Menstruation, a topic still stigmatised

The menstrual taboo persists. This is the main conclusion of a pioneering macro-study in Spain involving more than 4,000 participants and led by the INGENIO Institute, a joint centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Universitat Politécnica de València (UPV). According to the analysis, 4 out of 10 people perceive menstruation as a topic that is still stigmatised.

The results of the study, published in the International Journal for Equity in Health, show that only 6 out of 10 participants perceive menstruation as a normal part of their lives. Furthermore, while postmenopausal women report greater social acceptance, younger generations consider the taboo to be still very much present.

In fact, the experience of the first menstruation is particularly significant in the research. Many participants described how this moment was associated with sexualisation and new social expectations, which in some cases generate insecurity and vulnerability. Rocío Poveda, co-author of the study at INGENIO (CSIC-UPV), explains that "menarche is not only experienced as a biological change, but as a social construct that marks the beginning of new restrictions and external perceptions. The way in which menarche is constructed and experienced socially can influence how young women perceive themselves and how others perceive them."

The study shows that receiving practical and clear information at the time of first menstruation is a significant factor in the normalisation of the period, and establishes that those who received this support feel more comfortable talking about their period in different contexts.

Furthermore, the article concludes, based on the opinions gathered, that when women talk to the men around them about menstruation, they perceive the subject as more normalised. Sara Sánchez-López, lead researcher of the study at INGENIO (CSIC-UPV), believes that ‘the greatest advances occur when gender silences are broken. The ability to talk about menstruation with men is a key indicator of social acceptance and a decisive step towards breaking the taboo,’ adds the researcher.

Advertising, films and books

79% of respondents to the study stated that menstruation does not appear or appears infrequently in television series and films, and 73% reported the same about books. Respondents also pointed out the absence of menstruation in the media, such as television, considering it a deliberate act in the case of 24-hour reality shows, and stressed that this lack of representation reinforces its invisibility.

Advertising was particularly criticised by those who took part in the study for showing unrealistic images of menstruation: glitter and sparkles, blue liquids or women presented as energetic, radiant and always smiling. ‘These representations, considered by participants to be unrealistic and unidentifiable, feed into the idea that menstruation must be beautified or sanitised to be socially acceptable,' explains Sara Sánchez-López.

Impact on self-esteem and emotional well-being

The study not only documents the persistence of stigma but also highlights its consequences, ranging from the impact on self-esteem and emotional well-being to invisibility in educational, cultural, and health settings. In fact, a previous study by the same research team, conducted two years ago, found that only 5% of respondents had received practical information at school on how to manage bleeding.

Now, the analysis published by the International Journal for Equity in Health also shows how negative beliefs about menstruation can be used to discredit or delegitimise women in everyday life. ‘The testimonies collected from the 4,000 participants indicate that menstruation is sometimes used to devalue their emotions or arguments, leading to stigmatisation and interpersonal conflict,’ explains Santiago Moll, co-author of the study.

Sara Sánchez-López also asserts that menstrual stigma ‘limits the presence of menstruation in public and political debates, slows progress in regulation and access to menstrual products, hinders adequate medical diagnoses, and perpetuates myths due to a lack of reliable information.’

The research team also includes Dani Barrington from the University of Western Australia, an internationally renowned expert in menstrual health and activism in this field.