World Menstrual Health Day: Let’s Celebrate!

Across the world, there are approximately 1.9 billion people who menstruate*. And for the vast majority of these people, getting their period is a source of major stress. Whether it’s lack of access to period products, a feeling of shame, or negative symptoms like cramps or mood swings, bleeding each month is far from celebrated. 

At Guud Woman, we want to change that. 

A Conversation with Guud Ambassador, Naomi Van Den Broeck

Today is World Menstrual Health Day, and it’s an important day for us at Guud Woman! We teamed up with Naomi Van Den Broeck, a Belgian sprinter who represented Belgium at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo 2021 where she competed in the women’s 4 x 400 meters relay. Exercise is a topic that is significantly impacted by a woman’s menstrual cycle and yet it is so often overlooked, even for Olympic athletes. Many women don’t understand it themselves! That’s why we talked to Naomi about the impact of her menstrual cycle on her sports career and how she adapts her training based on her cycle. 

Check it out:

The Devil’s in the Details

In honour of World Menstrual Health Day, we also conducted some research to find out more about how women view their periods. The result is not exactly a happy one. 😞 We know the conversation is shifting, but it's clear from our results that there is still so much work to do. We’ve included the highlights of that research below. We warn you, it paints a pretty grim picture, but the guud news is that we’re starting to open up about it. The more we talk, the more that change can happen.

The Vast Majority of Women Have Period Problems 

It’s clear that for most women, periods are not celebrated. In fact, they can be the cause of major distress and perhaps even more alarming is the fact that most women think these problems are just part of being a woman. 

Here are a few stats from the research:

• 90% of women report that they suffer from menstrual issues
• The most common complaints are abdominal cramps (66%), headaches (52%), fatigue (50%), back pain (49%) and mood swings (45%).
• Almost 2 in 3 women feel that menstrual complaints are simply part of being a woman (65%).31% of women say that when they talk to a gynaecologist or doctor about their menstrual symptoms, he or she says that this is normal, and they just have to learn to live with it.
• More than 1 in 4 women do not know who to talk to about menstrual complaints (27%).
• Painkillers are used much more than supplements. The majority of women say they take painkillers when they have problems with their periods (55%).

Is The Pill The Solution? 

Nearly 25% of women surveyed said that their doctor or gynaecologist prescribed the pill as a solution for their menstrual complaints. While the main reason for choosing hormonal contraception remains to avoid getting pregnant, more than half of women surveyed said that they use the pill to reduce their menstrual symptoms. Doctors are often quick to prescribe the pill for PMS-related symptoms, but it is important to remember that the pill contains artificial hormones that suppress some natural hormonal patterns in your body, such as ovulation. The pill doesn’t address the root cause of your PMS. It’s just a quick fix, which is not ideal in the long term.

So what is a long-term solution? Research shows that it is a combination of:

• a healthy lifestyle;
• a balanced diet;
• focusing mainly on getting the right vitamins and minerals - with supplements if necessary.

Onward to 2030

The goal of World Menstrual Health Day is to build a world where no one is held back because they menstruate. In fact, the overarching agenda of the day is to make menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030. We’re making progress, but there’s still much to be done. World Menstrual Health Day is just one day, but there are things you can do all year round to help. Here’s how:

• Start talking! Break taboos and end stigma about periods by sharing more and normalizing this bodily function.
• Use platforms like social media to raise awareness about challenges women face - whether that’s access to period products, education, or just helping normalize things like cramps and mood swings.
• Share the video of Naomi

But more importantly… How are you doing? 

If you’re struggling with menstrual issues, we know it can feel lonely. Maybe you feel like no one understands your struggles or that you’re making a big deal out of something small. Maybe you worry that your problems are unusual. Maybe you feel embarrassed. Whatever it is, know that we are here to help you. At Guud Woman, our goal is to provide the support you deserve no matter what menstrual health challenge you’re facing. 

We have a team of experts that can help you understand your cycle, and understand how simple lifestyle changes can make a huge difference. 

We only work with the very best ingredients so we only provide products of the very best quality. All our ingredients are scientifically based. You may even start loving your period!

Want to know more about World Menstrual Health Day? Check out the website here. Inspired by Naomi’s video? Tell us what you think on Instagram. 

Still have questions? Talk to us! We're here for you and we want to help. Talk to an expert, or find you guuds. You deserve to feel Guud every day of the month.

*https://universe.byu.edu/2021/06/25/period-poverty-affects-millions-of-women-girls-globally/