Almost one in four young women ‘didn’t know what was happening when periods started’

Almost one in four girls and young women say they didn’t know what was happening when they started their periods, a new study has found.

Research by WaterAid, which polled 1,000 young people aged between 14 and 21 living in the UK, found almost a quarter would describe periods as embarrassing, while a fifth would refer to them as “gross”.

The study indicated period poverty was a major issue in the UK – with one in seven of the women polled worried about whether they or their family would have enough money to pay for sanitary products.

While a quarter of the boys and young men had mocked periods while with their friends, one in seven of the young women and girls had been directly tormented or belittled about their periods.

Researchers found over three quarters thought periods should be discussed more openly with everyone rather than solely girls.

Over half would not approach a doctor to talk about concerns about their periods, while one in five would be too ashamed to ask anyone for period products even if they desperately required them.

It comes just after The Independent reported the majority of schools in England have failed to sign up to the government scheme to provide free sanitary products, despite teachers warning period poverty has surged during the Covid-19 crisis.

Ministers announced in spring of last year that girls at primary and secondary schools would be given free sanitary products from early 2020, but campaigners claim the government has not properly alerted schools to the scheme.

Research by charity Plan International found three in 10 girls in the UK have struggled to afford or access period products during the coronavirus emergency – with over half of them having to resort to toilet paper instead of proper products. While one in five said their periods have been more difficult to cope with due to not having enough toilet roll.

Sanitary products in Britain are classed as a “luxury, non-essential item” and taxed at 5 per cent – with the average lifetime cost of sanitary products estimated at £4,800.

A poll of 931 people in England, Scotland and Wales carried out in February last year found more than a quarter of women have been forced to miss work or school because they cannot afford period products.