Menstrual Periods Are Trending; Will the Stigma End? Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Menstruation News Periods Are Having a MomentMenstruation is finally eking out of closed bathroom doors and taking center stage. Here’s why that matters. By Holly PevznerApril 2, 2019Everyday Health ArchiveFact-CheckedHas menstruation gone mainstream?StocksyPeriods are experiencing a revolution. While activists and feminists alike have been megaphoning about menstruation for years, it wasn’t until 2014 that the rest of our ears started to perk. All at once, it seemed, periods were open for public discussion: There was the viral “Camp Gyno” video, with a confident tween at summer camp tossing out words like “menstruation,” “vagina,” and “tampon” to 13 million nodding and laughing YouTube viewers. Then, hot on that mini-menstruator’s heels, there was Kiran Gandhi, the free-bleeding marathoner; when Instagram started deleting pictures featuring period-stained sweatpants, it got an earful. RELATED: Endometriosis: Why Is It So Hard to Get Good Care? HelloFlo launched "Camp Gyno," a viral campaign about its period subscription service and started a bigger conversation.HelloFlo/YouTube Tampon Tax Is Out Period Poverty Awareness Is InCanada stopped taxing feminine hygiene products, and “period poverty” became a thing we all started hearing about. And, of course, how can we forget Donald Trump’s “blood coming out of her whatever" comment, daring to use periods as insult. All of the above, and more, served as the starter fuel for a menstrual movement that has shown no signs of receding. Here, what’s happening now and what to expect in the future. RELATED: Should You See a Doctor for a Heavy Period? Celebrities and Big Names Are Talking Periods In the past, if a female celebrity spoke about periods, it would be in the form of a charming, embarrassing, self-deprecating anecdote. Today, though, the scope is much wider. “For better or worse, we live in a celebrity culture, and celebrities set the tone,” says Amanda Laird, author of Heavy Flow: Breaking the Curse of Menstruation and host of the Heavy Flow podcast. Padma Lakshmi, Meghan Markle, and Halsey have helped bring attention to the menstrual movement.Getty Images (3) Meghan Markle Raises Awareness of Period PovertySo, for instance, it’s very impactful when Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, started shining a light on period poverty (or how the lack of access to sanitary products, toilets, hand-washing facilities, and more hinder women and girls from succeeding). “Especially since she’s part of the royal family, which is supposed to be prim and proper, if she’s talking periods, there’s no reason we shouldn’t,” says Laird. RELATED: 10 Ways to Help Relieve Period Cramps Focusing On Periods as a Reality Not a Curse Adding to the chorus: YouTuber Ingrid Nilsen posts videos like “Period Myths! What's True + What's Not” and “10 Things You May Not Know About Your Period” for her 3 million-plus followers. In 2017, she famously got Barack Obama to talk about menstruation, too. Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar made menstrual hygiene her signature topic. Plus, stars like Padma Lakshmi, Lena Dunham, and Halsey have all been very vocal about their personal issues with endometriosis. “Endometriosis is a menstrual disorder, generally speaking, so women like this openly talking about endo is super effective at stigma busting periods in general, which is very exciting,” says Chris Bobel, PhD, an associate professor of women's and gender studies at the University of Massachusetts in Boston and the president of the Society of Menstrual Cycle Research. After all, period stigma is what’s often in the way of real social and personal change. Periods have become political, with lawmakers and advocates fighting for equal access to menstrual products.Victoria Jones/Getty Images Collective Pain Menstrual Periods as a Public Health IssueThe "period as public health" movement began in developing countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The focus was (and remains) on clean water, sanitation, infrastructure, and access to feminine products. “In my opinion, the movement in the global south, in some ways, has forced self-reflection on those of us in the West,” says Bobel. “It’s made us start to think of what’s happening to women and girls in our own backyard, especially those who are homeless, incarcerated, and economically disadvantaged.” This boomerang effect has lead to nine states getting rid of the so-called “tampon tax,” and seven more have introduced legislation to do the same. Schools across New York, California, Illinois, and more now provide free menstrual products to female students. Realizing that this is a start, but not enough, a group of student activists are petitioning Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to make period poverty a top political issue, ensuring free access to menstrual products for all students. “Right now, not a week goes by that I don’t hear about period poverty in the news,” says Laird. “Either it’s a state overturning the tax they charge on menstrual products or specific pilot programs popping up to provide free menstruation products, which is great. But we must remember