The Everyday Period

ALT The pandemic has led to: • The emergence of new groups of women, girls, and people who menstruate, experiencing period poverty (including students and NHS staff). • More women, girls, and people who menstruate, being unable to access products from their usual places due to supply shortages and hoarding. • The neglect of menstrual products as ‘essential items’ in care packages for those who were vulnerable and shielding. • The de-prioritisation of menstrual health education within primary and secondary schools. • Increased barriers to accessing menstrual health support and health care, linked to ‘digital poverty’ and changes to GP provision. Key opportunities that emerged as a result of the pandemic included: • An increase in the promotion and use of reusable menstrual products, particularly within school settings. • The provision of online menstrual health education training for school staff, increasing accessibility for those

ALT Text reads: have you needed help with your periods during Covid? Have you struggled to get the products you need (pads/tampons)? Have you needed help/advice about your periods? Have you needed to talk to a doctor about your periods? Has your period changed at all? If the answer is YES to any of these questions we would love to hear from you! If you'd like to take part in a phone interview, and receive £10 Amazon voucher, contact gemma.williams@bcu.ac.uk Text on light blue background and includes Birmingham City University rainbow logo, ESRC logo and Periods in a Pandemic logo and hashtag