40s/Part-time job I have given up participating in events such as exhibitions. /30s/self-employed Although I work in sales, it was difficult for me to work in a way that prioritized performance. /40s/Sales Due to the depression caused by PMS, it was difficult for him to do his best at work, so he ended up quitting his job at a venture company.
/30s/Part-time job Many women also expressed their desire for greater understanding from those around them and for changes in society as a whole. “I want society as a whole to deepen its understanding of menstruation.” “I want men to understand more” “I want Japan to become a society where people can talk more openly about the importance of femcare.” In Japan, the trend of viewing menstruation as a taboo is slowly changing, but issues related to inequalities in the workplace and menstruation still remain. Menstrual pain, anxiety about leakage, not knowing when to change your clothes… You can’t separate menstruation from the impact it has on your performance at work. Be-A believes that sharing individual experiences and thoughts and deepening understanding through the results of this survey will lead to the realization of a better society and work environment. We want women to be able to walk freely without giving up on their hopes and dreams because of their period. And to create an environment where you can perform at your best. Be-A will continue to strive for a society where everyone, regardless of gender, can live comfortably, not just women. Please share your experiences and thoughts using #Working Women and Menstruation.
You can read the full text of the survey results below.
https://mag.withbe-a.com/news/1460/
About Be-A Japan
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/107/60583-107-24df5c9f1545860142e6c3d1f1dd5364-911×799.jpg With the message “Girls Be Ambitious. Change your life and the world if you want to,” we support the physical and mental health and success of all people, including women. In sanitary life, which has often been inconvenient up until now, we have developed super absorbent sanitary shorts as a new option with high functionality that meets the needs of that period. We aim to empower women’s diversifying lifestyles and contribute to a modern society that demands sustainable manufacturing and consumption. Official website: https://withbe-a.com *Source: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11909000/001247948.pdf Survey overview: Conducted by Be-A Japan Co., Ltd. to 156 women in February 2025
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/107/60583-107-6f69491fdea6c9cb901ea362e8f9bf0b-1900×659.jpg Be-A Japan Co., Ltd. Head Office: 5-1-7 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Representative Director and CEO: Kumi Takahashi / Director: Minako Yamamoto