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Mensy Erasmus ambassador trainng London 2025

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Mensy Erasmus ambassador trainng London 2025

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NLWA teachers environmenstrual training (2)

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#wombstories - when you have vast profits - industry does make some great adverts - only they can afford production value like this  

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#wombstories - when you have vast profits - industry does make some great adverts - only they can afford production value like this  

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 “Never Just a Period” - bloody good advert advert - when you make vast profits you can produce some great adverts campaigns - appropriating feminist activists campaigns

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 “Never Just a Period” - bloody good advert advert - when you make vast profits you can produce some great adverts campaigns - appropriating feminist activists campaigns

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Ghanian women protesting against the tampon tax 2023

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Ghanian women protesting against the tampon tax 2023

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This Ability advert from Kenya to #endperiodshame 2019

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This Ability advert from Kenya to #endperiodshame 2019

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1950's advert about losing your virginity if you use a tampon! 

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1950's advert about losing your virginity if you use a tampon! 

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1950's advert about 'good wives' using vaginal douches to keep your man happy!

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1950's advert about 'good wives' using vaginal douches to keep your man happy!

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French advert - like a fish out of water - from Tampax 1992

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French advert - like a fish out of water - from Tampax 1992

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Hey Girls UK #Pads4Dads with Michael Sheen

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Menstruation: Empowerment and Eustainability 

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Menstruation: Empowerment and Eustainability 

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Menstrual Education Toolkit for youth educators 

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Menstrual Education Toolkit for youth educators 

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Menstrual Education Toolkit - Menstrual Matters

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Additives in Period Products, a chemical solution for a social problem 

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Additives in Period Products, a chemical solution for a social problem 

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ADDITIVES IN PERIOD PRODUCTS, A CHEMICAL SOLUTION FOR A SOCIAL PROBLEM?

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Recent tests on a range of period pants found unnecessary high levels of silver which could have unknown health implications for wearers and damage the environment.

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Talking PFAS in Reusable Period Products with Kathrin Schilling 

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Talking PFAS in Reusable Period Products with Kathrin Schilling 

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TALKING PFAS IN REUSABLE PERIOD PRODUCTS WITH KATHRIN SCHILLING

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Interview with Kathrin Schilling, Assistant Professor at CUIMC of Environmental Health Sciences, about the recent research which found PFAS in reusable menstrual products

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Wen's response to PFAS found in Reusable Period Products

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Wen's response to PFAS found in Reusable Period Products

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PFAS IN REUSABLE PERIOD PRODUCTS: WEN RESPONDS

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PFAS in reusable period products: Wen’s response.

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Toxic Shock Syndrome and menstrual cups 

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Toxic Shock Syndrome and menstrual cups 

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Period Posse presents their webinar series

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Period Posse presents their webinar series

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Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

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The Gender, Adolescent Transitions, and Environment (GATE) program’s Period Possee webinar series brings together experts in menstrual health and hygiene from across research, policy, and practice.

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Take part in Environmenstrual Day. Help ensure everyone has access to healthy, eco-friendly period products. Download the toolkit now.

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An immersive investigation of normalised violence against women.

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Investigating Young Women’s Retrospective Perceptions and Experiences of Menstrual Health Education in School Settings, England

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Investigating Young Women’s Retrospective Perceptions and Experiences of Menstrual Health Education in School Settings, England

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A resource to view in close-up the amazing variety seen across the hundreds of casts Jamie has made. The first one hundred that appear in the book are here now and hundreds more will be added soon. Unlike photographs of genitals these pure white plaster casts bear no relation to pornography and may be viewed at any age, with adult supervision. The lack of colour also cleverly removes any issues of race.

Bear in mind this labia library is only a tiny cross-section of normal, natural, vulvar variation. Whatever you have between your legs is normal because it's your normal. There are no ideal genitals so your's are unique, perfect and to be celebrated. See the Education page for more info.

This collection is always growing so come back soon. If you would like your vulva in the Labia Library see the button below

Donations
Please consider making a small contribution to support our genital diversity projects

These projects are entirely self-funded through sales of artworks, gifts & the generosity of patrons

Donate Here

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A resource to view in close-up the amazing variety seen across the hundreds of casts Jamie has made. The first one hundred that appear in the book are here now and hundreds more will be added soon. Unlike photographs of genitals these pure white plaster casts bear no relation to pornography and may be viewed at any age, with adult supervision.

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Hertfordshire Teacher Training Slides June 24

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Hertfordshire Teacher Training Slides June 24

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EmBody EmPower - A resource for young women to access health care in Scotland  

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EmBody EmPower - A resource for young women to access health care in Scotland  

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Environmenstrual Week of Action 23 Toolkit

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Environmenstrual Week of Action 23 Toolkit

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Autism training from a person not just a textbook

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Hi ! Thank you for visiting my website. My name is Robyn. I am Autistic and have been delivering fun , informative and practical Training to professionals and parent / support groups for over 15 years. I have written 3 books The Independent Woman's Handbook for Super Safe Living on the Autistic Spectrum , The Autism Friendly Guide to Periods and The Autism Friendly Guide to self employment .

I am Co Host of BBC Sound's 1800 seconds on Autism .

I am interested in other peoples experiences and have co authored a few academic papers.

I have 9 other disabilities. I came out of school with no GCSE's .

I am also a musician , and have performed around the world but have a regular residency at Cafe OTO in east london.

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Autism training from a person not just a textbook

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Online face to face, practical strategy focused Autism training. Delivered by Autistic Trainer,Mentor ,Consultant and Author Robyn Steward. Robyn is a research Associate at University College London (UCL). Author of The Autism Friendly Guide to periods published by Jessica Kingsley publishers. Co

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Getting your period can bring challenges whether or not you are autistic.

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How are you feeling about trialling the cup for 3 months?

The mobility in my hands is very limited, so I'm apprehensive about struggling with using the cup, however, I'm confident that I'll adapt, and make it work. Overall, I'm excited to start using it and I'm hoping it will take away a lot of stress that comes with my periods.

Let's throwback for a moment - what kind of education did you receive at school about periods? What do you think about the quality of that education?

I didn't receive much in a way of education about periods in school. We were told how often we would have a period, that it would only be a teaspoon amount of blood and that we were to use pads. I wasn't prepared at all for my period starting!

I hope that children are more educated on periods than I was and I hope that schools educate children about menstrual cups and other environmentally-friendly alternatives that are also healthier for our bodies.

Were you previously aware of the amount of plastic and chemicals used in big-brand tampons and pads?

I'm aware that pads contain a certain amount of plastic but I've never really used them because I find them messy and uncomfortable to wear. I'm shocked to learn that tampons are 6% plastic! I knew that tampons were wrapped in plastic and some have plastic applicators but not that the actual tampons contained plastic too!

Now you've had 3 months to give the Lunette cup a go, tell us a bit about how you found using it?

My experience with the menstrual cup has been positive. It takes a little time for me to get my hand positioned to use it and it can be a little slippery with the lube but I'm getting around it with my partner or carer supporting my hand. Once it's in, it's brilliant!

I'm amazed at how much it holds and I've had no leaks either. I don't have the strength to remove the cup but my partner or carer helps with that by pulling my hand as I grip onto it, which is pretty much what we do with a tampon.

It's been nice to know that support is available through Lunette's customer service team if I need it.

What are the pros and cons of the menstrual cup for you?

The pros of using the menstrual cup are: less chance of toxic shock; it can be worn for up to 12 hours; I don't know if it's connected but I haven't had severe cramps with the menstrual cup like I used to with tampons; once the cup is in I didn't really feel it, whereas a tampon can feel uncomfortable after a while.

There wasn't really any cons to using the cup apart from it can be a little tricky to insert and I needed help to do it but I often have the same problem with a tampon and this is due to my reduced mobility.

Did using the cup affected your daily activities at all?

If anything the cup has improved my daily activities. I no longer have leaking from tampons, so I don't have to sit in wet clothes or bother family to come and change my wet clothes.

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Using a Menstrual Cup when disabled - City to Sea

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Meet Katie, who trialled a lunette cup for three months. Read the interview to find out more about using a menstrual cup with a disability.

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Moon Cups Are Not For Me: the reality of period products for disabled women.

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Moon Cups Are Not For Me: the reality of period products for disabled women.

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There is a lot of misinformation out there about disability and periods. Did you know that one of the most common questions to pop up on google about disabled women and menstruation is "do disabled people get their period?"

Yes, yes we do.

If you are a disabled person with a womb, approximately between the ages of 10 and 55, and you have no other underlying condition or medication to prevent you getting your period, Aunty Flo is going to visit at least once a month.

The first time I got my period we were away on holiday staying at my mum's cousin's farm in northern NSW, Australia. I was thirteen years old. The closest town was an hour away, so it was never easy to get things last minute. There was no asking someone to duck down to the shops and get you the "purple packaged pads with wings please."

You had to plan for things. I certainly wasn't physically or mentally prepared for my period.

As the months went by though I got better at planning and also discovered ways to live with my period alongside my disability. My disability is called limb difference and it affects the dexterity in my one and only hand. I also wear a prosthetic leg which involves wearing a stocking sock between my skin and the socket. This stocking sock can sometimes get eaten by my undies... not pleasant when Aunty Flo is visiting.

Therefore my limb difference has had an impact on my choice of period products.

In general I use pads. For me it is the easiest product for me to use. Tampons I can manage, just, it's a bit of a struggle to get the right angle with the limited dexterity in my one hand. Menstrual cups are a completely different story. I haven't tried one, but I'll admit I'm a bit scared too. And I am not the only one.

Like Lauren Slattery, a woman with cerebral palsy and a Clue Ambassador, I have concerns around using the menstrual cup
"I have cerebral palsy, and use tampons with no issue. I just got a menstrual cup though and I'm worried about insertion and removal, since my muscular ability isn't the best."
So we disabled women can and do get our periods, but what is the best option for...

