Latest news with #PeriodDignity
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
A period of life we need to talk about — the stigma that still surrounds menstruation
Unlike menopause, which in 2021 shifted from a taboo topic to a mainstream one, the conversation around menstruation in Ireland has been lacking, even though the average woman will spend a combined total of 10 years menstruating. Period poverty — the inability to afford menstrual products or access facilties — remains a fundamental issue. A 2022 Healthy Ireland survey found that almost 25% of women had experienced at least one indicator of period poverty. Despite that sobering statistic, positive change is happening. In 2022, the HSE launched its Period Dignity project, which, in addition to providing free period products to vulnerable women and girls, has focused on education and wellness, and addressed period stigma. In 'tampon tax' terms, Ireland is a trailblazer, as the only EU country to apply a zero rate of Vat to all menstrual products, with newer products, such as menstrual cups, period pants, and menstrual sponges finally being zero-rated in 2023. Period stigma is still a huge problem, with a 2023 menstrual health workplace survey by the Financial Services Union finding that 50% of the 1,064 respondents felt uncomfortable discussing menstrual health at work, with 20% commenting that periods were subject to 'workplace jokes'. Latterly, women and girls in sport have been at the forefront of breaking the stigma around menstruation. In March of 2023, the Irish women's rugby team made history as the first female Six Nations team to permanently switch from white to navy shorts to mitigate period anxiety among players. Similarly, many inter-county ladies' Gaelic football teams have opted for black shorts. 'Our younger generations, coming up, are questioning things and questioning traditions,' says Dr Katie Lydon, who has previously served as team doctor for the Dublin senior ladies' football team. Troublesome periods can lead to girls prematurely dropping out of sport, she says, an opinion that's backed up by Sport Ireland research, which, in 2021, found that discomfort, lack of access to appropriate facilities, and poor understanding or support around menstrual health were all contributing factors. Atlantic Technological University (ATU) launched its Period Promise campaign, their first campus-wide Healthy Campus initiative dedicated to menstrual health, dignity, and equity. Lydon, who favours 'open dialogue and discussion' around periods, says that girls with problematic periods often end up being put on the contraceptive pill. 'If it keeps a girl in sport longer, it's done its job,' she says. 'But are there other ways we could keep the girl in sport? Are there other ways we can help?' Lydon isn't 'anti-pill', but points out that it is a medication that comes with side-effects and can, in some instances, serve as a 'band-aid' to mask problematic symptoms, when uncovering their root cause might prove more beneficial. '[With their menstrual cycle] women have that natural feedback mechanism, and we're so lucky in that regard,' she says. 'We can see the effect of what we're doing to our bodies on a monthly basis.' Periods can give an insight into health, with the absence of them pointing to over-training or poor nutrition, while severe pain or abnormally heavy flow can indicate a possible underlying health condition. Dr Katie Lydon, who favours 'open dialogue and discussion' around periods, says that girls with problematic periods often end up being put on the contraceptive pill. The biofeedback provided by period trackers can help female athletes understand how factors such as sleep, diet, overtraining, and stress affect their cycle and how adjusting these factors can have a positive impact over a measurable timeframe. Sport Ireland, through its Her Moves initiative, supports period tracking and offers an invaluable Female Athlete Toolkit handbook, available for download on which looks at menstruation and menstrual health through a sporting lens. Education is key Education around periods is key. A 'spot survey' conducted on the student population by Yvonne Kennedy, wellbeing officer and healthy campus co-ordinator at Atlantic Technological University Sligo, found that 65% of girls 'did not really understand their cycle'. Kennedy spearheaded ATU's groundbreaking Period Promise campaign, with a personal experience proving the catalyst. A mother to two teenage daughters, Kennedy's elder daughter was 11, and in fourth class in primary school, when her periods started. According to the HSE, the average age for girls to have their first period is 11, but any time between the ages of eight and 13 is normal. There was no sanitary bin in the toilet adjacent to her daughter's classroom; only the sixth-class toilet had one. Kennedy contacted the school, who were, she says, 'taken by surprise' at her request that they install a sanitary bin in the mixed-sex, fourth-class toilet. The school hadn't come across the situation previously, and it was felt that a sanitary bin might prompt 'questions' from the boys. A sanitary bin was duly installed in the toilet, with the situation a learning experience for the school, heightening awareness of its responsibility to cater for pupils' menstrual needs, regardless of age, and the value of age-appropriate education. Kennedy, who 'had made a lot of assumptions that a lot of things had changed in the time since I had got my period', realised they hadn't. She was pursuing a master's degree in workplace health and wellbeing, and found there was a dearth of research on women's health generally, and none in to 'how periods affect girls from as young as nine years of age'. The divergence between her academic work and experience as a mother of girls led to her pioneering the campus-wide Period Promise initiative, which has four pillars: Ethical and sustainable period care, menstrual dignity and awareness, menstrual health education, and menstrual health policy advocacy. Period Promise sparked a student-led social media campaign, #NailTheStigma, to foster 'period positivity,' to educate and to raise awareness of the topic of periods, and break any associated stigma. Kennedy says it has had 'massive reach'. Period Promise has proven highly impactful, and its achievements include the installation of 160 free period-product dispensers campus-wide, a collaboration with Sligo Rovers that has supplied the team with ethical, eco-friendly period products, and an ongoing goal of breaking period stigma. 