Menstrual Health Matters: Including People with Disabilities in the Conversation
As humans, we all experience life differently but there are a few things that the majority of people go through, and one of those things is periods. Every person reading this article has either had a period or has someone in their life who has. Our residents and others with intellectual and developmental disabilities are no different. They menstruate every month and endure cramps, mood swings, and all the other things that go along with it.
The month of May is known as National Menstrual Health Awareness Month; the goal is to raise awareness of menstruation, combat the endless stigma surrounding it, and encourage open and thoughtful conversations.
PERIOD STIGMA
The stigma surrounding periods is profound and creates this narrative that it is embarrassing, uncomfortable, and taboo to talk about with anyone, even with family and friends. This negative stigma can be harmful to girls and women because maybe they feel like they should not speak up and take a sick day even though they have debilitating cramps. This negative stigma can be harmful to girls and women because they often feel as if they should not speak up and take a sick day despite experiencing debilitating pain. Other times, it may start unexpectedly, and they may not have a pad or tampon on them. In cases like this, individuals feel uncomfortable asking others for help. International Planned Parenthood Federation, 2021).
One reason that there is such a stigma around menstruation is that there is simply not enough education about it, specifically with the male gender. Both men and women should be informed of the realities of what it means to have a period and how it affects their everyday life, either as the person menstruating or as the person supporting someone in their life who is menstruating (International Planned Parenthood Federation, 2021). By having an open dialogue about it, everyone can be more informed and comfortable with the topic, establishing normalcy around it.
Another facet regarding the lack of education pertains to the lack of research and treatments for menstrual-related conditions such as endometriosis. Endometriosis affects roughly 190 million women and girls across the globe and there is currently no known cure. The only kind of treatment available is focused on managing symptoms. Because of the lack of education and resources, many women go undiagnosed and suffer for years before receiving treatment (World Health Organization, 2023).
Menstrual stigma has lasting implications in all spheres of life. In a psychological study, women who were seen dropping a tampon from their bag, signaling they were on their period were considered less competent and less likable than someone who dropped a neutral personal item such as a bobby pin (Olson, et al., 2022).
PERIODS & DISABILTIES
In addition to all of this, women with disabilities face additional challenges and scrutiny. While there is a lack of education and research concerning women’s health, there is little to no research and education done for women with disabilities related to periods and health. Oftentimes, they are left out of the conversation or forgotten altogether because some people have a mistaken belief that people with disabilities do not menstruate (Stone, 2018).
Menstruation can be stressful and difficult for any person, including a person with a disability and their care provider. While the ability to change a tampon may seem straightforward, many people including those with a disability may or may not be able to do so without assistance. And because of the stigma surrounding periods, women may feel bad asking for help. This can lead to people changing their period products less frequently which can lead to infections and other health issues (Stone, 2018).
Period products are rarely created specifically for people with disabilities. These products, in combination with other medical equipment, can make the whole process even harder than it already is. Despite all of this, there are some companies developing products to help women with disabilities with their periods.
Menstrual cups are on the rise as a more affordable and environmentally friendly option. They can be left in for around 12 hours and hold more blood than tampons, making them a great tool for those with disabilities who may have difficulty changing their product throughout the day. The Flex Cup was created specifically for adults with disabilities and features a pull tab for easy removal. Period underwear is another comfortable alternative that many women are turning to as well. Some people may have skin sensitivities to pads or struggle to insert tampons or menstrual cups; period underwear offers an alternative to all of these (Stone, 2018).
HOW YOU CAN HELP
With the uncertainty surrounding the economy, prices on everyday items have continued to rise, including period products. People with disabilities are statistically more likely to live on a lower income, making it more difficult to purchase essentials such as pads or tampons. These products are not cheap and unfortunately having access to these products can be seen as a luxury, despite being a necessity (Stone, 2018).
While we receive funding from the state to provide care for our residents, any period products the residents use outside of their normal cycle must be purchased with their own money.
How can you help?
Fight period stigma and be open to having conversations about menstruation with the women and men in your life.
Help fight period poverty and purchase period products for our residents or others in your life who may need help. To purchase products for our folks, head to this link.
Help us ensure that our residents continue to have access to the resources and supplies they need in their daily lives.
REFERENCES
International Planned Parenthood Federation, (2021, May 25). Period stigma: How it holds back girls and women. International Planned Parenthood Federation. https://www.ippf.org/blogs/period-stigma-how-it-holds-back-girls-and-women
Kathryn Stone, (2018, February 12). Disabled people have periods, too. Clue. https://helloclue.com/articles/cycle-a-z/menstruating-while-disabled
World Health Organization, (2023, March 24). Endometriosis. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis
Olson, M. M., Alhelou, N., Kavattur, P. S., Rountree, L., & Winkler, I. T. (2022). The persistent power of stigma: A critical review of policy initiatives to break the menstrual silence and advance menstrual literacy. PLOS global public health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10021325/