We all know someone that squirms at the thought of a menstruating body’s period. Some dismiss the topic, while others state how “gross” it is to talk about. Around 1.8 billion people menstruate every month, meaning at any given point, 800 million individuals menstruate, making up about 26% of the global population. With over a quarter of the global population menstruating every day, it made me wonder why a natural process is dismissed or classified as “too much information” when brought up?
Menstruation has been historically framed as a shameful process in which women and other menstruating bodies have been told to conceal for centuries. After doing some research, I believe I have found an example as to why this is, as well as an improvement that could change the period stigma for years to come.
Up until August of 2023, period products including tampons, pads, cups, and more had never been tested on actual blood. Instead, companies and researchers would use a more “sanitized” version of period blood, an example of this being saline solution. This came as a shock to me, but the more I thought about it, the less I was surprised. With this new information, it made sense as to why the advertisements and the real functionality of these products never truly aligned.
[Companies’] goal isn’t really to tell you how many milliliters of blood you lost. Their goal is to get you through your day without having a leak. These companies seem to have the right intention. However, from my memory alone, I can name dozens of instances where someone has been severely inconvenienced because of a period accident. Whether it be a young girl having to change clothes in school, or an individual at work having to clock out early, these situations are embarrassing and disruptive to the everyday lives of those who menstruate.
After all, it is true that saline solutions are the closest medium for testing the absorption of blood. However, the menstruation process rids the body of more than just blood during a period. Menstruation is partly blood and partly tissue from inside the uterus. This means, although saline is used as a stand in for blood in commercials and research, there has been no proper medium to replicate what it is truly like to menstruate.
The history of incomplete research, along with the sanitization of the menstruation process, has impacted menstruating bodies for centuries. People with endometriosis or those with similar symptoms exemplify the problem of inaccurate studies through their improper health care. Many people with insufferable periods go undiagnosed for years due to the measurements on period boxes not equating to the real amount of blood loss. Once again, those who endure this monthly process are left to figure out this issue on their own.
However, Oregon Health and Science University has set the precedent for menstrual companies to up their game in relation to the practicality of their products. With this new research, my hope is that other companies will use this information to produce reliable materials for those who menstruate.
Although I believe this study on period products brought us closer to equality in health care, I still feel as if we have a lot of work to do to reduce the stigma around menstruation in general. Only then, will us menstruating bodies feel like we belong in the system that was founded on patriarchy.
ShoutOut! James Madison University 