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Moon Cups Are Not For Me: the reality of period products for disabled women.

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There is a lot of misinformation out there about disability and periods. Did you know that one of the most common questions to pop up on google about disabled women and menstruation is "do disabled...

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The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Reusable Menstrual Products

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The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Reusable Menstrual Products

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In 2013, the researchers Christine Metz and Peter K. Gregersen proposed what is now considered to be one of the most important investigations in the study of endometriosis. The substance they wanted to analyze was abundant and easy to collect: menstrual blood, or "effluent," as it's better described, since much of this substance is not only blood but endometrial cells, hormones, and vaginal secretions. Their idea was simple. Participants would collect their menstrual flows using cups or specialized sponges, and mail the samples to their research center. There, the material would be studied for potential markers for endometriosis, a lifelong, incurable condition in which tissue similar to that which lines the uterus grows outside the womb. Endometriosis is notoriously painful and affects at least ten per cent of people with uteruses. Diagnosing the condition takes, on average, a decade, and often requires a laparoscopic procedure in which a viewing instrument is inserted, through an incision, into the abdomen and tissue is retrieved and biopsied. By testing menstrual blood, they were hoping to make endometriosis diagnoses faster, less invasive, and more accessible.

Some of their colleagues responded to their study with disgust and unease. "When we started promoting our study and trying to recruit women to the study," Metz tells the midwife and podcaster Leah Hazard, "we found that most physicians were not going to help us. They were very reluctant to talk about the study with their patients. They said, 'Oh, my patients aren't going to give you menstrual effluent. No way. They wouldn't like to do that.' " Medical professionals, as Hazard writes in her new book, " Womb," are not immune to shame around periods-the embarrassment that induces menstruating people to hide tampons up their sleeves when walking to the bathroom, or experience a sense of deep mortification over a bloodstain. What she calls the "yuck factor" associated with periods leads many doctors and scientists to avoid the subject. In a review of scientific papers, Hazard finds that there are about four hundred studies on menstrual effluent compared with more than fifteen thousand for semen or sperm.

"Womb" and another new book, " Period," by the biological anthropologist Kate Clancy, hope to draw our attention to menstruation and the often overlooked organ central to it. Both books begin by invoking the stigma associated with the female reproductive system. In her introduction, Clancy stresses the disgust she encountered when she told people she was writing a book about periods. "Sometimes it's easier not to see, not to know," Hazard writes, then exhorts readers to remember they are made of "sterner stuff."

"Womb" interweaves observations drawn from Hazard's own work in labor wards with reporting and interviews. As part of her research, she travels to Sweden to watch a uterus transplant from a thirty-seven-year-old woman who had had several children to her twenty-one-year-old sister, who has Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, a condition in which the uterus is underdeveloped or absent. So far, at least seventy uterus transplants have taken place globally, and the procedure may hold promise for transgender women, women born without a womb, and people who might wish to conceive but have had their wombs removed. Hazard joins a group of doctors from around the world to observe the operation. She watches as the uterus, "blanched and lifeless," is lifted out of the donor's body and safely transported to her sister's. "Fresh blood rushes into the adjoining vessel and a pink blush spreads slowly across the uterus-until now, a fist of pale white muscle. I can hardly believe what I'm seeing. What was dead now has life; what was still and cold now pulses with heat."

Hazard's recounting of the uterus-transplant surgery is one of the rare moments we see her excited about reproductive health care. More often, it's her exasperation that leaps off the page. Of her time working as a midwife on the postnatal ward, she writes:

I became accustomed to new mothers approaching me at all hours of the day and night, pale and panicked, brandishing various unlikely bits of detritus from delivery-a clot saved on a pad for examination, a stray piece of suture material found in a gusset-but none provoked as much alarm as the tiny nappy streaked with pink. "My daughter's bleeding," they would exclaim, simultaneously embarrassed and concerned, and often more than a little bit disgusted. What these women had noticed was a normal, physiological process about which-like so much of female life-nobody had warned them.

During pregnancy, a fetus is exposed to high levels of maternal hormones. The withdrawal of those hormones after birth can lead to blood-tinged discharge, resembling a period. Hazard is used to reassuring new mothers that this bleeding is perfectly normal, but she is frustrated by the need to keep having the conversation, which never fails to remind her of the shame and ignorance surrounding basic female reproductive processes.

It's tempting to dismiss superstitions around the impurity of menstruation as drastically outdated. But, as Clancy points out, these prejudices have at times taken on a dangerous scientific veneer. In the nineteen-twenties, a doctor claimed he had discovered a substance in menstrual blood that wilted flowers. "Menotoxins," as they came to be called, were thought to be excreted through a menstruating woman's pores, in her sweat, and in her breast milk. The hypothesis continued to be debated seriously well into the nineteen-seventies.

Though the menotoxin theory was eventually refuted, periods continue to have noxious associations. Clancy cites one study, from 2002, in which a female actor was asked to drop either a tampon or a hair clip in front of research participants. Regardless of their gender, observers reacted far more harshly to the woman when she dropped a tampon. They liked her less, and thought her less competent than when she dropped a hair clip. They were also less likely to sit close to her after they'd seen her drop a tampon in the lab room, as if she were contaminated.

A similar aversion among scientists has likely led to a broader lack of research into the causes of menstruation. For a long time, the dominant hypothesis was that human periods were nonadaptive. Some mammals release an egg only when procreative sex seems imminent or occurs, when there is physical stimulation or certain pheromones are detected. Human ovulation, and the shedding of the uterine lining that ensues, can seem wasteful in comparison. Clancy, however, presents evidence suggesting that periods may help teach the uterus to foster a safer pregnancy for mother and fetus.

Our conception of a "normal" period may not exist outside of medical textbooks. After measuring the hormonal levels of a large sample of women in the course of their cycles, Clancy found that not a single participant's hormones matched the standard model, in which a fourteen-day follicular phase is followed by an ovulation period and then a fourteen-day luteal phase. Though the average level of the women's estrogen did tend to peak mid-cycle, the individual variations were striking. Some participants in the study experienced double peaks of estrogen. Others had higher estrogen levels in their luteal phases than in the middle of their cycles. For a significant number of women, Clancy writes, "traditional expectations about how a menstrual cycle is supposed to work" did not seem to apply.

The obscurity that shrouds the workings of the uterus may have had severe consequences for reproductive health. Limited treatment options for those suffering from a range of gynecological conditions contributes to the widespread use of an extreme and irreversible medical procedure: removal of the womb. Hysterectomies are the second most frequent operation for women in the United States. (The most frequent is the Cesarean section.) A third of women have their uteruses removed by the age of sixty-five. The procedure is often to remove fibroids; though this condition will afflict seventy to eighty per cent of people with uteruses in the course of their lives, it remains poorly understood. In 2001, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a representative from Ohio, introduced a congressional bill to fund research into the condition, but it was never passed. A resurrected version of the bill, the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act, died in Congress.

Research into many major pregnancy complications-miscarriage, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and stillbirth-is also sparse. Hazard interviews Dr. Margherita Yayoi Turco, a researcher then at the University of Cambridge who was working on a placental "organoid," tiny placental tissue that can, under the right conditions, form mini-placentas in a dish, and be analyzed for its response to different drugs and hormones. Despite the importance of placental development for a successful pregnancy, garnering support for her work was difficult. "When I came into this field, it was really clear that it was hard to find funding," she tells Hazard. "The placenta? It's mostly, like, 'Who cares? We just throw it away.' "

A fantasy persists, in the popular imagination, of sperm as Olympic swimmers, racing toward an egg that passively awaits fertilization. Clancy and Hazard are both keen to complicate this simplistic picture of conception. Sperm are drawn in by uterine waves, Clancy asserts, "a special type of muscle contraction that helps control the speed at which sperm reach the egg, propelling them on a journey that would otherwise be too long for them to make on their own." Hazard also emphasizes the organ's strength. "The womb is a muscle," she writes. "We can compare it quite accurately to a clenched fist, not only in size, but in power."

Hazard and Clancy hope to encourage us to better appreciate this remarkable muscle. The interior of the uterus, Clancy points out, goes through a process of tissue repair month after month without leaving any scar tissue. Though the organ's regenerative powers are not well understood, it has the potential to inform treatment of a variety of chronic wounds. A recent study indicates that menstrual effluent specifically might have healing properties. When applied to skin wounds, plasma extracted from menstrual fluid appeared to improve the repair process. Rather than greeting our periods with disgust, perhaps we should trade our revulsion for awe. ♦

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Yasmine AlSayyad on Leah Hazard's "Womb" and Kate Clancy's "Period," both of which examine shame around menstruation and how it negatively impacts women's health.

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Invisible Women...in which we discover that blood is literally thicker than water

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Invisible Women...in which we discover that blood is literally thicker than water

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Hello hello hello, my dear GFPs and I hope British GFPs all had a wonderful Bank Holiday, and I equally hope all non-British GFPs had a wonderful Monday even if it was spent at work and Invisible-Women-Newsletterless. Still, it's here now and it's QUITE the read if I do say so myself 😘

Now, this matters for a whole bunch of reasons the most obvious of which being that when you are buying your period products you are likely guided to a certain extent by the level of flow the packaging claims they are suited for: light, medium, heavy, and so on.

Well, turns out, those terms are, as anyone who's used period products probably already suspected, to be taken with a pinch of salt[y water].

This study tested 21 different period products, including pads, tampons, discs, period pants and cups and one glaring finding was that, in the researchers' own beautifully understated words, "the product capacity labelling was discordant with our results."

Most products reported that they had greater capacity than was revealed by this study, a discrepancy the researchers put down to "product testing with non-blood liquids." One for the "blood is thicker than water" files, then.

Now, as the researchers make clear, while their use of regular old blood is preferable to water, it does not exactly match menstrual effluent which also contains vaginal secretions, endometrial cells, and sometimes, clots.