'It really is just about ramping up the conversations and it's about ramping up the education and awareness,' Kennedy says. Workplace policies While menstruation policies remain rare, workplace menopause policies are now the norm, featuring accommodations and support for employees, as well as education and training for all staff. Private-sector organisations now routinely provide paid leave for their employees as part of such policies (the Bank of Ireland offers up to 10 days), while much of the public sector is also on board, with the HSE, An Garda Síochána, and the civil service all having menopause policies or guidance documents in place. Cork-based GP Dr Monica Oikeh points out that in 2023, Spain became the first country in the EU to legislate for paid menstrual leave. 'It's something the Government should take more seriously,' she says. In terms of the workplace, she favours catch-all wellbeing policies over specific menstruation policies, as 'some people really don't want to talk about their period'. She would like employees to have the right to work from home or take a day's leave, if they are experiencing debilitating period symptoms. Trade union Fórsa, which in 2022 found that only 1% of surveyed employees had the protection of a menstrual health policy in their workplace, launched its #StopTheStigma campaign in 2023 to change the workplace conversation. Dr Monica Oikeh favours catch-all wellbeing policies over specific menstruation policies, as 'some people really don't want to talk about their period'. At Solvotrin Therapeutics, the makers of Active Iron, a wellbeing policy on menstruation evolved from surveys conducted for its Better Days Period campaign. Of those surveyed, the top three symptoms were 'cramps, fatigue, and mood swings', says head of marketing Claire Lynch. 'Over 80% said they just put up with [disruptive period symptoms]. When asked about work specifically, 18% said [menstrual symptoms] had stopped them from attending work at least once, and 41% of women suffering period symptoms were told not to worry and 'just get on with it'.' The results prompted 'a focus internally to support the women in our business as well' and a wellbeing policy was adopted. 'If employees have pain or discomfort from their period or menopause, and it prevents them from performing their work duties, they can take leave, or if they feel like they don't want to come in that day, they can work remotely,' Lynch says. Claire Lynch of Solvotrin Therapeutics: 'If employees have pain or discomfort from their period or menopause, and it prevents them from performing their work duties, they can take leave, or if they feel like they don't want to come in that day, they can work remotely." A GP note isn't required, and discretion is in-built; employees can simply say, 'I want to use the policy today.' The leave isn't capped. 'We felt capping it would put a barrier there,' she says. 'The whole purpose of this [policy] is to avoid that period stigma and to break it down.' The company also provides its employees with free, ethical, and eco-friendly period products, access to a period tracker app, and plans to introduce free webinar workshops, in addition to promoting workplace awareness around menstruation and menopause for all employees. 'The feedback has been really positive,' says Lynch. ATU Sligo's Yvonne Kennedy is optimistic, too. 'I'm hoping we can start a movement. 'That was always my aim behind Period Promise. It's not just products, it's a movement for change.' Read More What your step count says about your fitness levels
Business Standard
5 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Initial Hygiene Breaks the Silence on Periods with "If Periods Could Talk" Menstrual Hygiene Day Campaign
VMPL New Delhi [India], May 29: This Menstrual Hygiene Day, Initial Hygiene is breaking the silence surrounding periods with a campaign that gives menstruation a voice of its own--#PeriodDignity. Initial Hygiene, India's leading hygiene services provider, has launched a compelling advocacy campaign titled "If Periods Could Talk." The campaign brings to life the inner monologue of menstruation itself--giving voice to the millions of women across India who menstruate and often face silence, shame, and a lack of essential hygiene facilities. Through evocative messaging and personification on social media, the campaign shines a light on the everyday contradictions surrounding menstruation -- hotels that stock snacks but not pads, offices that invest in comfort but overlook menstrual care, and a culture that treats a biological reality as taboo. If Periods Could Talk is a call to action for #PeriodDignity, reminding us that while periods ask for dignity, Initial Hygiene helps deliver it. India's menstrual hygiene landscape reveals stark realities. Despite widespread use of sanitary products, many still rely on unhygienic alternatives due to limited access to proper facilities. Across the country, countless girls are forced to abandon their education simply because safe and dignified menstrual care is not available to them. These challenges are not just isolated issues--they reflect a deeper, systemic problem where institutional neglect and cultural silence combine to create a crisis of dignity, health, and opportunity for those who menstruate. Through this campaign, Initial Hygiene is calling for systemic change and steering conversation that can encourage companies to look for scalable solutions. The brand has been at the forefront of providing comprehensive menstrual hygiene infrastructure--ranging from