that this isn’t just a tampon in every vagina. The ultimate goal: a period that’s shame-free and pain-free.” Period Con, a conference for advocates and activists in the menstrual movement, took place in New York City in January 2019.Chloe Belangia/Period Con We' re Celebrating Menstruation and First Periods In January 2019, Period Con (like Comic Con but the superheroes are women talking about menstruation) was held in New York City, where there were workshops, panels, myth busting, and tons of innovators and activists normalizing period talk. Not long after, Period, End of Sentence, a film about women in India fighting period stigma, won the Academy Award for best documentary short. “To hear people say ‘menstruation’ out loud at the Oscars was really something,” says Bobel. “More good can come from this.” Period Pride Destigmitizing That Time of the Month The more words are spoken, the less stigma. For instance, the follow-up YouTube video to the viral “Camp Gyno” was all about celebrating a girl’s first period with a party. It racked up more than 46 million views and inspired a wave of similar period parties across the United States. (Comedian Bert Kreischer, for instance, talked about his daughter’s period party with Conan O'Brien in 2018.) And perhaps the ultimate sign that menstruation has gone mainstream: A new period emoji, featuring a drop of blood, is on its way to a phone near you. Some Sanitary Product Innovation at Last From the 1930s until just a few years ago, women had, essentially, two options for sanitary products: tampons or pads. Scratch that: The menstrual cup has been around a long while, as well. However, the product only recently began garnering wider attention — and availability. For instance, even though the menstrual cup Lunette has experienced year-over-year double-digit growth since it launched in 2010, it took another eight years before it was available in mainstream markets, like Target.com. Even tampon queen Tampax came out with their own menstrual cup in 2018. “I think some of the big drivers behind women’s newfound interest in the cup is consistent with our concerns about things like climate change, carbon footprint, and our waste profile,” says Bobel. RELATED: Does Sexism Play a Role in Arthritis Care? Products like Thinx Underwear, also known as "period panties," can hold up to two regular tampons’ worth and be worn in place of menstruation products. Thinx Fashion-Forward Thinking Enlightened Designs for MenstruatorsAll those things — plus ease and comfort — are behind the success of cutting-edge period underpants (Thinx, Dear Kate), period-friendly swimsuits (PantyProp), and the disposable and disclike take on the cup (Flex) that can be worn during intercourse. Our New Menstrual Mind-Set One of the biggest innovations, however, has nothing to do with products but our way of thinking. “Increasingly, we’re waking up to the fact that menstruation must be about more than just products,” says Bobel. “We’re starting to see more people speak outside the language of consumption, which is great for normalizing menstruation and further breaking down stigma.” NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Women' s Health Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The Latest in Menstruation How to Use a Menstrual Cup Set it and forget it — for several hours, anyway. You may just fall in love with this convenient, reusable period option.By Rachael RobertsonSeptember 7, 2022 Is Your Data Safe With Period Tracking Apps A privacy audit for your phone is a must, especially if your state outlaws abortion.By Monroe HammondJune 2, 2022 Irregular Periods Tied to Increased Risk of Liver DiseaseWomen who have long or irregular menstrual cycles are more likely to develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a new study suggests.By Lisa RapaportMarch 8, 2022 National Period Action Day Is October 9There’s a growing menstrual justice movement to raise awareness of, and eradicate, period poverty.By Julie MarksOctober 8, 2021 Smart Health I Tried Period Underwear — and Here s What HappenedBy Joslyn RichardsonMarch 25, 2021 Speaking Menstruation A Glossary of Terms Used to Describe Symptoms Tests Treatments and MoreIt’s time to learn the terminology and technical medical speak surrounding your monthly bleed.By Meryl Davids LandauApril 29, 2020 Real Women Tout Their Go-To Period ProductsDon't be embarrassed that you bleed — embrace your period! These women aren't afraid to talk about their menstrual cycles and the cups, apps, underwear...By Tiarra MukherjeeJuly 30, 2019 Menstrual Cups Are a Good Option for Many Women Study ShowsThe devices were found to be safe, cost-effective, reliable, and more friendly to the environment compared with other period products.By Becky UphamJuly 25, 2019 Period Pain Is Linked to Missed School Days Poor Academic Results Study ShowsMenstrual symptoms make it hard for many young women to succeed at school and university.By Julie Lynn MarksJuly 8, 2019 What s Your Period Personality Answer these questions to put a “face” to your period.By Kerry WeissNovember 21, 2018 MORE IN Smart Health I Tried Period Underwear — and Here s What Happened COVID-19 Does the Virus or Vaccine Mess With the Menstrual Cycle Can Your Period Cause Diarrhea