Still, this finding is of obvious interest to anyone who bleeds on a regular basis (by the way for anyone who is open to a new period product, the disc - which I must admit I'd never heard of and let's just say I now identify as disc-curious - emerged as the clear winner in the battle of the leaks; the pants were the worst, not that that should surprise anyone who's tried them on a heavy day 😬).

But there is actually a more serious aspect to this issue beyond leaking onto your favourite underwear and that is the diagnosis of abnormally heavy bleeding. Now, to state the obvious, it's important to be able to determine when someone is losing too much blood and while the researchers point out that "patients can [...] self-identify as having [heavy menstrual bleeding] if bleeding interferes with their quality of life" this would require clinicians to believe women about their own bodies to which lol and for evidence to back up my lol I refer you to pretty much everything I've ever written.

Anyway, while "a quality of life diagnosis may be all that is needed" for a doctor to treat heavy menstrual bleeding, when it comes to identifying "those with truly abnormal blood loss, potentially signifying another underlying disease (such as a bleeding disorder) or increased risk of adverse outcomes (such as iron deficiency)," a more "stringent" clinical approach is needed. And this is where the Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBAC) comes in.

The PBAC is the "current validated clinical tool routinely used to assess menstrual blood loss" and it looks like this:

The diagnosis of heavy menstrual bleeding is made if the patient is getting through a pad or tampon every one to two hours; if the patient is getting through a pad or tampon twice hourly, she should seek emergency treatment. Which sounds very scientific, but we unfortunately immediately run into problems.

For a start "no industry standard exists for capacity testing of menstrual products except for tampons due to their historical link between absorbency and the risk of toxic shock syndrome," which probably explains why one pad marked as heavy was found in this study to hold 52ml, while another supposedly "heavy day" pad held only 31ml. This clearly makes depending on how quickly a pad is saturated a somewhat shaky diagnostic tool, and indeed, the authors of the paper suggest that the current metric "greatly underestimates blood loss and rates of [heavy menstrual bleeding]."

You may also have noticed that the PBAC is based exclusively on the saturation of pads and tampons. This means anyone using a cup, disc etc is out of luck - even though, per this study, discs and cups are the best products when it comes to containing heavy periods. And when you take these two points together (the tool being based on pads and tampons, while discs and cups hold substantially more), you come to a deeply concerning conclusion: the products that, based on efficacy, are most appropriate for someone with heavy menstrual bleeding, are also those most likely to lead to underdiagnosis - because they are more effective. Simply put, if your basis for deciding who needs to be treated for heavy menstrual bleeding is how often she needs to change her protection, someone using a more effective product is going to appear less in need of treatment. This is, let's say, sub-optimal.

And there was less excuse for this even than usual since the paper itself did include men in the title, so at least they were not pretending these findings applied to humans overall.

Honourable mention must go to a few websites that not only illustrated the paper with men, but also included "men" in the title as opposed to talking about gender neutral "people": Global Cycling Network, WebMD (though really you'd hope they'd be able to get it right, even though Healthline, which claimed to be "Fact Checked" did not) and, and I must admit I was surprised by this, the Daily Mail.

Anyway, for those GFPs who are not women (and believe it or not there are a few, including GFP Matthew, who is one of those who pointed me towards this study), the analysis suggested that regular aerobic exercise while you're young can significantly reduce the risk of a range of cancers - with the caveat that it's an observational study so comes with the usual health warnings that kind of study entails. Still, probably wouldn't hurt to go for a brisk walk, eh.

Not done one of these in a while, but decided to revive this section after GFP Catherine wrote in about her local cricket club, Lewes Priory CC, whose women's team she has just joined and she has the following to say:

Our lovely captain, Susie, recommended a shop that sells cricket gear SPECIFICALLY FOR WOMEN! It's called The Female Cricket Store - @TheFemaleCktSt1 on Twitter. They sells all sorts of kit for women and girls. Including kit made by SM (@SMCricketltd ) who have collaborated with England captain Heather Knight (@HeatherKnight55 ) to make bats and kit specifically for women. Amazing!

And this one comes courtesy of yet another GFP, GFP Claire who is the co-founder of the Certain Curtain Theatre Company, who specialise in original drama "tackling sensitive and controversial subjects." I saw a production of Lady In Red, their play about coercive control and domestic violence about a decade ago and I still remember how powerful it was, particularly in addressing the question that too many victims have faced: "Why doesn't she just leave?"

Alongside digital sessions - the project will also provide five free live performances across Lancashire. Then we will have a permanent resource which will be available for national and international screenings. You can find out more HERE.

That's it! Until next time, my dear GFPs....xoxoxo

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Invisible Women...in which we discover that blood is literally thicker than water

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a PubMed search of "menstrual blood" resulted in 400 publications in the last several decades, during which time there were approximately 10000 publications related to erectile dysfunction

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Ending the tampon tax has just made retailers richer. Can we stop weaponising periods?

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Ending the tampon tax has just made retailers richer. Can we stop weaponising periods?

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Using Social media to Communicate Effectively with Young People About Menstruation 

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Using Social media to Communicate Effectively with Young People About Menstruation 

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Flex | Sustainable Period Care on Instagram: "Wondering how to choose between a disc & a cup? Allow us to break it down for you! 😌
Let us know in the comments what other tutorials you want to see, and don’t hesitate to reach out to our Flexperts before your purchase— we’re always here to help 🥰

#flexdisc #menstrualcup #menstrualdisc #sustainability"

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2,145 likes, 400 comments - flex on May 10, 2023: "Wondering how to choose between a disc & a cup? Allow us to break it down for you! 😌
Let us know in the comments what other tutorials you want to see, and don’t hesitate to reach out to our Flexperts before your purchase— we’re always here to help 🥰

#flexdisc #menstrualcup #menstrualdisc #sustainability". 

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Flex | Sustainable Period Care (@flex)

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Menstrual Cup Folds + Tips for Getting Your Cup to Open

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An exploratory study of the impacts and potential of menstrual hygiene waste in the UK

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An exploratory study of the impacts and potential of menstrual hygiene waste in the UK

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Global Glossary for the Menstrual Movement

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Global Glossary for the Menstrual Movement

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I’ve stopped saying 'feminine hygiene products'. Here’s why you should too

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I’ve stopped saying 'feminine hygiene products'. Here’s why you should too

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I recently tweeted at Boots to ask them to change their sign above the menstrual product aisle to, well, "the menstrual product aisle" rather than "feminine hygiene". They replied saying: "Thanks for getting in touch Chella. We've shared your feedback to the relevant teams for internal review. - Staci".

I'm calling on all chemists and supermarkets to take this step. Why? Because periods are still enough of a taboo subject that when we talk about them, we often resort to beating about the bush, and this affects both the way we see our bodies and the way we choose to consume menstrual products.

Sure, you hardly ever hear of "the curse" anymore, "Aunt Flo" may finally have gone on permanent holiday, and we reached peak "monthly gift from mother nature" in 2012.

What if men had periods?

But in a more subtle way, some euphemisms are still there - I mean the ones that companies coined to shift product in a bygone era. You know the ones: Sanitary, Feminine Hygiene, Femcare - and the utterly vile "sanpro". I noticed my language was constantly reinforcing the taboos we're trying so hard to break. So I changed it. And everyone still knew exactly what I was talking about.

Period talk and menstruation taboos have been exploited by multinational companies for so long that we don't even notice how much we use their language to talk about our bodies. It's time to stem the tide of negativity by making sure that our language matches reality and doesn't play into corporate manipulation.

As a menstrual activist, performer, #periodpositive founder and education researcher, I'm here to set down some rules that will challenge menstruation taboos.

Stop saying "sanitary"

Don't say sanitary towels, don't say sanitary wear, don't say sanitary protection.

Periods aren't any more unsanitary than any other bodily function. Of all the gooey stuff that comes out of our bodies, periods are the only thing we describe in terms of sanitation so explicitly, and we need to stop doing this. It implies that we are unclean and that menstrual products are cleaner than our bodies. Actually - vaginas are self-cleaning. Like ovens. Let's show some David-Attenborough-nature-documentary-level respect to their natural fauna.

Same goes for saying "hygiene"

If you live in a place with infrastructure that includes bins, running water and sewage systems, you've got enough privilege not to worry in general about hygiene.

Sure, manage your personal levels of cleanliness. But again, don't single out one self-care activity for "extra hygiene" treatment. Periods aren't unhygienic!

Also, "feminine"? Really?

What if you consider yourself a fairly androgynous, utilitarian or macho menstruator? What if you are a trans or nonbinary menstruator? What if you're a totally on fleek high femme, but don't take it as far as stereotypical bling or fussing over your fooff?

I mean... how feminine are we talking? Matching our tampons to our handbags, belts and shoes? Vajazzling? Faff Kidston? What is happening here?

"Feminine hygiene products" takes us three euphemisms deep. It's like the film Inception, but everyone's dreaming about periods, when in reality feminine hygiene products are simply reusable and disposable menstrual products.

They're disposable menstrual products

"Disposable menstrual products" is the term you're looking for instead of "pads and tampons", because there are reusable cloth pads out there. Every time you say "tampon", a Procter & Gamble marketing fairy gets its wings.

The reason we should say "disposable menstrual products" is because that's what they are. You throw them away after you use them - that's why they're called disposable. You use them for menstruation - that's why they're called menstrual. They are manufactured products with a carbon footprint, a price, packaging and advertising. That's why they're called products.

They are not more sanitary and hygienic than reusables. They are not more feminine (or masculine, for that matter). They are products with a production line and a chain of commerce that has an impact on the environment and the economy. They have producers and consumers.

Oh, and they're not "femcare", because ultimately the huge multinational corporations that make them don't care.

Reusable menstrual products

"Reusable menstrual products", on the other hand, can be made at home, or made by small companies that trade on their reputations and their ecological footprint. Their corporate social responsibility tends to reflect their actual ethics, not their desire to look like they have ethics.

