What are the things you wished you could talk about more freely?
- All of the above! Having to buy new sheets and pants, feeling like you’ve bled over something (trousers, a chair etc), feeling sore and wanting to express it. Most people who have periods don’t tend to talk about those things around people who don’t also bleed.
- Having a sick day because of your period and not blaming being in a bad mood or having a hard day on PMS.
- I think it’s hard to answer because we’ve been programmed not to talk about it! I am open about the pain or discomfort but I don't find a reason to go in depth about it unless someone asks.
- How much extra bleeding endometriosis causes. It’s so messy and unpleasant and you just have to get on with it alone.
- When I was younger – the different forms of products available.
- The pain. The mental/emotional aspect.
- Access to sanitary products.
- Those on birth control and what those bleeds are like.
- Just feeling not 100% charged at work.
- I'd love the strength in women to be at the forefront of the conversation and for men to be actively proud and complimentary about periods. There's still so much shame and judgement and downplaying.
- I think how much it affects work.
- I wish I knew how much the pill could help sooner. Also period underwear. Also that you shouldn't flush tampons. I learned this late.
- Period products. I work in retail marketing and I'm running a community project to support people in period poverty. It means a lot of awkward conversations about the products themselves and how they're used. No one feels awkward talking about toilet paper – why should cups, tampons and pads be different?
- The pain and how impairing this can be for some women, without it being seen as such a taboo.
- Having sex during my period. A lot of men are squeamish or against it, which annoys me.
- Period blood. What amount is normal/are blood clots normal. Emotions and affect on mental health.
- Just feeling bad during the time of the period and I guess just sharing the experience more. Experience from a day-to-day perspective.
- I wish it would be okay to say to co-workers and managers, men and women, that I'm having a rough day because of my period cramps
- That it's uncomfortable, that PMT is real and very difficult to manage. You can't help feeling extra stressed, angry, tired, a bit distracted, frustrated etc when the hormone levels are fluctuating so much.
- I feel pretty open to discussing things freely.
- That I could ask someone for a tampon without making anybody feel uncomfortable. I would love to be able to deal with it naturally without feeling like we’re smuggling illegal goods.
- Just about the fact that we don't operate 100% at our capacity when we have periods would be great – having a way to say “Today I am 60% fine” at work and not being judged.
- If there is understanding, in some cases there is, to give women time and be gentle.
- The exhaustion and the mental burden. It’s framed as so shameful to be ‘lazy’ and ‘unproductive’.
- The discomfort – bloating, pain, nausea, leaking etc.
- The level mess, time consuming nightmare, shopping, messed up holidays and missed outings. Doing anything unplanned for or out in nature is a nightmare on our period.
- Periods generally – the air of disgust from men about them is a little tiring.
- I wish there was generally more funding and care for women/people who menstruate – their health and well-being. It’s not common/easy to access specialised healthcare.
- Mood swings, the pain, needing to finish the day early because of exhaustion.
- Needing time off if I’m in a lot of pain, but also needing a day off if I’m really struggling emotionally from PMS. Sometimes I’m close to tears for a whole day and it’s difficult to work but it feels like there’s no understanding for this sort of thing.
- Being in pain but feeling you have to go to work because it's “only" your period. Being able to ask for tampons etc when you don't have any.
- I speak very freely with friends, so I think it's just finding the right people to have in your circle and then as a group be open and supportive.
- Free period products, period poverty, remove stigma.
- I'm glad to have a husband who's totally okay with it. But in general the emotional side of it. But that goes for everything mental/emotional. People tend to have more understanding for physical things, because they’re noticeable and more relatable.
- The impact on career, the cost of sanitary products, the actual level of pain without people just thinking you’re moaning. The whole thing as a society and not just sharing with females. Most males especially in the workplace don't have a clue and with most CEOs being old-fashioned males it’s very uncomfortable to discuss.
- Questions about bathroom breaks during tight-planning days or remote locations.
- What periods should look like: the thickness, colour, how it looks in a pad, etc. I think actually explain periods literally would help women know what to worry about and what not to worry about
- The fact it’s a cycle! The expectation is that everyone starts each day at a level, but for those with a cycle that’s just not the case!
- Bleeding and sanitary products.
- I used to work for a very small company where we were all women. It was incredible to be able to talk about how we were feeling on our periods so freely and openly. How we were feeling, make jokes about it, understand each other and empathise.
- The day-to-day impact of periods and hormones – pain, moods, bloating, swelling, energy levels.
- I wish periods weren’t so secretive, especially around men. Even when I talk about my period to my closest male friends I feel the need to apologise for talking about it in case I gross them out.
- What's an abnormal cramp and what isn't.
- My feelings.
- How when my periods are incredibly heavy, it drains me.