As the cost of living increases, menstruators are having to choose between food and period products. Bloody Good Period are a charity who have been providing for menstruators’ needs since 2015

Period products are still considered a luxury item in the UK

Image credit: Jade Pughe

Bloody Good Period (BGP) have reported that during the first quarter of 2022, there was a 78% increase in demand for period products, compared to the same period in 2020. The charity was set up in 2015 by Gabby Jahanshahi-Edlin to provide period products for asylum seekers and refugees as well as any other menstruators in need. It is estimated that 1 in 10 girls in the UK cannot afford period products and BGP have been combatting this by working with their partners to deliver both products and an educational programme that covers reproductive and sexual health. We had a bloody good chat with Terri Harris, the charity’s Menstrual Sexual and Reproductive Health Manager. Read on to see how you can support menstruators in your local area.

Terri, Missile would love to know about the roots of BGD. What was it that made Gabby realise that something needed to be done about period poverty?

Gabby noticed that the drop-in centres providing resources and support to refugees and asylum seekers weren’t providing menstrual products or if they were, they were not providing them on a regular basis (after all, periods happen every month). Gabby decided something needed to be done to ensure everyone who needed them could access menstrual products. So, she started a whip-round on Facebook and now BGP is a growing charity with a vision to achieve menstrual equality, whereby bleeding doesn't stop anyone from participating fully in society or life. 

Gabby Jahanshahi-Edlin (holding the sign that reads "2,4,6,8 it costs too much to menstruate) alongside period poverty activists at the 2019 Women's March

​Image credit: @bloodygoodperiod

How can we work towards making period products free in England, following in Scotland’s footsteps?

Scotland's decision is a major win for menstrual equality. They recognise that the needs of women and people who menstruate matter and provide products accordingly, for everyone who needs them. We now need the same kind of decisive leadership and action that we’ve seen in Scotland, in the UK.

Unlike Scotland, the UK Government has focused efforts in England on young people. This has been majorly focused on the provision of free products to all young people through schools. However, young people are not the only people affected by period poverty. Especially now, as the cost of living crisis bites, more people are having to make impossible choices between essential items, including menstrual products. Access to period products is a matter of human rights, and we continue to call on the UK government to follow Scotland’s example and take decisive action in providing free period products for all. 

How do you suggest we move the appropriate language and behaviour surrounding periods into the mainstream?

One of the major issues when fighting for menstrual equity is that so many people feel embarrassed, awkward, and uncomfortable when discussing periods. We are taught from an early age that periods are a secret and private issue, so we use thousands of code words to describe our periods and reinforce the idea that we should be ashamed of our menstrual cycles. 

So, what can we do as individuals? We try to overcome the shame which, even as members of a Period Equitable organisation, we can find difficult sometimes. What does overcoming shame look like?

1. Using the correct words. It’s a period- no, “the painters” are not in! Use vagina or vulva- not “moo” or “fairy”.
2. Learn about periods, get to know the truth. Help yourself overcome taught beliefs such as periods being dirty. 
3. Don’t hide your products. Next time you need to use one/buy them for someone else, be open about it and don’t put your tampon up your sleeve. 
4. Start a conversation, share your experiences with other people and share the fact that period poverty exists. Just by talking about periods we make it a more common, normal conversation that isn’t shocking or squeamish! 

The more we talk about periods in a positive, affirming way, the more we can push appropriate language and behaviour into the mainstream. We can already see that the work of BGP and other menstrual activists, such as Chella Quint, has done this. It has resulted in major changes such as Asda and Boots now having a “period products” aisle (instead of using our bloody banned terms “sanitary” or “feminine hygiene”.) But there's still lots more work to do!

Chella Quaint is the founder of Period Positive, an orgnisation dedicated to reframing our menstrual literacy. Above are six Period Positive Pledges, created to be shared on social media to help change attitudes towards periods

Image credit: Period Positivity

What do you suggest is the best way for people of any age to educate themselves on the menstrual cycle?

The number one thing you can do, if you have a period, is to track your menstrual cycle, whether that be through an app, calendar or just on a notepad! Tracking your period will teach you everything you need to know about your cycle and start to inform you about the changes that take place, not just whilst you’re bleeding, but throughout the whole month! This will inevitably pique your interest and then you can use fantastic online resources such as Clue and Menstrual Matters to understand why these changes are taking place and the amazing things your body is producing, doing, and releasing.

If you don’t have a period, skip the first part. Talk to your friends, family, and colleagues who menstruate and understand their lived experience of menstruation and the menstrual cycle. Then head to step two and use the plethora of online resources (including the NHS site) to understand why these changes happen and the best way to support those who menstruate. 

Illustration by Lily Dearman

Since starting BGP, do you know how many menstruators you have helped?

In the last five and a half years we've distributed more than 200,000 packs of period products to people who need them. In the past year alone, we have served almost 200 refugees and asylum seekers who menstruate with our education sessions and distributed 63,824 packs of period products to approximately 17,249 people, via 79 partner organisations.

What can the readers of Missile do to help combat period poverty?

Donate money to BGP! The cash part is important, we no longer accept physical donations. Instead, we use cash donations to deliver products to people at a quicker rate, with more choice.

Normalise period conversations. By doing this we make periods mainstream. There are still lots of people who still don’t know that period poverty exists and probably haven’t ever thought about it. By opening up menstrual conversations, we can change this. 

What can the readers of Missile do if they are affected by period poverty?

Contact your local food bank or community organisation, they will be able to support you in accessing free period products. We currently have over 110 partners across England and Wales, so there will likely be a local organisation where you can access free products. 

What can be achieved if period poverty is eradicated?

Menstruation intersects so many core issues within our society from gender equality and racism to equal healthcare provision. If we think that poor menstrual health, as well as poor product provision, can restrict a person’s ability to play a role in the workplace, politics, education and more, we can achieve HUGE change if we eradicate period poverty. We take a stand against all forms of inequality and say that everyone deserves to play an equal role in our society. 

BGP cannot function without continued support and we urge you to donate via their website. If money is tight right now, you can support them by signing their petition to provide free period products across the UK.