Should Boys Be Taught About Periods?

The simple answer is yes.

Last year, there were many videos circulating our social media channels of men not knowing what different feminine products were. If boys were educated on periods at a young age, videos of men being surprised that a tampon expands wouldn’t have gone viral. This is one of the reasons why there is still a stigma around periods. Some schools still hide this topic from boys. They may have period products available for girls, but instead of being encouraged to ask for a tampon or pad, girls are often told to use a code word. Boys can figure this out or question the girl, causing embarrassment. Girls, and even some women, still feel like they should hide period products up their sleeve because we don’t discuss it enough with boys.

One reason that girls hide their period or decide not to talk about it is because it has been made into a dirty topic, when in fact it isn’t. It’s a part of our biology and it always will be, boys should be educated on why the girl is having her period, and why it is a very inspiring thing. They should also be educated on the fact that yes, many females will experience a change in their mood and why. There is a lack of education regarding hormones and what a female will experience, which leads girls to hide the topic so they can deal with it on their own without having negative comments about their body. Another reason is that we don’t like to say the word ‘period’, when you go shopping the aisle will be called ‘sanitary products’ or ‘feminine hygiene’, which already creates the dirty aspect of a period. A recent simple change to ‘period products’ from leading supermarkets and pharmacies has helped to fight negative connotations surrounding periods, as well as be more inclusive to people who have periods, but don’t necessarily identify as female, such as trans men, feel more comfortable when shopping for period products.

We see waste from period products washed up on our beaches, especially tampon applicators. Did you know one pack of conventional period pads has the equivalent amount of plastic as 5 plastic bags? Both boys and girls need educated about the different types of period products available to help save our planet. What’s currently missing from classrooms is discussing reusable period products. We recommend Fair Squared Period Cups, which are made of Fairtrade rubber and can be emptied, cleaned, and reused. Helping girls to understand what they’re putting in their bodies and landfill can help them access plastic free period products. Educating the boys will allow them to support girls with our ecosystem in mind.

In addition, plastics in conventional period products can irritate the skin and create an uncomfortable experience for girls. Most of the period products on the market are packed full of synthetic materials such as rayon, which prevents air from passing through the pad and ultimately prevents the skin from breathing naturally. Many pads now contain Super Absorbent Polymers, which are good for holding period blood; however, they can cause vulva-vaginal skin dryness. A conventional pad is created from up to 90% plastic, and tampons contain 6% plastic. All of this causes intimate irritations such as itching and burning sensations, this can affect the vaginas natural pH balance which can lead to thrush.

Organyc has replaced all synthetic materials with 100% certified organic cotton. This excellent high-quality material is soft on the skin, comfortable to wear, hypoallergenic, breathable, absorbent by nature, and biodegradable!