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2 out of five people feel ashamed

Breaking Period Stigma with Report from Always®  

UK parents tasked with tackling period taboo during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Read the new report that sheds the light on the continued challenges people in the UK face today, during the COVID-19 pandemic, because of their periods.

Breaking Period Stigma with New Report from Always® | Always

Breaking Period Stigma with New Report from Always®

Despite increasing attention and advocacy, periods remain a taboo topic.  Always, WASH United and Glocalities surveyed adults and young people  from five countries to assess period stigma today

Period Stigma Around the World Today Article | Always

Period Stigma Around the World Today  | Always

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Chart-1-negative-feeling-about-period

Of the countries surveyed, __the UK is in the top 3 for 
having negative feelings towards their periods or hiding 
their periods__.4

Negative feeling towards period 

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Hiding period icon 2 

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Empowering Girl Through Education

Worried feelings

__lose confidence at puberty__2 and starting their period marks their lowest point
in confidence during their teenage years3.

Period Stigma Around the World Today

Get Educated

You Can Help End Period Stigma!

1. SurveyMonkey, 2020. Quantitative survey of young people 13–21 yrs in Canada, UK, US. n=4,147.
2. Research Now, 2017. Quantitative survey of females 16–24 yrs in Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, Russia, Turkey, UK, US. n=9,289.
3. Research Now, 2014. Quantitative survey of females 16–24 yrs in US. n=1,300.
4. Glocalities, 2020. Quantitative survey of adults 18–70 yrs in Canada, China, Russia, UK, US. n=5,139.
5. Glocalities, 2019. Quantitative survey of adults 18–70 yrs, Global. n=30,057. 

*For both Glocalities studies: Data is nationally representative with respect to age (18–70) by gender, region and education (low & mid-levels of education are combined for China only)*

References list

References

Percentage 

Chart-1 Negative feelings about periods

Period Stigma Around the World Today Article Page

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Always End Period Stigma banner

Always End Period Stigma 

[Plan International UK](https://plan-uk.org/) is a global children’s charity. We work to give every child the same chance in life. In every child there’s a spark of imagination, curiosity and ambition. But not every child is born with the same opportunities. When you face poverty or violence the odds are stacked against you. When you’re a girl it’s even harder to be safe, in school and in charge of your body. All children deserve an education, health care and clean water. All children deserve the chance to thrive. We’re fighting so every child, especially every girl, knows their value. We’re fighting so the communities they’re growing up in – and the world around them – value them too. And if disaster strikes we’re there to protect children, keep them learning and help them recover. 

About Plan International UK

In the UK, whilst __nearly 1 in 3 believe period jokes 
are harmless fun__, young people say they make them 
feel self-conscious (42%), embarrassed (33%) and 
less confident (28%).1

Period  Blood Chart 4

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Despite increasing attention and advocacy

 __Despite increasing attention and advocacy, periods remain a taboo topic. Always, WASH United and Glocalities surveyed adults and young people from five countries to assess period stigma today.__


Period conversations are a challenge

### Period conversations are a challenge.

  Period Stigma Cards

- 1 in 3 young people don’t feel prepared for their first period 
- 2 in 5 parents feel more responsible for teaching their kids about periods in light of pandemic related restrictions
- 85% of young people have tried to hide the fact that they’re on their period from those around them
- 2 in 5 young people have been shamed or teased because of their period
- Nearly 1 in 10 girls have missed school because they did not have access to period products
- 1 in 4 young people have seen periods referred to negatively in a movie or on TV

1 in 3 young people don’t feel 

Breaking Period Stigma with New Report from Always

Period education is key 

__54% of adults feel they have enough knowledge__ to talk to their children about puberty and periods.

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Breaking Period Stigma with a Report from Always®  

Period blood Chart 3

In the UK, __1 in 3 people have referred to period blood as gross or disgusting__.4

The higher the % of society that talks

The higher __the % of society that talks openly__ about periods, __the more prepared people feel__ to talk about periods with their children (correlation 0.4).

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The report, Menstrual Health & Hygiene “It’s Time to Talk”, is based on 13 surveys conducted in the UK between 2015 and 2020 as well as further research and analysis by Always and their research partners, including global children’s charity Plan International UK. 

