Teens miss more days of school due to periods than due to colds.
Period blood.
In the middle and high school hallways, these two words are whispered like a shameful sin.
“Do you have a tampon?” one girl silently mouths to her friend across the room as she frantically glances at the boys sitting next to her to make sure they don’t hear her dirty question.
“Umm.. can I use the bathroom?” one girl awkwardly asks her male teacher as her cheeks burn hot with embarrassment about her menstruating state.
As the lesson goes on, one girl is frozen, not comprehending a single thing because the blood that has leaked through her pants feels like a reputation death sentence.
On one girl’s regular bathroom trip, she experiences period blood for the first time and panics with fear that she may be dying because she has yet to learn about menstruation.
Menstruation is a beautiful and natural function of the female body, showcasing its remarkable capabilities and strength. Without periods, there would be no child birth, and none of us would be here today. By perpetuating silence and treating periods as a taboo subject in both society and educational institutions, a grave injustice is committed against all females.
A 2021 nationally representative American survey revealed that 4 out of 5 teenagers feel they receive more education about the biology of frogs than about the human female body in school. This glaring disparity highlights the undeniable inadequacy of education concerning a woman’s body in the United States. This absence of proper knowledge about something so important and pertinent leaves women and men feeling awkward, fuelling harmful stigmas surrounding periods. Engaging in open conversations about menstruation with both genders, establishing a supportive system to address awkward menstrual situations, providing clear explanations on the proper use of menstrual products, and fostering an overall open dialogue about the unique aspects of the female body have the potential to initiate a transformative shift, gradually dispelling the stigma and shame associated with these discussions.
The lack of support to address these challenges has a profound impact on girls’ education, ultimately affecting their career prospects and economic well-being as they are forced to miss school. On average, girls around the world lose approximately 54 days of education during their teenage years, equivalent to missing out on 11 academic weeks. This extended absence is primarily attributed to menstrual-related issues, with period pain being a common culprit.
Findings from the Phs Group’s Period Equality: Breaking the Cycle report, now in its third year. Drawing from a Censuswide survey of 1,262 girls aged 13-18 across the UK, the report illuminates crucial issues. The majority (82%) identified cramps as the primary reason, with nearly one in five (19%) admitting to skipping lessons due to embarrassment about their period, and one in twelve (8%) citing unavailability of period products. This persists despite the recent implementation of period equality measures aimed at enhancing access to free period products in educational settings. Stigma and shame still present a barrier to having open conversations about menstruation.
Beyond just the classroom, the lack of education shared with women about their bodies extends to the medical realm. Physicians frequently wave the birth control pill around like a universal magical remedy to help with any period related issues. The side effects and risks of the pill are regularly downplayed, leading many women to hastily accept birth control as a solution without the awareness that they may experience weight gain, depression, anxiety, acne, drastic mood swings, worsened/absent periods, and further disruption as a consequence. These horrible side effects lead women to feel undervalued, overlooked, and isolated as they learn to reluctantly endure their period problems with a sense of hopelessness regarding potential solutions.
Initiating a shift in this paradigm begins with education and recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for addressing all menstrual concerns. The distinctive nature of each woman's body necessitates a personalized approach to treatment.
Young women are inadequately equipped by their medical providers, lacking the necessary tools to navigate their individual bodily experiences. A comprehensive approach that includes self-care strategies, a nourishing diet, regular movement, community support, psychological well-being, and other healthy lifestyle choices is essential for maintaining a thriving hormonal life as a woman. It is crucial to recognize that menstruation is not a standalone aspect of female health; instead, it serves as a signal of how well an individual's body is functioning as a whole.
The normalization of period pain in society is fundamentally flawed. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development recognizes the menstrual cycle as the fifth vital sign, placing it alongside heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature. The organization highlights that menstrual irregularities can indicate hormonal imbalances, gynecological diseases, or infections. Additionally, changes in the menstrual cycle can be attributed to factors such as stress, alterations in weight or diet, specific medications, and other lifestyle factors.
Hence, severe period pain is not normal. Menstrual issues are either signs of a deeper underlying medical concern in the body or lifestyle choices leading to unnecessary, preventable pain.
Schools around the world have already begun to reflect this transforming outlook on women’s health. Starting in January 2023, “Nervi-Severini” Art School of Ravenna in Italy instituted a two day monthly menstrual leave for students who request it on a medical basis.
At MYSA, we want to change the standard surrounding the menstruating woman. Our mission is to provide holistic support, break taboos, offer education, improve healthcare access, create a supportive community, and empower young people to navigate this crucial phase of development with confidence and well-being. The female body is not black and white; it is full of colorful complexities. Education, medicine, and society itself are being called to reflect this true reality of hormonal health.
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