AD | Why can’t we talk about periods?

This post has been written in collaboration with Pink Parcel on a gifting basis.

Periods – something so natural yet often like an elephant in the room. From a young age, I was ashamed to talk about periods. I have no idea where I learnt to be afraid. I just knew that was an uncomfortable situation that nobody discuss. Even when my mother would try to chat to me about it, I would just want it to stop.

I’m definitely not the only woman to experience this without not even understanding why. Now I wonder why there is such a stigma surrounding periods? Something that’s so natural? Something that all of us women experience?

Why the stigma?

The stigma around periods can have consequences. Learning about periods normally starts in secondary school (or that’s at least when it started for me). It’s not really learning, it’s more of an uncomfortable lesson where boys make fun about periods and it’s seen as something very private.

This is what gives the first indication that periods shouldn’t really be talked about as if it was something that all women experience. So what does that mean? That means that when girls get their period, they don’t often know what to do. They don’t know what’s normal and what’s not. There is no “openness” to asking questions as it’s meant to be “private”. They don’t often know about all of the different options out there. Periods aren’t comfortable, but finding the right products for you is so important.

Well, I think the stigma is changing and I’m here for the journey.

Should boys be taught about periods?

Just because it only happens to women, doesn’t mean it’s a secret club that nobody else can know about. In order to remove the stigma, the secrecy around the topic should be removed too.

According to The Guardian, the most confusing thing for boys regarding the topic is that “you don’t even know what you don’t know.” That sums up the secrecy perfectly. It’s like some sort of a secret society that half of the world is a part of, yet the other half has no idea what it is, where it comes from, and what it all means.

As women, we don’t have control over whether we get periods or not. It just happens. So is it something that should be hidden from boys? Definitely not. In fact, if there was more awareness, I believe that there would be less stigma. Because there is absolutely nothing secretive or embarrassing about it.

Buying Sanitary Products

When I was younger, I often found myself embarrassed to buy sanitary products. How crazy is that? It wasn’t something that started from my family – not at all. In fact, in most cases I was lucky because my mum would buy it all (with no shame, may I add). There was just something about having to put the products on the till, somebody else scanning it, and having to pay for it in front of that person. Right now, it sounds ridiculous even talking about it like that. But back then, it was scary.

Now I have no problem buying any products. First of all, it’s completely normal. Second of all, who the heck cares what people think anyway? Well, I recently also discovered an awesome subscription service for periods.

Pink Parcel

Pink Parcel* is the UK’s number 1 period subscription box. If I’m completely honest, I didn’t even know it existed until recently. And now I’m in love.

This is a brand that aims to break down the taboos surrounding periods and to support women through their content and their products. They have even created their own award-winning education programme for young people to teach them about periods in a real and honest way. All of that is exactly why I’m so excited to work with them on this blog post.

Pink Parcel’s subscription parcels are incredibly affordable: starting from £5 per month. The cheapest box ‘The Needs’ gives you your choice of femcare products, the £8 ‘The Wants’ box gives you luxe beauty and seasonal products, and the £11 ‘All of It’ gives you both the beauty/seasonal products and femcare products.

I have opted for the ‘All of It’ box. Because if this isn’t the time to treat yourself to some goodies, I don’t know when is.

The femcare products are always high-quality; either by Always, Bodyform, Tampax and Lil-lets. You can choose your favourites and get them delivered to you every month! I generally opt for pads, so my box came with a mix of night, day and daily pads.

The luxe beauty and seasonal products in my July box were incredible. There is nothing better than munching on some Joe & Seph’s Toffee Apple and Cinnamon Popcorn and sipping on some Teapigs Snooze Tea with a soothing face mask on. Especially during the period week of the month. My box even came with a banana powder, which I’ve always wanted to try!

All in all, periods are normal, just like Pink Parcel aims to show. There should not be any stigma around the topic. As the pictures and the products on the pictures hopefully show, periods aren’t some scary scandalous things. Let’s be more open. Let’s help each other.

If you have any questions, feel free to DM me on Instagram. I’d love to have a chat!

Be kind, be humble.

*affiliate link