Key findings:

• 1 in 10 did not receive or remember receiving any education about menstrual health in school

• Up to 1 in 5 did not learn about periods until after they had started menstruating

• Lessons focussed on biological content and 7 in 10 received no practical information

• None were taught about menstrual health conditions and just 3% learnt about abnormal symptoms

• Only 2% learnt about sustainable period products

• Boys missed out on half of all education

• 62% rated their education as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ in preparing them for managing menstruation

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Overall, menstrual health education lacked practical content or information on what constituted as normal, with long-term impacts reported by participants. Some with healthy cycles thought they were ill or even dying when they began menstruating and others with debilitating gynaecological symptoms put off seeking medical attention because they thought their pain was normal. In addition, the attitudes of teachers and educators exacerbated the taboo by their own discomfort in teaching the subject and sometimes through joking behaviour or sexist comments. Many young women had to rely on other sources for information, especially social media and the internet, which came with its own risks.

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Recommendations

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We are calling for better guidance. Prioritising a comprehensive school curriculum, alongside training and support for teachers, could enable a universal level of education for all children and help to create a more empathetic and accommodating society, in which no one is limited by their period. Based on our findings, we recommend:

• Earlier lessons: Teach pupils at a younger age to ensure they are prepared before their periods start.

• Inclusive spaces: Teach all young people (including boys and LGBTQ+ students) about menstruation to improve everyone’s understanding and reduce stigma.

• Practical content: Provide practical information which empowers students with an understanding of their bodies, what’s normal and how to manage their menstrual health.

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Further information

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Thank you to my co-author Professor Alison Greig, as well as everyone who took part and made this research possible. You can read the full research paper here. For any questions about the project, please get in touch.

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*Not all women menstruate and not all people who menstruate identify as women. A limitation of this study was that it only explored the experiences of women aged 18-24 living in England. Periods are a truly global issue which affect us all – across every gender, age group and culture – and more research is needed to understand these experiences.