Reusable menstrual product companies don't use shame in their advertising. Most of the time they don't have the overhead behind them to mount huge ad campaigns. But they can actually be harder to find if you stick to words like sanitary.

Language affects the way we consume

A lot of young people find out about menstruation online these days. There are many different menstruation management options out there, and more and more people are switching to reusable products like cups and cloth pads. It's not so easy to find them though - companies that make disposable products dominate the market, optimise the results, and use language that encourages secrecy and taboo.

When you do a Google-image search for "menstrual products" you get a fairly even spread of reusable and disposable products. Same with "period products". If you Google "sanitary products" you'll get images of disposables and pictures of bathroom furniture. If you search up "sanitary towels" you'll only get images of disposable ones.

Anything with "sanitary", "feminine", "hygiene" and even "towels" in its name is going to be disposable. But search for "menstrual products" and you'll get a fairly even spread of reusables and disposables, providing long term options that promote sustainability and can end period poverty.

Words are powerful. We internalise the meaning of the things we say, and if we don't question them, we might keep passing corporate and damaging language onto the next generation.

From schools to sales figures, sociolinguistics to search terms, "sanitary" has become unsavoury. It's time to clean up our act, and start using our own language for our own bodies.
Chella Quint is a comedian, education researcher and former head of PSHE who coined the term "period positive". Her campaign, #periodpositive, provides long-term solutions to period poverty through evidence-based free resources and period positivity. She is performing Adventures in Menstruating as part of the Women in Comedy Festival in Manchester on Friday 27 October

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I've stopped saying 'feminine hygiene products'. Here's why you should too

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I recently tweeted at Boots to ask them to change their sign above the menstrual product aisle to, well, "the menstrual product aisle" rather than "feminine hygiene". They replied saying: "Thanks for getting in touch Chella. We've shared your feedback to the relevant teams for internal review. - Staci".

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Teachers' Perceptions and Experiences of Menstrual Cycle Education and Support in UK Schools

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Teachers' Perceptions and Experiences of Menstrual Cycle Education and Support in UK Schools

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Teachers perceptions and experiences of menstrual education in UK schools

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Grant and support available for those struggling to afford period products.

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The Red Gown: Reflections on the In/Visibility of Menstruation in Scotland

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The Red Gown: Reflections on the In/Visibility of Menstruation in Scotland

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The Red Gown: Reflections on the In/Visibility of Menstruation in Scotland

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During the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, menstruation became more present in public discourse in Scotland. Despite this, little attention has been paid to the complex interplay of visibility and invisibility that characterises menstruation’s place in the nation’s wider cultural landscape. In this article,…

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Menstrual health for all requires wider high level commitment

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Menstrual health for all requires wider high level commitment

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Access to affordable period products is not nearly enough

In August 2022, the Scottish government declared that local authorities must provide access to free period products such as menstrual pads and tampons through their facilities.1 Globally, the menstrual health movement has achieved considerable milestones over the past two years, including the first panel discussion on menstrual health at the 50th session of the Human Rights Council and the publication of the consensus definition of menstrual health in 2021.2 These achievements are a result of over 20 years of activism and political action, beginning in 2004 when the government of Kenya committed to removing the sales tax on period pads.3

Over the past two decades, menstrual health campaigns have mobilised support among grassroots advocates and the media to challenge dominant narratives that perpetuate menstrual stigma, bringing the conversation to global stages and gatherings. Such public and visible activism have helped establish commitments by governments and multilateral agencies to uphold the rights of women, adolescent girls, and people who menstruate to menstrual health.4

Menstrual health refers to "a state of ...

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Menstrual health for all requires wider high level commitment

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Access to affordable period products is not nearly enough In August 2022, the Scottish government declared that local authorities must provide access to free period products such as menstrual pads and tampons through their facilities.1 Globally, the menstrual health movement has achieved considerable milestones over the past two years, including

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Don’t Apologise For Your Period: Bold Art That Bashes Stigma Like A Boss!

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Don’t Apologise For Your Period: Bold Art That Bashes Stigma Like A Boss!

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Selected artworks and curatorial projects by Bee Hughes

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How inclusive are period apps these days? I downloaded and trialled the first 10 period apps I could find on the app store, so you don't have to.

Menstrual cycle tracking, is this something you do? I only ask because I'm somebody who would do my best to avoid menstrual cycle tracking only to do a complete 180 when my periods went awry. When I first started menstruating, my mum was very prepared. She came armed with a range of pads for me... Read More

February is Black History Month. It dedicated to highlighting the triumphs and struggles of African Americans throughout U.S. history (the UK's counterpart takes place in October). To mark Black History Month here at Red Moon Gang, I'd like to talk to you about Mary Kenner. Who is Mary Kenner? Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner is an... Read More

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HI! I'M TARA COSTELLO I'm a UK-based author and ACET accredited educator who has been talking openly about periods for more than a decade. If you're looking for inclusive, accessible and shame-free period talk, you've come to the right place!

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Wrapped in Secrecy: Toxic chemicals in menstrual products Toxics Link India

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Wrapped in Secrecy: Toxic chemicals in menstrual products Toxics Link India

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Call a period a period: Exploring the language and knowledge of menstruation 

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Call a period a period: Exploring the language and knowledge of menstruation 

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Your period is a natural part of life and you shouldn't feel any shame or embarrassment in that.

We want to empower girls and young people that have periods as well all those around them to be period proud, so join the movement and let's normalise periods together.

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It's time to own our bodies and celebrate the bloody brilliant job they're doing! Let's talk bloody brilliant periods

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Period Dignity Strategic Action Plan Wales 

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Period Dignity Strategic Action Plan Wales 

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Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 

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Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 

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Our patient information resources are based on evidence from up-to-date guidance for doctors, but are written in a way which is easy for everyone to understand.

Many of our resources cover specific gynaecological conditions or procedures, as well as conditions or situations that can occur during pregnancy and birth.

If you are looking for more general information on pregnancy and birth, please see:

Browse our patient information leaflets

The information provided in our leaflets is developed by the RCOG's Patient Information Committee, made up of obstetricians and gynaecologists, midwives, and members of the RCOG Women's Network.

All patient information leaflets are reviewed every three years, or before that time if clinical guidance on which they are based changes. You can read more on the development process here.

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Information to support women in understanding their health and the care options available. Covering topics such as pregnancy and birth, gynaecology, and recovering after an operation.

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Wherever you live in the world, Annie, Michelle, or Kerrie would love to help you. We offer one-to-one support via Zoom, telephone, or in-person at our office in Ipswich, Suffolk, UK.

Our sessions last 30 or 60 minutes and cost £30 or £60 respectively. They can be booked through our online booking system at the bottom of the page.

The frequency of the sessions is completely under your control and takes place at various times from Monday to Thursday between 9.30 am - 4.30 pm.

Please scroll to the bottom of the page to book your support.

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Wherever you live in the world, Annie, Michelle, or Kerrie would love to help you. We offer one-to-one support via Zoom, telephone, or in-person at our office in Ipswich, Suffolk, UK. Our sessions last 30 or 60 minutes and cost £30 or £60 respectively.

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20 in stock

Hey Girls My Period cards have been designed to help you start positive conversations about periods. Each pack contains 50 flash cards with an image on one side and discussion points on the other. The cards cover everything from the biology of menstruation to stigma and taboo; from discharge to menstrual cups.

These cards are appropriate for the classroom, the youth club, the community centre or a one to one chat at home. My Period cards will really help you get the conversations flowing!

My Period card box contains:

My Period comes with lesson plans and activity ideas for families, schools and community workers.

For bulk orders contact orders@heygirls.co.uk
'This is the most intuitive learning tool I've seen in a long time - Christine Mclean, CFINE'

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Hey Girls My Period cards have been designed to help you start positive conversations about periods. Each pack contains 50 flash cards with an image on one side and discussion points on the other. The cards cover everything from the biology of menstruation to stigma and taboo; from discharge to menstrual cups.

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Wen is training secondary school teachers, council staff, Advice, Information and Guidance (AIG) Counselors and staff from community organisations to deliver unbiased period education.

Mainstream disposable period product manufacturers like Tampax and Lil Lets have for many years offered free menstrual education resources to schools. This often means that disposable period products are given precedence and reusable options left out. Often period education is delivered separately to boys and girls, this may create further barriers to speaking openly about it. Boys may only learn about the "biology" of periods and not the social, health and environmental aspects.

WORKING WITH LOCAL COUNCILS

Wen is working with Hertfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire Waste Aware to train Environmenstrual Ambassadors to i ncrease awareness and knowledge of reusable, safe and plastic-free period products in particular amongst secondary school pupils.

The environmenstrual workshops take place virtually and each school receives a toolkit containing examples of the wide range of disposable and reusable period products. The training includes: anatomy, environment, health and period product choices. The workshop equips teachers to deliver period education confidently to their students and provides resources for their lesson plans.

Some example slides from the Environmenstrual teacher training workshop deck

Thanks to some amazing small businesses we are able to offer schools toolkits with different period products and resources - so that students are then able to see and touch the products and of course ask questions.

Some of the period products in the toolkit

Thank you to: WUKA, Flux, Mooncup, Sugar and Scoop, The Period Lady, Cheeky Wipes, Modibodi, Cheeky Pants, By All Matters, OrganiCup, Natracare, Dame, Earth Wise Girls, This Period is My Life.

Hertfordshire County Council has set up HERTS Sustainable Periods scheme with discount codes to buy reusable period products and provided some budget for those who need free period products. They have also created a page with really useful information and resources.

Other councils are following suit. If you are an individual, why not share this page with your local council representative. If you are a council, please get in touch, so we can discuss how we can work together. Contact helen@wen.org.uk

Find out more about Environmenstrual Campaign and Environmenstrual Week

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Wen is training secondary school teachers, council staff, Advice, Information and Guidance (AIG) Counselors and staff from community organisations to deliver unbiased period education. Mainstream disposable period product manufacturers like Tampax and Lil Lets have for many years offered free menstrual education resources to schools.

