How to Normalise Period Talk
By Freja Newman
11 April, 2023
Angelina Das, co-founder of PeriEd, a menstrual health education initiative, has struggled with menstrual health for over a decade.
PeriEd began as a capstone project conducted at the end of Das’ student career at the University of Technology Sydney. While the project started with four members, Das and her co-founder Melanie Philippou took the project to the next level.
“We had thought of it as a two-pronged approach to improving menstrual health education at schools,” Das said. “So PeriEd is both a website and Instagram account that consolidates all of the resources that already exist but in an accessible and accurate format for both teachers and students.”
The website categorises this information into syllabus points for teachers and houses a space for anonymous or non-anonymous anecdotes and stories to be shared. Since it first started just over a year ago, Das and Philippou have received mico-grants from the Australian venture capitalist Blackbird Foundation and connected with the director and board of Endometriosis Australia, alongside many other start-ups, founders and investors.
Both Das and Philippou have struggled with their menstrual health journey. They know countless others who also struggle and have had many conversations. They’ve even founded a menstrual health education initiative, and yet they still find it difficult to talk about their period sometimes. Why? Why is talking about your menstrual health awkward, and how can we begin to normalise it?
1. Address the taboo in all settings
This means in all areas, from your home and friendship circles to the schoolyard, classroom and workplace.
“In a school setting for example, teachers talk about periods in terms of reproductive health.” Das said. “We were taught that you get a period to have a baby and that’s it, when that barely covers what a period is. It’s only one part, one tiny part.”
Teachers need to talk about it more and be willing to answer questions.
“At my school, if you leaked, you would go to the nurse’s office and they would help you clean it and give you a spare uniform, but, it was always dealt with in hushed tones,” revealed Amber Broadbent, a student at an all-girls private school.
“It was awkward, especially in a girl’s only school. I can’t imagine what it would’ve been like in a co-ed school or out in public.”
Talking about your period should be out in the open. When you have your period, let your friends know. Don’t be afraid to carry a pad with you to the bathroom, rather than hiding it in your bag or pocket. It’s difficult, but trying to be aware of these habits that contribute to this taboo can make all the difference.
2. Start by talking to someone you trust first
Sometimes it’s not easy to just casually mention your period cycle in conversation, particularly to a group of friends. So, start small. Find someone you trust and feel safe around, like a best friend, a family member or a teacher. It’s easy to feel judged, particularly when there’s a taboo, so take your time and work at your own pace.
“I was very lucky in that I had a mum who went through a difficult menstrual journey herself,” said Das. Her mum created a safe space for her to talk about her pain. She also became a great support network for Das when she had to go through an array of medical tests and uncertain diagnoses.
At such a young age, Das didn’t feel comfortable talking to her friends about this. She didn’t know how and neither did they. When she felt isolated by the amount of pain she had to suffer through, she could rely on her mum to relate and provide her with comfort.
However, you don’t always need to find someone who suffered a similar experience to you to make you feel safe. Sometimes that helps, but sometimes just having someone who is willing to listen can make all the difference.
3. Learn so you can help
Maybe you don’t struggle with intense period pain or a menstrual health condition. How can you help your friends who do? If having these conversations scare you because you feel like you can’t provide any advice or you don’t know enough, then do your research. Follow accounts and initiatives like PeriEd, The Adeno Project, the PEPP Talk podcast and resources by Endometriosis Australia online. By following initiatives or influencers that spread awareness, you have the opportunity to hear from research and medical experts, as well as individuals with real stories and experiences that you can trust.
Das discussed how PeriEd was inspired by the work of PEPP Talk.
“We’re definitely not trying to reinvent the wheel,” she said. “We’re just trying to contribute to what’s out there.” PEPP Talk is organised by the Pelvic Pain and Federation of Australia. They’re a federally funded program that goes into different schools, both co-ed and girls only, to do sessions with year 10 students on pelvic pain and endometriosis.
“They’re very well recognized within the Endo community by both the medical people, the patients, and the influences,” Das noted. “They do a good job of being very inclusive with their language, which is a big difficulty in the menstrual health space in terms of making sure you’re still including people who are trans, people who are non-binary and people who have that experience of menstruation.”
Don’t be afraid to follow these projects. You can share this information and be vocal, which has great impact and normalises the discussion online, however you also don’t have to. Whatever you’re the most comfortable with and whatever will make those conversations easier.
4. Normalise the conversation, not the pain
Sometimes it’s easier to talk about serious issues in a more comedic light to reduce tension. While this can be a great first step to talk about your period pain and gives you a place to bond, make sure you don’t forget to address the seriousness of the period pain itself. Yes, humour can make these conversations more comfortable and frequent, however, if your friend is mentioning severe period pain, it doesn’t hurt to suggest they get it checked out (if they haven’t already).
We also shouldn’t have to have this ‘just push through mentality.’ No matter where you are, at work, home or school, you shouldn’t have to push down the pain you’re feeling for fear of appearing ‘weak’. When Das worked in her first retail job, she mentioned how whenever her or her co-workers were in pain, they would just take a five minute break out the back to take some tablets.
“Even in my full time corporate job at the moment, I refrain from telling my manager when I’m in pain,” Das said. “It’s still awkward and sometimes I feel it’s not worth it.”
However, it is worth it, and this mentality just pushes more people to suffer in silence.
So, rather than pursuing short-term, ‘band-aid’ solutions, invest in period conversations from an early age. Talk about it with people you trust. Do you research and push for better education and conversations in school and workplace settings. Don’t normalise your pain, but be open about it.
“I have never come across any other menstruater who hasn’t enjoyed the experience of being able to talk about their menstrual experience with someone else,” Das said.
Yes, it’s difficult when it’s taboo. However, it’s also more impactful and important.
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Freja Newman 