Period Shame: Why We Need to Talk More About Our Periods

Periods are normal. So why are we still embarrassed to talk about them?

Think about how often you’ve tried to hide the fact that you’re on your period.

Maybe you’ve discreetly slipped a tampon into your sleeve on the way to the bathroom. Maybe you’ve whispered that you have cramps instead of simply saying you’re on your period. Or perhaps you’ve found yourself apologising for being uncomfortable, even when your body is doing something completely normal.

Most of us have experienced moments like these. And often, we don’t even question them. We just learn to keep our periods private.

There’s nothing wrong with privacy. Your body is yours and you get to decide what you share. But there’s a difference between choosing not to talk about something and feeling that you shouldn’t talk about it.

That difference is where period shame begins.

Where does period shame come from?

Nobody is born embarrassed about having a period. We learn it.

We pick up messages from the world around us: periods are messy, menstrual blood is disgusting, period products should be hidden and anything related to menstruation is best discussed quietly, if at all.

Sometimes these messages are subtle. A joke at school. A parent who avoids the subject. An advert that shows blue liquid instead of menstrual blood. A boy who laughs when someone mentions a period. A colleague who makes you feel uncomfortable for needing to change your plans because of cramps.

Individually, these moments might seem small. Together, they teach us that periods are something to conceal.

And once we learn to be embarrassed about something, we can carry that feeling into adulthood without ever stopping to ask why.

Why should we feel awkward buying menstrual products? Why should saying "I'm on my period" feel more uncomfortable than saying "I have a headache"? Why should asking a question about our own bodies be embarrassing?

Periods are a normal part of life for millions of people. Yet the shame surrounding them can make a perfectly ordinary bodily function feel like a secret.

The problem with keeping periods quiet

When we don't talk openly about periods, we miss opportunities to learn from one another.

Think about all the questions people have about menstruation. Is this amount of bleeding normal? Why do I get cramps? How often should I change my menstrual cup? Can I swim on my period? What should I do if my period suddenly changes?

These are reasonable questions about our bodies. But if we grow up feeling that periods are embarrassing, we may hesitate to ask them.

That silence can leave us feeling isolated, even when other people are experiencing the same things.

It can also make it harder to recognise when something isn't right. Severe period pain, unusually heavy bleeding or significant changes in your cycle deserve attention, not dismissal. Talking about periods helps us share experiences and recognise when it might be time to seek medical advice.

And then there's the emotional side of it.

When we feel we have to hide our periods, we spend energy managing other people's perceptions of something that isn't shameful in the first place. We worry about leaks, noises, smells, stains and whether someone might find out.

Of course, practical concerns are real. Periods can be inconvenient and menstrual blood can be messy. We don't have to pretend otherwise.

But something can be messy without being shameful.

We need to make talking about periods normal

Imagine growing up in a world where saying "I'm on my period" was as unremarkable as saying "I'm tired."

Where a teenager could ask a question about menstrual cups without feeling embarrassed. Where someone could tell their partner they were experiencing cramps without making it a big announcement. Where friends could compare notes about their cycles and learn from each other.

We don't need to turn periods into the centre of every conversation. We just need to stop treating them as something that must be hidden.

And this starts with small things.

Say the word. Use the words period, menstruation and menstrual blood without automatically lowering your voice or reaching for a euphemism.

Ask the question. If you're unsure about something, look for reliable information or ask a healthcare professional. You don't need to feel embarrassed about wanting to understand your body.

Share your experience if you want to. Talking with a friend, partner, parent or child can help make periods feel less mysterious. You don't owe anyone personal details, but you shouldn't feel that you have to hide them either.

Listen without judgement. When someone talks about their period, resist the urge to dismiss their pain, make them feel dramatic or turn their experience into a joke.

Talk to the next generation. Children deserve honest, age-appropriate information about menstruation before they encounter the myths and embarrassment that can surround it. Normalising periods for everyone, not just those who menstruate, helps build understanding and empathy.

None of these things requires a grand statement. They simply make space for a more honest conversation.

Periods don't have to be perfect to be normal

There's another kind of pressure that can creep into conversations about periods: the idea that we should always manage them neatly, quietly and without inconveniencing anyone.

But periods don't always fit into our plans.

Sometimes we experience leaks. Sometimes we're in pain. Sometimes we're exhausted, frustrated or simply fed up with having to think about our cycle. Sometimes we need to change our plans or take a break.

That doesn't make us weak, unhygienic or difficult. It makes us human.

We should be able to talk about the uncomfortable parts of menstruation without feeling that we're doing something wrong. We should also be able to celebrate the things that make managing our periods easier, whether that's finding a product that works for us, understanding our cycle or finally getting an answer to a question we've been carrying for years.

The point isn't to make every experience of menstruation positive. It's to make room for the real experience, whatever that looks like.

Let's talk periods

At Lena Cup, we believe that understanding your body shouldn't be embarrassing.

We believe that period questions deserve real answers and that talking about menstruation should feel ordinary, not taboo.

We also know that changing the conversation doesn't happen overnight. It happens when someone asks a question they might once have been afraid to ask. When a parent talks openly with their child. When a friend admits they're struggling with cramps. When we stop whispering about something that doesn't need to be a secret.

So here's a small invitation: the next time periods come up, let the conversation happen.

You don't have to share anything you're not comfortable sharing. You don't have to become a period expert. Just help make it a little easier for the next person to speak up.

Because periods are a fact of life. The shame is something we've learned.

And it's something we can unlearn together.

Let's talk periods.