__It underscores the importance of having open conversations about periods and offers educational guidance to facilitate discussions to help eradicate period stigma.__

People icon 1 

__2 in 5 have felt ashamed
or embarrassed__ by their
own period.4

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Breaking Period Stigma with Report from Always®

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Breaking period stigma with Always

Show Your Support

Young people learn about period from mums

Talking about sensitive topics table across countries

Talking about period Chart2

__Less than half of adults__ say they support talking about periods5 and far less actually do talk about them4.

#### What can we do to help address these period related issues?

What can we do to help address these period related issues?

Get Comfortable

A report by Always shows that UK parents feel more responsible for educating their children about periods and are increasingly worried about access to period products as a result of pandemic related restrictions.

For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.always.co.uk/en-gb/">always.co.uk</a> or contact Kiran Behal <a href="mailto:behal.kk@pg.com">(behal.kk@pg.com)</a>.

For more information

__Rose Caldwell, Chief Executive of Plan International UK__, said: *“Having co-chaired the Period Poverty Taskforce with the UK Government and P&G since 2019, we welcome these insights from girls and women as we continue to fight against period taboo and stigma. It’s clear that in the UK, as in other countries around the world, a culture of shame and silence is having a devastating impact on the lives of girls. There is clearly still much for us all to do if we are to address the toxic trio of period stigma, access to products, and education, which have been brought into even sharper focus during this pandemic.”*

__Aileen Nathan, Vice President, P&G Feminine Care, UK, Ireland and Nordics__ said *“For more than 35 years, Always has been committed to normalising the conversation around periods and ensuring young people, and their supporters, feel prepared to navigate puberty with confidence by providing free educational resources and breaking societal taboos. This report demonstrates that there is still some work to be done and we all have a role to play in ensuring everyone can have healthy conversations about periods.”*


Rose Caldwell, Chief Executive of

The report finds that, in the UK:

The report outlines the key actions that Always has identified as critical to ending period stigma and period poverty by 2030. This includes:

{divclass}{icon1}{/icon1} {pclass}{b} Encouraging society to talk more openly about periods {/b} by raising awareness of the issues and the positive impact that this openness will have.{/pclass}{/divclass}

{divclass}{icon2}{/icon2} {pclass}{b} Elevating the voices of young people {/b} who are already leading the charge against period shame. {/pclass}{/divclass}

{divclass}{icon3}{/icon3} {pclass}{b} Continuing to provide high quality puberty & confidence education{/b} to children, parents and broader society.  {/pclass}{/divclass}

{divclass}{icon4}{/icon4} {pclass}{b} Continuing to address the lack of access to period{/b} products that too many people across the UK still face today. {/pclass}{/divclass}

The report also highlights the fact that if everyone talked openly about periods it would help young people with periods and women to feel more supported and confident. Reconfirming that everyone has a role to play in breaking the period stigma.


The report outlines the key actions that Always has 

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MHH Accordian

Periods are associated with negative feelings

__Periods are associated with negative feelings from an early age, despite being a normal bodily function.__

Menstrual Health & Hygiene “It’s Time to Talk” Report is based on 13 studies fielded in the UK between 2015 and 2020, by independent research agencies, including Glocalities, an international research agency specialised in consumer values. The most recent survey was conducted in partnership with Plan International UK.

About the research 

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MHH Article Banner

Find essential feminine care and puberty answers along with information on a news in a wide selection of Always pads and hygiene products for women.

News & FAQs | Always

#### Hear from Plan International UK & Always:

Hear from Plan International UK & Always:

What we promise

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Advocate

When people talk about periods

### When people talk about periods, it’s often done in a negative way.

__3 in 5 have tried to hide the
fact they’re on their period__
from those around them.4

People icon 2

Period education paragraph

### Period education is key, and mums and teachers are the most influential resources.1 But not everyone is prepared to teach their kids about periods.4

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Period stigma around the world today

Period blood Chart 4

When getting their first period, young people feel:

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Helping Girls Across the World

Period Education chart-5

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