Ask Us

Our responses to your questions...

"Is it normal to experience extreme heavy bleeding and constant pain during a period that lasts about 7 days?"

These things can all be normal and just signs of a heavy period - however, alltogether they could also indicate an underlying condition such as endometriosis. It might be worth speaking to your doctor if you feel comfortable as they can conduct a proper assessment and can offer some treatments too! Do not panic, but if you are worried then check out these websites below for extra, more expertise, information. Sadly, menstruators and their painful experiences are not always taken seriously by doctors who can often dismiss such pain as normal, however, we urge you to strongly advocate for your menstrual health. Below are some resources to help educate you and teach you about medical advocacy!

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heavy-periods/

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/period-pain-could-it-be-endometriosis

https://www.healthline.com/health/severe-menstrual-cramps#symptoms

Medical Advocacy links:

https://www.knixteen.com/blogs/the-rag/advocating-for-your-menstrual-health

https://www.dailycal.org/2020/03/03/medical-gaslighting-epidemic-in-womens-health-myths-of-period-pain-require-academic-discussion/

"Breaking through a historic stigma surrounding the subject will be part of the challenge. The young will understand - how do you get through to the middle aged - who still have a problem with natural acts like breastfeeding in public?"

This is a great question, and the answer is that it will take a lot of time and persistence. The more people that embrace the subject, even at a younger level, the more people that will continue to learn about it and embrace it further. Those who are still less understanding will begin to become a minority, and minorities are forced to rethink their beliefs and try to understand the opposing side in order to see why they are now the minority. Changing traditional views in middle aged people will be no easy task, but we believe with enough education and talking openly about the subject, progress will be made.

"Why should I care about period poverty if I am a guy who does not have a period?"

We have a whole page dedicated to why people like you should care, and how you can help (click here). Access to period products and sanitary facilities is a human right! Period poverty can create a knock-on effect that impacts an individual's standard of living and quality of life. Everyone should want to help, regardless of who it affects. In addition, non-menstruators' support is essential in reducing the stigma around periods, changing the culture of shame and embarrassment, and allowing period products to become more readily available.

"What is the UK government doing about period poverty?"

A scheme was in place to provide period products in schools to those who don't already have access to them - more information about this can be found here. They also began running a period poverty task force with the aim of destigmatizing conversations around periods and also providing free products in certain places - the details of this are here. while the UK government has made steps, there is still a long way to go, and we see the problem of period poverty as truly global, with some governments around the world still not even acknowledging that it is something that needs to be solved.

Your stories and experiences!

"I'm ashamed to admit I still don't know much about periods in general and what different options of products are available for me as I've always just gone for the most commonly spoken about options like pads and tampons and not wanted to do any further research. I have always felt a bit uncomfortable and grossed out by my periods and hate having them."

Thank you for sharing your experience! There are so many options out there for us that aren't well known - it's just about finding what is right for you. By talking about our periods we help to make them more normalised in society and hopefully this will help to make people like yourself more comfortable with having them. We should not be made to feel grossed out by our own bodies!

"However right or just a cause is takes time to effect change. Persistent education and dialogue will work overtime - beware of too aggressive tactics - it may firm up the opposition. I have seen great change in my area of work - the institution has made great steps but that is over a period of 34 years."

Thank you for your comment! We believe change is really possible and are excited about the progress that has already been made, but we agree that real change takes time and persistence, and starts with education at the primary school level.

"Growing up in the middle east, periods were something that were never really talked about or fully understood by most women. It was something to be ashamed of and to be kept secret. I grew up so confused and grossed out by my periods but I am grateful for the work of Jeyetna which has made me embrace my periods and learn more about our incredible bodies."

Thank you for sharing your story! There are so many different cultural attitudes to periods around the world, and it's great to see the work of organisations such as Jeyetna helping to break stigmas and make a real difference in people's lives. Periods are natural so are nothing to be ashamed of, and yes, our bodies really are incredible!