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The Issues

It is estimated that between 1.5 -2 billion of these are flushed down toilets each year - 4.6 million every single day! Apart from being harmful to marine life, disposable products flushed down the toilet contribute to another problem - fatbergs. Fatbergs are huge masses of period products, wet wipes, nappies, fats and oils. Every year the UK spends about £100m clearing an estimated 300,000 fatbergs.

10% of sewage related debris on beaches is composed of period pads, liners/backing strips, tampons, and applicators. Switching to reusables means much less waste.

Many period products can contain up to 90% fossil-fuel based plastic. Most tampons contain plastic too (not just the applicator but the absorbent part too).

Non-organic disposable period products can contain toxic industrial chemicals like BPA, dioxins, pesticides, bleach and fragrances - manufacturers don't legally have to state what is in their products.

During lockdown 30% of girls in the UK aged 14-21 years struggled to afford or access period products. With reusables, they are always available.

Each period can cost on average £10, that's £130 a year and £4940 over a lifetime. In comparison, a menstrual cup costs around £20 and lasts up to 10 years offering an enormous saving.

Women and people who menstruate use more than 11,000 disposable menstrual products in their lifetime - based on an average of 38 years of menstruating using 22 items of menstrual products per cycle, with 13 cycles per year.

More figures and a raft of resources are available on the WEN fact sheet and more information can be read on the WEN Environmenstrual website

Reusable menstrual products have a lower environmental impact than single-use menstrual products. Especially the reusable menstrual cup is substantially better for the environment than other product options. (Menstrual products and sustainable alternatives report 2021 - Life Cycle Initiative)

Reusable Period Products

The most common three options are washable period pants, pads and liners and menstrual cups. Within each of these categories, there are a wealth of choices with something to suit everyone.

Period Pants

Period pants are simply a pair of knickers with an absorbent inner panel. They come in all shapes, styles, sizes and absorbencies. They are a particularly good option for young people and those who don't want to use an internal product.

(Credit: FLUX Undies)

Pads and liners

There's a huge choice of reusable pads and liners on the market from big brands to local businesses and sellers on Etsy. They are a shaped pad with wings that popper around your pants similar to a disposable period pad.

Don't use fabric softener, as this can affect the absorbency of the product over time.

They come in a huge range of designs, materials and sizes from liners to super maxi. Along with period pants, they are a great option for those who don't want to use an internal product.

(Credit: TPL)

Menstrual Cups

These are possibly the most sustainable option out there as you only need one product which can last for up to 10 years. Again they come in different shapes and sizes.

(Credit: TPL)

Menstrual Discs

Where a menstrual cup sits very low in the vaginal canal, a disc sits much higher up, just below the cervix. A disc is flatter in shape and can be worn during sex.

Reusable tampon applicators

If you're not quite ready to make the switch to reusables but want to move away from disposable applicator tampons, you can buy reusable applicators.

Other options

If reusable items are not for you, there are still ways you can make changes. organic single use disposals are available Which reduce the chemical content of your products, better for your body and the environment once they are disposed of.

Supplier information

We've teamed up with these great suppliers to offer Hertfordshire residents an exclusive 15% discount off a range of sustainable period products.
Apply for your discount today

Eco Femme

FLUX Undies

Mooncup

Sugar and Scoop

The Period Lady

Cheeky Pants

Eco Femme

FLUX Undies

Mooncup

Sugar and Scoop

The Period Lady

Cheeky Pants

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It is estimated that between 1.5 -2 billion of these are flushed down toilets each year - 4.6 million every single day! Apart from being harmful to marine life, disposable products flushed down the toilet contribute to another problem - fatbergs. Fatbergs are huge masses of period products, wet wipes, nappies, fats and oils.

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Menstrual health is a public health and human rights issue

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Menstrual health is a public health and human rights issue

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https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.pearsonpublishing.period&hl=en_IE&gl=US

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At Cheeky HQ we are hugely passionate about taboo-breaking, straight-talking and inclusive information that empowers all of our young people, freeing them up for a lifetime of positive experiences and respect for their bodies. We're hugely excited to bring our Period Hub package to:

* Young people looking for practical and positive help with periods
* Parents and carers looking for ways to start conversations about periods
* Teachers of RSE looking for resources to support their period education work with young people.

When everyone knows all the relevant period facts, it helps to break down any stigma that comes from ignorance or embarrassment. Even people who don't have periods can become period experts and help to spread the message that periods are normal and healthy and no one should be ashamed about them.

Future generations have the power to change stigma for good and Cheeky Wipes is privileged to be helping young people on that journey.

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At Cheeky HQ we are hugely passionate about taboo-breaking, straight-talking and inclusive information that empowers all of our young people, freeing them up for a lifetime of positive experiences and respect for their bodies.

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New UK gov period products scheme to 2024

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New UK gov period products scheme to 2024

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The period product scheme is available to all state maintained schools and 16 to 19 education organisations in England. It provides free period products to girls and women who need them in their place of study. The scheme is available for organisations to order until July 2024.

To make sure organisations have access to a wide range of period products in the most cost-effective and efficient way, we have a contract with Personnel Hygiene Services Limited ( phs). This allows you to order period products and have them delivered when you need them.

This guidance contains information on:

Overview

Period products, such as pads and tampons, should be available for all who need them, when they need them, in order to access education. Having periods should not be a barrier to education for anyone. Making girls and women aware of the scheme is vital to making sure they can access period products when they are needed and to reduce the stigma surrounding periods.

This scheme is for all girls and women who need to access period products in their place of learning in order to access education. It is not a universal offer of free period products to everyone under the age of 19. This would be prohibitively costly and would not represent good value for taxpayers' money.

When ordering products, you should consider the specific needs, characteristics and preferences of all learners.

When deciding how to distribute products, you should consider the potential impact that any perceived stigma around periods could have on access to products.

Who is eligible

Girls, women, and learners who identify as non-binary or transgender, who have periods may all need to access this scheme. All learners in schools and 16 to 19 organisations should be able to access period products if they need them. This may include, for example, where individuals:

Girls and women under 19 in the current academic year may receive support from the scheme.

Women aged 19 or over are only eligible for support if they:

are continuing on a study programme they began aged 16 to 18 ('19+ continuers')

have an education, health and care plan

Not covered by the scheme

The scheme does not cover:

How to order products

Our supplier, phs, will stock and deliver period products. They will also offer customer service support relating to the ordering and delivery of products.

You will be able to order a range of period products and have these delivered free of charge. There will be a spend cap on the amount you have to spend. Find out how we calculate this and what you will get. The available budget for your school or organisation will show on the ordering portal.

You can order products using your spend cap, which is your allocation covering the period September 2022 until July 2023.

You can order at any point in the year until July 2023. To reduce waste, you should wait until any stocks of existing period products you may have are low before ordering.

When ordering products, you should think carefully about the types of products selected and consider the environmental impact of the frequency of deliveries.

Recommended ordering frequencies

We recommend these ordering frequencies based on your annual budget for period products.

Setting up an account

When the scheme launched in January 2020 we provided phs with one email address for each organisation. This is linked to your account on the phs portal. Phs sent an activation email to this email address, which enables you to:

If you have already activated your account, you can continue to use these details to order products in the 2022 to 2023 school year. If you have not activated your account, phs will send a new activation email in September 2022. The email will be sent to the email address that is held by the Department for Education.

If you have not received an activation email by 16 September 2022, check your 'admin@' and 'enquiries@' account(s) and spam folder. If you cannot find the activation email in any of these locations, call phs on 01827 255500.

To change the email address linked to your account or request extra log-in accounts, call phs on 01827 255500.

Accounts for organisations with multiple addresses

Each organisation has been set up with one account which has:

An activation email was sent to the email address linked to this 'parent site' account. If your account has not previously been activated, a new activation email will be sent in September 2022.

If you are the parent site in a multi-site organisation, you can choose whether to:

You can also request log-in accounts for staff in other sites to order and have products delivered to their registered addresses. A senior member of staff from the parent site (such as the headteacher or finance director) must contact phs to arrange this. To verify each new site, you will need to provide a:

URN and/or UKPRN for the organisation

staff name and email address

full postal address

As a parent site, you can place orders and arrange deliveries for other sites if required.

Ordering process

You will be able to access the scheme using the . We recommend you use the portal as it contains the information you need to place the right orders. If you need an alternative method for ordering, you can call phs.

Online

The contains:

information about the products available to order (including safety information and ingredients)

spend caps for the year

Phs' detailed user guide explains how to access the portal and order products.

Once you have placed an order, you will receive a confirmation email. The order confirmation screen on the phs portal will tell you where the confirmation email is being sent.

This email allows you to access details about the products you have ordered, including important safety information. You can track the progress of your delivery via a link in the phs portal.

To minimise incorrect orders, you should check your order confirmation email as soon as you get it. If there are any issues, call phs on 01827 255500.

Phone

You will also be able to order period products by phone. Lines will be open from 8.30am until 5pm on normal business days. This includes school holidays but excludes weekends and bank holidays and public holidays.

phs customer services: 01827 255500

You will need to provide:

your name

your organisation's telephone number

your organisation's postcode

your organisation's URN and/or UKPRN

You will then receive an email confirming the order.

If you believe your account has been compromised or you have received notice of an order that you did not place, contact phs immediately.

Delivery

You should receive your products within 5 working days. The first working day is the day after you place your order, or 2 days if you place your order after 6pm. If you place an order after 12 December 2022, your order should be delivered within the 5 working days following 3 January 2023.

Your delivery arrangements will be provided in the order confirmation email. You can track the progress of your delivery via a link in the phs portal.

You should check all items are present and undamaged before signing for a delivery. You should consider school holidays when ordering, as a member of staff must be present to sign for the package. All items should then be stored in a clean, dry environment.

You cannot get products delivered to addresses other than registered education sites. If you would like products delivered to a different registered education site, call phs on 01827 255500. Read more about accounts for organisations with multiple addresses.

