People are taking to social media to share their period stories – from tales of embarrassment around leaking and tampons spilling out of bags onto the floor, to endometriosis diagnoses and debilitating pain.
The aim of the #FreePeriodStories movement, launched by period poverty activist Amika George, is to reduce the stigma around menstruation – if you’re still hiding a tampon up your sleeve to walk to the office toilet then that’s a sure-fire sign that stigma is alive and well.
“From a young age, we’ve been told to whisper about them, say as little as possible on the subject to anyone, even our friends. We deal with them alone,” George told the BBC. “We need to change the narrative that they are gross, and that periods are not something for discussion in a public space.”Related... Is My Period Normal? How To Know When It's Time To See A Doctor Talking about periods can only be a positive thing. It means young women will have more knowledge and less confusion when they do start menstruating. It means those experiencing severe symptoms will feel empowered to seek help. It means people will feel less ashamed about what is a completely normal aspect of a woman’s life.
Here are nine important things women want you to know about periods.1. We shouldn’t shy away from teaching girls about their bodies.That time when you help your friend put their first tampon in, by verbally directing them outside the loo and then they come out, worried something isn’t right, you take a look and realise it’s too far back....yeah that #freeperiodstories@thedigifairyz@AmikaGeorgepic.twitter.com/DekIGzaqSy— Emma Barnett (@Emmabarnett) September 30, 20192. Sharing period stories can help us know when something isn’t right.Turns out the period symptoms we see as normal, & had been getting increasingly worse during my 20s, aren't normal & that bowel problems for 2 wks each month can be caused by endometriosis. Coil fitting soon to help at the age of 35 #freeperiodstories@AmikaGeorge@thedigifairyzpic.twitter.com/9gIIPrpskc— Sarah Burton (@harasanotrub) October 2, 20193. Many women remain embarrassed of them.When I started my period I was so embarrassed I didn’t tell my best friends until I moved to another country. I used to wait til the hand dryer came on in the loo before ripping the pads off the plastic so no one found out. Eventually I told them. By letter 🙈 #freeperiodstorieshttps://t.co/N6QanLVRvE— Red Box Project SE
London (@redboxselondon) October 1, 20194. The tampon-falling-out-of-bag anxiety is alive and well.Once on a date I dropped my bag and about seven tampons spilled out on the floor. As my date bent down to help me scoop up my belongings I panicked and shouted ‘THEY’RE NOT MINE!’. What are your #freeperiodstories? @freeperiods— Natasha Devon MBE (@_NatashaDevon) September 30, 20195. Leaking is a reality for a lot of people.Went to a big event nr the Olympic park for charity runners. Had to sit in my white chair til all other 100 people had left & awkwardly explain that marathon training was making my womb a horror film. For added fun, gale force winds were messing with the trains #FreePeriodStories— Maxine Frances (@MaxineFrances) September 30, 2019Should add that all the event organisers were a) women and b) adorable. Said “We’ve all been there it’s fine,” gave me painkillers, hot drinks and everything else I needed. Couldn’t have asked for more. #FreePeriodStories— Maxine Frances (@MaxineFrances) September 30, 20196. Period pain can be debilitating and a sign of something more serious.#FreePeriodStories Had my first age 10, and last one at 37 before my Hysterectomy. My periods were always very heavy+extremely painful due to #endometriosis. I remember bleeding through my underwear and onto my clothes at school, and had to wrap a jumper around my waist all day. pic.twitter.com/PUkken9P2q— K a t i e (@_EndoHappy) September 30, 20197. Periods can impact girls’ access to education.#FreePeriodStoriesI was 12, in the cinema & didn’t know what was happening. After consistently passing out, losing pints of blood & 9 years wait, I was diagnosed w/ stage 4 #EndometriosisMy high school attendance for the whole 5 years was less than 60% because of my period. 💉 https://t.co/Lfq2XQ7zpb— Alice✨ (@alicelouise_94) September 30, 20198. There are some very cringeworthy terms for menstruation. Which is the cringiest period euphemism? #freeperiodstories— Amika George (@AmikaGeorge) September 30, 20199. Contrary to popular opinion, periods can be a source of amusement too.Alternative contribution to @AmikaGeorge amazing campaign #FreePeriodStories - one to lighten the tone: I once was behind someone at Oxford Circus station who tried to “tap out” with a sanitary pad— Livvi Yallop (@livviyallop) October 1, 2019Related... We Tried Period Pants And Got Brutally Honest About Our Experiences Livia Review: Can This Cute Device Really 'Switch Off' My Severe Period Pain?