feminine hygiene units and sanitary napkin vending machines to complete washroom hygiene and maintenance services. These solutions ensure that menstruation is managed with dignity, discretion, and reliability, transforming washrooms into truly inclusive spaces. Nishat Goyal, Chief Operating Officer of Initial Hygiene India, emphasized the need for this shift, stating, "As an organization Initial Hygiene has been a steadfast partner for washroom hygiene with a special emphasis on securing professional spaces for millions of women. Through this campaign on World Menstrual Hygiene day, we seek to call out the contradictions and challenge work places, public institutions and society at large to invest in infrastructure that provides women the period dignity that they deserve" With "If Periods Could Talk," Initial Hygiene is not only sparking a national conversation but also challenging confronting the stigma, and encouraging institutions to invest in infrastructure. As a society we need to ensure that no one is denied education, comfort, or dignity simply because they menstruate. Because when periods talk, it's time we all listen. About Rentokil Initial: Initial Hygiene is India's leading hygiene service provider, operating across North America, Europe, the UK & Rest of World, Asia, and the Pacific in more than 88 countries. Initial Hygiene is part of the Rentokil Initial group and provides services that protect people and enhance lives, safeguarding against pest-borne disease risks and poor hygiene while protecting health, well-being, and brand reputation. This Menstrual Hygiene Day, Rentokil Initial Hygiene calls on organisations across India to listen to these voices, acknowledge these truths, and create workplaces where periods are met with dignity, not silence. Because when clean disposal isn't accessible, it's not hygiene that's lacking - it's dignity.
Leader Live
6 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Free period products available in public spaces in Wales
This initiative is part of the Welsh Government's £3.2 million Period Dignity fund. The funding aims to provide essential period products to all who need them, in a bid to eradicate period poverty by 2027. These products are now freely available not only in every school and college in Wales but also in hundreds of public venues, including libraries, leisure centres, food banks, sports clubs, and youth hubs. The Welsh Government is determined that no one should miss education, work, or social activities because they cannot afford or access period products. Flintshire has been particularly successful with its 'Reusable Period Product Parties', which provide free reusable period cup kits, pad kits, and period pants. These events also create spaces for open conversations about menstrual health. The Community Sports Development Team in Flintshire has also included period products in first aid kits during outdoor activities and events. Councillor Mared Eastwood, Flintshire Council's cabinet member for education, Welsh language, culture, and leisure, said: "Holding Reusable Period Product Parties across libraries and leisure centres has helped to raise awareness and educate the community on reusable products, including a more sustainable alternative to disposable options. "Over 500 free reusable period pad kits, period pants kits, and period cup kits have been distributed through these events with many period positive conversations." READ MORE: Optician Dawn set sights on half marathon charity fundraiser The Welsh Government's cabinet secretary for social justice, Jane Hutt, said: "Period products are essential items and should be freely available to everyone who needs them. "Flintshire's approach to offering reusable products in public spaces while encouraging open conversations about periods is helping break down stigma." The minister for mental health and wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, said: "Menstrual health is one of the eight priority areas in our Women's Health Plan. "We are striving for period equity for all women and girls with access to products, facilities, and healthcare to manage their period and menstrual health. "By making free period products widely available across Wales, we're not just addressing period poverty – we're empowering women to participate fully in life without barriers."
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Free period products available in public places in Wales
The products are available as part of the Welsh Government's £3.2m Period Dignity fund. The initiative is not only providing essential period products in every school and college across Wales, but it has also extended its services to more than 100 public venues including libraries, leisure centres, food banks, sports clubs, and youth hubs. Through this initiative, the Welsh Government aims to completely eradicate period poverty by 2027 and is determined that no one should miss education, work, or social activities due to lack of access to period products. Flintshire's 'Reusable Period Product Parties' have been noted as a success. The events provide free access to reusable items such as cups, pads, and period pants. Councillor Mared Eastwood, Flintshire Council's cabinet member for education, Welsh language, culture, and leisure, said: "Holding Reusable Period Product Parties across libraries and leisure centres has helped to raise awareness and educate the community on reusable products. "Switching to reusable products can support individuals in reducing their environmental impact." The Welsh Government's cabinet secretary for social justice, Jane Hutt, also expressed her enthusiasm for the programme. She said: "Period products are essential items and should be freely available to everyone who needs them. "Flintshire's approach to offering reusable products in public spaces while encouraging open conversations about periods is helping break down stigma. "I'm especially pleased to see period products becoming available during sporting activities, removing yet another barrier to participation."