Returning products

If any part of the delivery is damaged, sign for the undamaged items and refuse delivery of the damaged items. To arrange delivery of replacement products, either:

If the damage is not visible until after you have opened the package, call phs as soon as possible to arrange the return of the damaged goods and delivery of replacement goods.

If you believe all or part of the delivery is incorrect, check your order confirmation form before contacting phs customer services on 01827 255500. phs cannot offer free replacement of correctly delivered goods.

If part of the delivery is missing, either:

Cancelling an order

If you wish to cancel an order, call phs as soon as possible on 01827 255500. Cancellations will be accepted up to 3pm on the day before delivery is due.

What you will get

In September 2022 you will receive your funding allocation, which you can use to order products up to and including July 2023.

We have based this amount on 35% of the number of recorded girls and women in your organisation who, based on age, are likely to have started their periods. This is how your total amounts have been calculated in previous years of the scheme.

The 35% is an assumed take-up rate, reflecting the fact that not all girls and women will have a need for products all of the time. This mirrors the assumed take-up rate used in the scheme to provide learners in Scotland with access to free period products.

You can see the amount you can spend for the 2022 to 2023 school year on the from 8 September 2022. If you have both girls of secondary school-age and girls and women aged 16 to 19, or you are a middle or all-through school, you will receive one spend cap for the year.

Spend caps have been set for each organisation within a multi-academy trust.

You will be able to track spend against your spend cap throughout the year.

Larger organisations will be able to order up to 25% of their total spend for the year, each time they order. To keep our carbon footprint low, each order should have a minimum value of £5.

You will be responsible for monitoring and staying within your spend and order caps. The phs portal will ask you to reduce your order if you try to exceed your maximum spend or order cap.

Products available

You will be able to select from a wide range of period products, varying in type, size and brand. When deciding which products to order, you should consider individual needs and preferences.

You may want to speak to girls and women about the types of products to keep in stock. You could do this by:

Our research found that participants thought it was important their views were heard when organisations were making decisions about ordering period products. When choosing products, they would prioritise comfort, familiarity and value for money.

Parents or carers may object to the use of some period products. You should consider the views of girls and women and parents or carers from all religious and cultural backgrounds when ordering products. More information is available in the equality requirements section.

Not all period products are suitable for girls and women with specific disabilities. You should ensure you have methods to gather the views of disabled girls and women, and make suitable products which meet their needs available in your setting.

You must provide safety information for each product in an accessible format, prior to use. Further information is available in the your responsibilities section.

You do not need to order the same products throughout the year. You may wish to trial some products in smaller quantities to begin with. We may adjust the product range available to you following feedback and monitoring of purchasing patterns.

Products available

You will be able to order:

Where products are sold in packs, the number of products per pack is outlined on the phs portal.

Things to consider when choosing products

Period pads

The period pads:

The environmentally friendly period pads are:

In 2018, Scotland began funding a scheme providing learners with access to period products. Their scheme found that period pads made up 73% of all products purchased by schools.

Evidence from our research suggested that pads were the most popular product amongst participants, who perceived them as being easier to use than other products.

Reusable period pads

The reusable period pads:

are available in mini with wings and midi with wings

are made of brush nylon, polyester, polyester microfibre and PU laminate

last for up to 10 years

You would need to provide these products for individuals to keep. If an individual were to use these products for the duration of their period, they would need approximately 10 to 12 pads. You may wish to consider the long-term cost and the environmental benefit of providing these products.

The safety information for this product indicates that the pads must be washed after being worn for 4 to 6 hours. Washing instructions for this product advise that users rinse products immediately after use with cold water, before storing them in a wet bag and then washing them at 40 degrees with other laundry items.

If you choose to provide reusable pads, you must make sure users have access to a wet bag and appropriate facilities to rinse the products before placing them in the bag. Wet bags are available to order through this scheme.

Our research found that participants had concerns that these products were less sanitary than disposable pads. They also held the misconception that these were shared rather than individual products and would need to be washed and returned after each use.

You should provide all learners with relevant health and safety information and make them aware of the risks of improper use. This will help dispel any myths about using these products.

Tampons

Both applicator and non-applicator tampons (including organic non-applicator tampons) are available to order.

The applicator tampons:

The non-applicator tampons:

The organic non-applicator tampons:

In the scheme to provide learners in Scotland with access to period products, tampons made up 57% of the products purchased by colleges.

Our research found that while some participants used tampons, others had concerns about how to insert the product properly and found them difficult to use.

Tampons are an internal product and you should think about learners' age and individual needs when considering which products to buy. Internal period products carry the additional risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

If you choose this product, you must provide relevant health and safety information and ensure awareness of the risks of improper use. You should read about your responsibilities before distributing tampons.

You should also be aware of religious and cultural beliefs around tampons when considering which products to buy and you should consider the views of parents and carers before distributing tampons. See the equality requirements section for more information.

Flushing any period product down the toilet is harmful to the environment. It may also result in drain blockages and/or damage to the plumbing. You should make all learners aware of the importance of disposing of tampons and other products correctly.

Menstrual cups

The menstrual cups:

Menstrual cups can be reused and last for up to 10 years if cleaned and stored correctly. These are extremely environmentally friendly, and you may wish to consider the long-term cost and environmental benefit of providing these products.

The safety information for this product indicates that cups must be removed, emptied and washed at least every 4 to 8 hours during an individual's period. You should consider whether you have the facilities (such as sinks in individual toilet cubicles) to allow for this to happen discreetly, safely and hygienically.

Menstrual cups are internal period products. You should provide learners with relevant health and safety information in an accessible format. You must make them aware of the risks of improper use, including . You should read about your responsibilities before distributing menstrual cups.

Our research found that knowledge of this product and how to use it was low amongst participants. Menstrual cups may be difficult for some disabled individuals to use. You should consider finding out if individuals would like this product on offer before ordering, and ensure alternative products are available for those who may require them.

You should also consider the religious and cultural views of parents, carers and girls and women when purchasing this product. See the equality requirements section for more information.

Period pants

The period pants:

Period pants are designed for long-term use and offer a sustainable alternative to other period products. You should consider ordering this product in smaller quantities to ensure the needs of your learners are met before committing to larger volumes.

A sizing chart and care instructions are available on the phs portal. Following these closely will allow learners to get the most out of their period pants.

Period pants are easy-to-use, external products which offer immediate and discreet protection. For this reason, they may be most suitable for individuals who have started their period unexpectedly, or who may have difficulty using other period products. This may include, for example, younger pupils or pupils with special educational needs and disabilities ( SEND). Organisations should take this and other cultural and religious needs into consideration.

Like other reusable products, period pants require additional care at home, including the need to wash them in a washing machine. The pupil or their parents will be need to ensure they have clean products available for their period. You should consider whether this is suitable for your pupils before ordering this product.

Tights

Tights are available in black in sizes small to medium and medium to large.

Organisations may wish to have tights on hand for pupils who have started their periods unexpectedly and so require fresh underwear. This may include, for example, younger pupils or pupils with SEND.

These are supplementary items and not intended as a uniform provision. We would expect schools to spend no more than 25% of their budget on these products.

Your responsibilities

All management information on the phs portal is available to the Department for Education. You will not need to routinely report on the scheme or how you have used it.

The Department for Education will publish data on use of the scheme on an annual basis. See the last data publication on the period products scheme for more information.

There is a relatively low risk of injury from the use of period products. All period products available through the scheme meet the relevant industry standards and regulations. You can find detailed information about the products on the phs portal and via your order confirmation email.

You will also receive safety guidance specific to each product you order. Product and safety information may be updated and you should always refer to the information provided with the product.

You must provide learners with safety information for each product in an accessible format before they use the product. This is particularly important for internal products, such as tampons.

To minimise the risk of injury from use of period products, you should:

ask learners and/or their parents or carers if they have experienced an allergic reaction to period products or their materials

provide all learners with the relevant safety and usage information for each product they are using

provide expiry dates with each individual product

keep a record of the batch numbers of products supplied

follow safety guidelines when stocking products

make sure all products remain individually wrapped

dispose of any expired products - products past their expiry date must not be provided to learners

Incorrect usage of period products can, in some cases, result in . TSS can be a result of using a product for longer than the manufacturer recommends. Symptoms of TSS develop and worsen quickly, so it is important for staff and learners to be aware of the most common symptoms. These include:

You should seek medical advice as soon as possible if a learner is experiencing a combination of these symptoms.

Equality requirements

You are required to comply with the relevant requirements of the Equality Act 2010, including the public sector equality duty (section 149 of the Equality Act).

Under the provisions of the Equality Act, schools and colleges must not unlawfully discriminate against pupils or, in further education settings, students because of their age, sex, race, disability, religion or belief, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, marriage or civil partnership, or sexual orientation (collectively known as the protected characteristics). This includes learners who identify as transgender or non-binary who have periods (or who may later have periods). You must also make reasonable adjustments to alleviate disadvantage and be mindful of the SEND code of practice when implementing this scheme.

You should consider the gender, culture, religion and age range of your learners. This will help you decide if it is appropriate or necessary to provide additional support for learners whose protected characteristics present particular considerations for these decisions.

Religious and cultural beliefs concerning periods and the use of period products can restrict access to certain types of period products. Girls and women from certain backgrounds may be less aware of internal products such as tampons and menstrual cups and how these should be used.

Understanding girls' and women's religious and cultural beliefs and building relationships between the school and local faith communities will help:

make sure you're providing individuals with products which meet their needs

individuals, parents and carers feel comfortable with the way(s) in which products are provided

See the period products scheme: impact assessment for more information.

Making products available to learners

Once products have been delivered, you need to decide how to make these products available. There are a variety of methods you could choose, some of which are set out in this section.

