Is this the beginning of destigmatising periods?
A new study exploring how menstruation affects women’s lives finds that more than half of the participants have never felt comfortable during their period.
The study, which surveyed 2,000 women on their period habits, experiences and beliefs, was published on April 4 by market research company OnePoll on behalf of US-based period care company Cora.
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How periods affect daily lives
In the survey, 61 per cent of respondents who go through menstruation said that they experience period-induced discomforts. On the days leading up to and during their cycle, 36 per cent of respondents experience cramps, headaches and moodiness. These discomforts also lead to a change in routine, as 45 per cent of respondents avoid physical exercise during menstruation, while 41 per cent cancels social activities altogether.
62 per cent of respondents have also admitted they’ve taken time off work due to their period, for an average of five days a year. In that group, nine out of ten people have lied to their boss about the reason behind their absence because they feel guilty for taking leave.
More than half of the respondents feel like they have to “suck it up” during their periods. They reported feeling guilty for complaining, given that other people also deal with the same symptoms.
How Gen Z differs from millennial respondents
As a whole, Gen Z respondents are around 10 per cent more likely than millennials to take time off work due to their period, engage in hobbies and exercise less, or avoid household chores during menstruation.
Gen Z is also 10 per cent more likely to talk to friends about their period discomforts when compared to millennials, and 17 per cent more likely to talk to their romantic partners about the issue.
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