The menstrual cycle has been around since human life on earth began, it is a natural and normal thing for women and people to experience however hundreds and thousands of women still feel uncomfortable talking about their periods. Why is this?

From a young age society seems to teach young people that periods shouldn’t be spoken about, especially around or in front of men. In fact, most men feel awkward and unsure of what to do when someone brings up their period. This is due to boys at a young age not being taught and informed about the menstrual cycle in the same ways girls are. 72% (from natracare) of boys admit they have NEVER been told or taught about periods in school and three quarters of school children all agreed the lessons on the menstrual cycle were not good enough leaving many kids with questions and worries about periods.

Periods become a taboo topic later in life

The results of the inadequate teaching surrounding periods lead people to begin to feel unable to speak about this topic causing many to stay silent when obvious misinformation is spread about menstruation. For example, “you can only use tampons if you have had sex” this is not only a complete lie but it stops people from wanting to use tampons as they are worried about judgment from those around them. The way we can change this is to educate the people around you and to speak out about periods; this will make men feel less uncomfortable as they understand what periods are and what they do.

If society manages to normalize periods, this could massively improve confidence and self esteem in young girls because they will no longer feel that they need to hide their periods. This will also cause many people to push themselves outside their comfort zone when menstruating as there wouldn’t be the looming embarrassment about periods which constantly holds people back.

Overall, people are not dirty or gross for getting their period as it is something natural and normal. The menstrual cycle needs to be taught in more detail and to everyone from a young age and we must start calling out any lies being spread about periods.

Evie Teers – walthamstow school for girls