A period of life we need to talk about — the stigma that still surrounds menstruation

Menstruation is still surrounded by stigma, with half of women feeling uneasy discussing it at work and the majority of students lacking an understanding of their cycle

Bright red heart on opened white sanitary towel with wings on light pink table background. Pastel color. Closeup. Top down view.

Unlike menopause, which in 2021 shifted from a taboo topic to a mainstream one, the conversation around menstruation in Ireland has been lacking, even though the average woman will spend a combined total of 10 years menstruating.

Period poverty — the inability to afford menstrual products or access facilties — remains a fundamental issue. A 2022 Healthy Ireland survey found that almost 25% of women had experienced at least one indicator of period poverty.