When deciding how to make products available, you should make sure the needs of all learners are met. This includes learners who do not identify as female (but instead identify as transgender or non-binary) but still have periods. You must follow the Equality Act 2010, under which sexual orientation and gender reassignment are among the protected characteristics.

You should also consider:

whether all learners can access the products easily and when they need them

if learners have all the safety information they need for each product available in a format they can access and understand

the individual needs of learners, including those with SEND, those with medical conditions affecting menstruation and those with English as an additional language

if the way in which learners access products minimises the risk of embarrassment

if you have clean and dry storage space for the products you're ordering

Our research found that participants prefer products to be available to them without them having to ask (particularly male) members of staff, to avoid feelings of embarrassment. However, participants also indicated that the stigma and embarrassment around periods should not still exist and were keen to break this cycle.

Distribution examples

This section provides some example methods of distributing period products. This is not an exhaustive list. You should use a different, or combination of methods if appropriate.

Making products available in toilets or communal areas

Our research found that having appropriate products available for girls and women to take in toilets can reduce stigma and feelings of embarrassment. Products would also be available at the time and place they were most needed.

Having products in communal areas such as libraries or student services means that all learners, including those who would not use female toilets, can access the products.

If you decide to place products within toilets or other communal areas, you will need to consider how you can:

Making products available on request from a member of staff

Our engagement with stakeholders and teachers found that it was easier to provide girls and women with safety information and advice when supplying products on request from members of staff. They also reported that it was easier for organisations to keep track of the number and type of products being distributed.

Our learner research found that:

asking a member of staff for products was embarrassing and, in some cases, learners would rather go without products than ask

some learners would feel more comfortable asking a student representative rather than a member of staff

having posters or stickers on the back of toilet doors directing learners to where they can access products would be useful - find ideas and suggestions on how to reduce stigma

If you decide to make products available on request from a member of staff, you will need to consider how you can:

minimise any embarrassment for learners, particularly those with non-standard needs, for example, non-binary learners and those who experience very heavy periods

make the scheme accessible to all learners, for example, those with English as an additional language or those with SEND

Making products available via restricted access

Another option is making products available via restricted access. This could be through token vending machines or lockers placed in or near bathrooms.

If making products available in this way, you must ensure access to safety information and advice prior to use of the products.

Research with learners found that they felt this distribution method was a safe option. It meant that products could not be tampered with and were more likely to be taken based on need. Participants also felt a key benefit of this approach was that they did not need to ask a member of staff for help. However, participants thought it may be embarrassing to obtain products in front of other people.

If you decide to make products available via restricted access, you will need to consider how you can:

Case studies

Example from a large sixth-form college

The college has a population of over 5,000 learners. We have provided period products for many years from our own funds and from a scheme which provides colleges with free period products. We currently bulk buy online. We then distribute to learners using our student services base in one of the central buildings. We chose to house the box in a building that has a high percentage of female learners.

We have always provided a mix of products to give the learners a choice to suit their needs for both their comfort and confidence. We feel that it is important that a scheme should be based on individual needs, especially given the range of courses students follow, including those participating in water sports, for example.

We never advertised that we hold these products. Learners have simply come to student services to ask if we have anything that they can use. They then help themselves from the supply held in a discreet cupboard. This system has worked well for both staff and learners as it is discreet yet readily available to anyone in need. We have never needed to distribute or watch learners as they have been respectful of others and only taken what they needed at that time.

Since joining the scheme, we have only used advertising to identify a second location rather than raise awareness of the scheme.

Example from a primary school in Scotland

Kirn primary school, in Scotland, has 285 pupils. At the end of the academic year, the school consulted with a group of girls in year 5 and 6 about the initial set-up of free period product provision. They discussed what products should be made available and where would be appropriate for easy access for all. The discussion generated talk about sanitary bin provision in school, which the girls felt was inadequate. As a result of this collaboration, a sanitary bin and box with supplies (pads, nappy bags, deodorant, wet wipes and a guidance leaflet) were placed in the disabled toilet between the year 5 and 6 classrooms. The young people felt that when in school, the disabled toilet was the most sensible place for them to access period products.

The school informed parents that education on the menstrual cycle and sanitary products would take place. All year 5 and 6 girls took part in a discussion which focused on the menstrual cycle but also allowed the girls to familiarise themselves with period products, how to use them and apply them to underwear.

While usage of the products is not high, the school keeps it topped up termly. Staff felt that having a supply available removed the embarrassment factor of having to ask.

Example from a secondary school in Scotland

Tynecastle High School is a diverse inner-city high school in Scotland, with 609 pupils speaking 42 different languages between them. Pupils at the school have shared their experiences of the period products scheme.

There are individual products, a mixture of tampons and towels, available in toilets in every faculty as well as the disabled toilets, which are gender neutral. We have some pupils in the school who are transitioning so we spoke with them and our LGBT group to plan where would be the best place to put these.

Toilets, where free sanitary protection is available, have a poster on the door and there is a list of teachers, from whom products can be collected, on the poster too. We think that it's important that pupils can collect them in bulk if they want so they can get them from the named teachers or there is a classroom on the first floor where they can help themselves to boxes of tampons or sanitary towels. There are stocks available in PE too. It's good to be able to get them in more than one way.

We check supplies a few times a week and know they are really being used as we are doing lots of topping up. Both teachers and pupils see the differences this has made. The biggest one is that the young people are no longer having to go to the, often busy, welfare office to ask for products. It has removed the embarrassment. People can access sanitary protection where and when they need to, but also know where they can go for help if they want it.

Communicating about the scheme will help:

When deciding how you will communicate about the scheme, you should think about:

There are several ways you can let learners know about the scheme. This could include:

You may wish to use the template poster provided by phs. There is also a range of other posters and materials available. Our research showed learners preferred posters which:

Our research has shown that some words associated with periods may discourage learners from using the products and cause embarrassment. When talking about periods or promoting the scheme, you should avoid using words most negatively associated with periods like:

How to reduce stigma

The UK still experiences many challenges regarding stigma and taboo relating to periods, which works to create a sense of shame around what is a natural bodily process. You should consider what you can do to create healthy and respectful communication about periods amongst all staff and learners.

Our research with learners found that there was a significant amount of stigma relating to periods and asking for products. To help tackle this, you should consider:

including learners who do not have periods into your discussions - this could include inviting them to talks about periods, or placing posters in areas accessed by all learners

extending conversations and tools to parents and carers

making sure all staff (including male staff) have enough knowledge about periods and about the products available

using open and positive language about periods

Educating all learners about periods is crucial to tackling the stigma which surrounds it. You may currently cover periods and the use of different period products in health education. From September 2020, teaching both boys and girls about periods and menstrual wellbeing is compulsory in all state-funded schools, primary and secondary, as part of health education.

You can find a range of free resources online to help you discuss periods with your learners. You should assess each resource before using it to make sure it is appropriate for the age and maturity of learners and sensitive to their needs.

From spring 2020, all teachers will have access to a central programme of support for health education. This will include:

an implementation guide

access to high-quality resources

case studies

training materials

Customer support

For customer service support or complaints, contact phs customer services on 01827 255500 or email periodproducts@phs.co.uk.

phs will respond to questions about orders within 24 hours, and to other queries or complaints by the end of the following business day.

If your queries or complaint relates to the policy behind this scheme, including the funding available to each organisation, contact the Department for Education. You will usually get a reply within 15 working days.

Annex A: research

We used our research with teachers, learners and other stakeholders to develop this scheme. The results of our research have been included as part of our advice to schools and colleges on distributing products and promoting the scheme.

Management information data on period product scheme is available.

Learner research

To inform this guidance, we carried out independent research with learners aged 9 to 19.

We commissioned Hopscotch Consulting Ltd to help us understand:

Hopscotch used an online forum for this research and recruited 62 learners from a range of:

See period product scheme: the learner perspective for more details.

Stakeholder survey and discussion group

We held a discussion group and carried out a survey with charities and interest groups who shared their views and experiences regarding period product provision.

We asked stakeholders to share their perspectives on:

what information institutions need when ordering period products

the types of period products suitable for learners with different characteristics

how organisations can make period products available

how organisations can tackle period-related stigma

Teacher engagement

We held discussions with staff in education organisations including:

primary headteachers

secondary headteachers

teachers

leaders from further education organisations

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Period product scheme for schools and colleges in England

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The period product scheme is available to all state maintained schools and 16 to 19 education organisations in England. It provides free period products to girls and women who need them in their place of study. The scheme is available for organisations to order until July 2024.

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Mooncup creates an inclusive and stigma-busting free resource for primary and secondary school teachers in the UK

Education about periods only became a compulsory part of the school curriculum in England in 2020. This is a step in the right direction, but it's only the start.

Feedback from teachers, parents and pupils has been clear: there are many gaps in existing menstrual health education. So, we at Mooncup reached out to Terri Harris and Lily Hatcher, experts in inclusive menstrual and sexual health, with a big task: to develop a fresh, engaging and relevant curriculum-related resource for teachers to use in classrooms across the UK.

Period education needs to move beyond biology

A ground-breaking Let's Talk Periods project from charities Plan International and Brook looked into young people's experiences of period education. And the message was loud and clear. Young people felt like their current education was focusing too much on the biological elements of menstruation.

Anyone with periods knows that menstruation involves so much more than knowing your 'follicular' from your 'luteinising phase'. Young people participating in the Let's Talk Periods survey said that they want to learn about the embodied experience of periods, like cramps and hormonal changes, as well as how to deal with them.

Knowing your cycle can be a key to knowing yourself. It can be a real ally in understanding and working with the different mental, emotional and physical changes your body goes through throughout your life.

Learning what is normal, and when to seek help

Talking openly about the menstrual cycle and learning about aspects like period pain, flow and duration can encourage young people to seek help when needed. It will also help them to recognise possible menstrual health conditions.

Young people want to learn. But only 2% of young people aged 16 and 17, said they have enough information about gynaecological conditions according to the survey commissioned as a part of the government's Women's Health Strategy for England.

