Menstruation Generally Viewed as a Taboo Subject Among Many Females - Menstruation Generally Seen as a Shamed Topic Amongst Many Female Individuals
Women Worldwide View Menstruation as a Taboo Topic
In a recent poll conducted by Forsa, it was found that the majority of women consider menstruation to be a topic that is not commonly discussed in public. An astounding 91% of women surveyed believe there is a gap in knowledge and reporting about the effects of menstruation and hormones on women's health.
The poll, commissioned by the KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse, surveyed 1,002 women aged 14 to 50, the typical menstruating age. Over two-thirds of younger women (14 to 29 years old) said they track and document their own cycle.
Recent years have seen an increase in initiatives to normalize conversations about menstruation in sports. Individual athletes have garnered attention by discussing their periods in interviews to explain performance, and the German Football Association made headlines in 2023 with the slogan "Let's talk Periods."
Key initiatives for destigmatizing menstruation in sports include education and training programs in sports settings, policy development, access to menstrual products, nonprofit and community advocacy, and improving athlete support networks. These efforts aim to foster better knowledge, communication, and resources for female athletes.
Efforts to ensure free and easy access to period products in schools, workplaces, and sports environments are essential to destigmatization. Furthermore, conversations about menstruation within athlete support networks are being normalizing. Holistic health approaches, involving menstrual health in broader women’s health plans and workplace health policies, as well as youth engagement, sustainability, and equity issues, are also becoming central to destigmatization efforts.
Overall, recent initiatives in sports are working to break the stigma surrounding menstruation by providing education, promoting open dialogue, and ensuring access to resources. These efforts are part of a broader societal shift towards menstrual equity and health inclusivity.
The community and employment policies should include initiatives for destigmatizing menstruation in sports, such as education and training programs, policy development, and access to menstrual products. Science and health-and-wellness organizations could play a crucial role in advocating for holistic health approaches, involving menstrual health in broader women’s health plans and workplace health policies, as well as addressing youth engagement, sustainability, and equity issues.
