Feelings of embarrassment or shame can prevent people from asking for help and advice. We are conditioned as a society to believe that periods are unclean and dirty, but luckily attitudes are starting to change. We must do what we can to remove the stigma and talk openly about periods, because they are a fact of life for so many people. In 2021, Plan International surveyed women from all around the world. They found thar 2 million girls in the UK have missed school due to having their period. Although many had physical symptoms, 34% were worried about leaking and 22% found they were anxious about having their period.
Many people with periods may feel there are things they can’t do when they are having a period, for example, exercising or going to school or work. It’s important to know that having a period should not stop you going about your day-to-day life and there is always support available. Finding out about the most suitable period products can make a big difference to your quality of life.
Seeking support is particularly important if you feel your period isn’t ‘normal’ so try not to delay asking for help. Think about who you would like to speak with. You may feel more comfortable asking for support from someone you know and trust. This could be a family member or friend, a teacher or support worker, or you may prefer to speak to your GP or practice nurse. You can always use the 'Contact Us' function on our site or send us an e-mail and we would be happy to sign post you to some organisations who can help,