Of course I've had surgery. No so got zero paid time off. Yes women get hernias ( much less but it's hard to pick an equivalent thing that guys get). By the way, guys get painful cramps - not menstrual if course, but you get the point. Equal is equal and fair is fair.
Since a guy can't experience what a woman feels and a woman can't experience what a man feels, it is difficult to quantify what is fair or equal. One thing I've heard is that passing a kidney stone is a lot more painful for a guy then a gal. I've never passed one, but my wife has and she said it was more painful then childbirth; that's enough to convince me that I hope to heck I never get kidney stones.
Not all woman have the same experience with their menstrual cycles. My wife never complained about hers, so I am imagining it was not that difficult for her. On the other hand, my mom had a lot of trouble with hers. She'd bleed for so long that she'd become anemic. Her moods were often over-the-top. She was one who benefitted greatly when she had a hysterectomy.
When I had my hernia fixed, I was under doctor's orders not to engage in any physical activity for a week, which meant being off work. I was fortunate to work in a job that provided sick leave.