Tackling period poverty through education

Period poverty is caused by a 'toxic trio': the cost of products, a lack of period education, and stigma around periods. If we believe in a culture and environment that supports girls, women and people with periods, we need frank and stigma-busting menstrual health education.

The best way to debunk these taboos is to encourage an open dialogue and unashamedly talk about these topics. Our Period Education resource includes many opportunities for discussion about our society's attitude towards periods. Myths about periods are also busted in standalone activities.

Periods and the environment

Each of us uses around 11,000 disposable periods in our menstruating life. This number comes with a huge environmental impact.

Our Period Education pack is designed to help young people understand the environmental impact of different products and make informed, individual choices.

We do not want to foster climate anxiety, but we believe that equipping young people with key facts about all of their period product options will empower them to make informed choices that are right for them.

Inclusive period education

We have designed the resource to flex to support learners' diverse needs including gender and cultural inclusivity, SEND and neurodiversity.

Historically students who have SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) or are neurodiverse have been left behind in terms of menstruation education. We believe that menstrual education belongs to everyone and we have done our best to create materials that are accessible to SEND and neurodiverse young people too.

All the lesson plans include additional notes to support educators in delivering to young people's diverse needs.

The primary and secondary school Period Education Pack by Mooncup includes:

Three key stage (KS2, KS3 and KS4) related resources built around a spiral curriculum.

We have made this resource as practical and easy to use as possible. Each key stage resource will include a set of six sessions including classroom presentations, teaching guidance and lesson plans. The classroom presentations and activities use a variety of content from TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and podcasts.

Standalone activities

Further reading lists relevant to each topic

Teachers are able to download the Period Education Pack here (only available for educators).
Read more on the Mooncup blog:
Top menstrual cup tips for a first-time Mooncup® user
How is the Mooncup® menstrual cup environmentally friendly? 10 reasons
The four seasons of your menstrual cycle & how to make the most of them
Olympian Lauren Smith: we need to break the taboo around periods and sport & her tips for training around your cycle

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Mooncup education pack brings period education into 21st century

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Education about periods only became a compulsory part of the school curriculum in England in 2020. This is a step in the right direction, but it's only the start. Feedback from teachers, parents and pupils has been clear: there are many gaps in existing menstrual health education.

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We’ve pulled together some of the best resources on menstruation for you to use to educate your children, pupils, partners or boss about menstruation.

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The Period | Lesson Plan | Education.com

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Familiarize your young scholars with declarative and imperative sentences using this simple English lesson. Students will love learning about periods through a series of sentence-writing exercises.

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Unichef Guide to menstruation for teachers

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Unichef Guide to menstruation for teachers

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7. Your diet makes a difference to your well-being. The girls in your class might be told by their families and communities to avoid certain food and drinks when they have their period. The truth is, whether a girl is menstruating or not, she can eat and drink anything that's included in a well-balanced diet. A girl will only feel pain, weakness and sickness if there is something missing from her diet. If girls do not eat lots of different foods, especially foods rich in iron and folic acid, they may face increased difficulty concentrating at school, and may feel tired and depressed.

As a teacher, you can help tell girls the truth. Explain why you, as a teacher, neither follow the taboos about what girls can't eat and drink during menstruation, and why you don't want the girls in your class to be influenced by them either.

8. Exercise is really good for girls, no matter which time of the month. There are many benefits to exercise, including the mental boost you get from feeling fit. Exercise is a good way to help prevent cramps, and gentle exercise like a walk can also help relieve pain.

9. A girl's body will be healthy if she practices good hygiene during her period.

Girls must continue to wash normally during menses. Not being clean can leave girls at risk of infections.

A girl should wash outside her genital area at least once a day. If she does not have access to a shower or bath, she use a small amount of plain water, soap and a soft cloth

She should always wash her hands with soap after she uses the toilet or changes a pad or cloth.

A used pad should always be placed in the bin, and never down the toilet. And when a girl changes her cloth at school, she should take the soiled one home in a bag to wash. She can make a simple menstrual cloth bag at the same time she learns how to make reusable menstrual hygiene cloths, so she can carry her used cloths home discreetly.

10. It is okay to use either pads or cloths. Some girls prefer pads or cloths, but both can be a safe and clean way to manage a period. Disposable pads can be more expensive so girls may need to be understanding if their family cannot afford them.

Disposable pads need to be changed regularly, at least every six hours. If a girl uses pads, she can bring a few spare in her school bag so she's ready if her period suddenly starts or a friend needs help.

Reusable cloths also need to be changed at least every six hours, or earlier if they feel full. After a girl is done with her cloth, she needs to wash it with soap and water and hang it outside to dry in the sun. Before she uses it again, she should check it is fully dry! If a girl changes her cloth at school, she should take the soiled one home in a bag to wash.

As a teacher, you can also help the girls in your class by keeping spare pads and cloths in case someone suddenly needs one.
How to handle difficult situations in class What can you do when girls are too shy to talk?
If the girls in your class find it difficult to talk about their monthly period or ask questions in front of each other, try a story-writing exercise.

Give each girl a piece of paper, and ask them to write either a simple question, or a story that helps them to raise a question they would like their classmates or teachers to help with. No one should write her name on the page, so no one knows whose story is whose.

Share all the stories among the girls in the class and give them time to read. Invite them to think about responses to the questions. They can write their advice on the back of the story page. When they're finished, you, the teacher, will collect all the stories. You can read some of the stories and responses out loud so that you help the students share fears, information and experiences.
What else can a teacher do?
As a teacher, one of the best ways you can help girls in your class deal with menstruation is to notice when they need help and let them know they can talk to you. Here are some basic questions you can ask to see if there are things you can do to help girls at your school:

What's the attendance of girls at your school? How many girls are missing school each month and for how long - do you know why? How many girls are dropping out each year - are they the same girls who have been missing class each month?

Are there girls in your class who need extra support? Have you noticed some of your students trying to hide their breasts, including by hunching their shoulders? Do students seem embarrassed about growing more hair on their bodies? Have some girls become withdrawn, depressed and scared? Have you seen girls get uncomfortable, or stay in their seats for too long, because they need to go to the bathroom or do something about stained clothes, but feel embarrassed or afraid to ask for help? Are you worried about girls who are pale, lacking in energy and unable to finish their learning tasks? Do these girls go on to miss days at school every month? Do some of them stop attending school altogether, even if they once used to love being in the classroom?

What are your school facilities like? Does your school have any of these facilities: enough toilets with more space and a door that can be closed and locked; water inside the toilet for cleansing; buckets with lids for disposing of used pads; if necessary, a hook for hijabs so girls can keep their clothes clean and dry while they change their menstrual hygiene cloth; handwashing facilities with soap? Is there someone responsible for cleaning the toilet? How often is it cleaned?

Are teachers trained to teach menstrual and personal hygiene to the school's students? Can you hold a meeting with other teachers to discuss the issues that girls at your school face during their period? Can you work together on a lesson plan that is appropriate for your community?

Are parents or community groups supportive of girls going to school during their period? Can you talk to mothers about menstrual hygiene through parent-teacher association or by organising a meeting? Can you challenge yourself to speak to mothers and grandmothers in private homes, perhaps when an opportunity arises at a social gathering?

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Period lesson plan: guide to menstruation for teachers

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7. Your diet makes a difference to your well-being. The girls in your class might be told by their families and communities to avoid certain food and drinks when they have their period. The truth is, whether a girl is menstruating or not, she can eat and drink anything that's included in a well-balanced diet.

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City to Sea have been running the Plastic Free Periods campaign since 2017, back when people were shocked to see us talking about periods in our viral video! Our campaign has been focused on:

Raising awareness about the hidden plastic in period products.

Letting people know that flushing period products creates plastic pollution, and changing this behaviour.

Promoting reusable and plastic-free period care

Empowering people to make informed choices about the products they use and how they dispose of them.

Increasing accessibility of reusable & plastic-free period products.

Encouraging brands, manufacturers and retailers to remove plastic in their own brand products.

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Plastic-Free Periods - City to Sea - Better for your body, and the planet

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City to Sea have been running the Plastic Free Periods campaign since 2017, back when people were shocked to see us talking about periods in our viral video! Our campaign has been focused on: Raising awareness about the hidden plastic in period products. Letting people know that flushing period products creates plastic pollution, and changing this behaviour.

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Are you ready to be period positive? Great!

Period positivity is an excellent way to open yourself up to relearning menstrual literacy... andit's easier than you think! Sometimes folks don't know that when they say 'period positive' thismeans a specific set of inclusive values and high standards developed through founder Chella Quint 's research and outreach work. We ask partners and fans, and those new to this work to agree to some basics. Our 'red lines', if you will. That's why the phrase was coined, the logodesigned and the framework developed.

Want to support the campaign and be more period positive? Commit to one pledge, several, or all of them, and share the images below on social media to support these values. Want to earn the charter mark or request permission to use period positive in your organisation? Get in touch!

The #periodpositive campaign and the concept of period positivity started as a phrase coined by former head of PSHE, comedian and education researcher Chella Quint, grew into a campaign, a trademark, and then a charter programme. If you'd like to earn the charter mark and apply for a licence to use 'period positive' or the logo, please get in touch via the contact form.

The Pledges Explained and Explored: Below is a longer document explaining the rationale behind each pledge in more depth. This document was co-drafted by founder Chella Quint and Period Positive volunteers Juliette Totterdell and Alice Wareham. It has been peer-reviewed by Period Positive Global Champions Jedidah Malkia Lemaron, Lisel Lifshitz, and Zoe Chan.

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The Period Positive Pledge: a framework for menstrual literacy Are you ready to be period positive? Great! Period positivity is an excellent way to open yourself up to relearning menstrual literacy... andit's easier than you think! Sometimes folks don't know that when they say 'period positive' thismeans a specific set of inclusive values and high...

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Black Women's Reproductive Health Project Report

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Black Women's Reproductive Health Project Report