Periods & The Pandemic. Nobody thought about this problem at the start of the Covid epidemic. People were too busy worrying about toilet paper. Which problems did menstruating people face? And what obstacles do they still have to overcome? Healthcare Consultant Dr. Michelle Frank investigated the impact of the pandemic:
When getting the Corona vaccine isn't your only problem
Communities around the world are still talking about how the pandemic affected them. Vaccine programmes are underway across the globe. Yet many countries, like Brazil and India, still face a grim outlook.
Every global crisis hits some groups harder than others. During the pandemic, the world focused on managing the novel coronavirus. But menstruating people also faced extra challenges. These challenges exposed deep gaps in how society handles menstrual health.
Periods & The Pandemic: The logistical problem
When the pandemic struck, the main goal was to limit the spread. Governments restricted movement to lower transmission rates. This led to global lockdowns of industries, markets, and transport.
For menstruators this directly resulted in:
- Limitations in accessing period products
- Halts in production of period products
- Inaccessible healthcare for menstrual-related concerns
- Further, devastate basic hygiene and sanitation practices
The menstrual cycle is deeply intertwined with many other body functions. It does not just cause the shedding of the uterine lining each month. Hormone changes also bring physical and mental shifts throughout the month. And these changes are unique to every menstruating person.
Additional obstacles:
Lockdowns created extra burdens for menstruating people. They faced challenges like more household chores and work pressures. Managing children and their studies added further stress. Having everyone at home all day made things harder. Access to medications and proper nutrition was also limited. A survey by Plan International found that about 75% of menstruating people had less access to water and sanitation during the pandemic.
Pandemic reality: All menstruators left behind
PPE shortages were another major problem during the pandemic. Both developed and developing nations struggled with a lack of personal protective equipment. About 70% of the global healthcare workforce is female. Yet menstrual needs were largely ignored when designing PPE protocols. Many women reported that PPE rules made it very hard to change period products. Some felt suffocated. Others bled through their PPE. The pandemic showed that period poverty does not discriminate. And it reminded us that periods do not stop, even during a crisis.
Pandemic stress: The effect it has had on menstruators
During lockdown, many women reported changes to their menstrual cycles. They noticed more mood swings before their periods. Bloating and tiredness also increased compared to before the pandemic. Many people tried to address sleep problems and low energy. But few talked about these quiet menstrual health concerns.
A survey on lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic found that 53% of 749 participants reported changes in their periods. The most common changes were mood shifts and changes in cycle length. Some noticed differences in the consistency of their period blood. Others experienced more clots than usual. After talking with many menstruating people, a pattern became clear. Most had more stress during the pandemic. Their diet, eating habits, and sleep all changed as a result. But many did not connect these changes to their menstrual cycles.
Periods & The Pandemic: The way forward
The pandemic has revealed major gaps in the system. Now we must ask: how can we move forward to make menstruation more inclusive? It starts with language, awareness, and breaking stigma. We need to address all the struggles menstruating people face — not just during their periods, but throughout their whole cycle. This includes hormone changes, mood shifts, physical symptoms, and product access.
Making period products essential goods will improve access in the long run. Countries like Australia, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom (UK) have already abolished the menstrual product tax. These are important steps forward in the fight against period poverty. Period products and awareness empower menstruating people. They give people the freedom to focus on more than just managing their periods.
Illustration by Magdalena Otterstedt / Kopfüber Design for Vulvani
