Claire Zhao

Stigma around menstruation is a prevailing concern in many high schools, where teens face embarrassment for openly talking about the issue. “There’s the general worry about other people seeing it if you walk around,” Shruti Srinivasan (12) said.

Periods affect half of all high school students, and yet stigma around menstruation is a prevailing concern in many high schools, where teens face embarrassment for openly talking about the issue. 

“There’s the general worry about other people seeing it if you walk around, you didn’t cover it up enough — just that fear,” senior Shruti Srinivasan said. “The worst part is going to school and having to deal with that and having to get through the cramps during class because you do want to focus as much as possible, but if it becomes intolerable, what can you do?”

Upper school nurse Jennifer Olson treats an average of eight to ten people per day for cramps. She stocks heating pads, pads and tampons as well as painkillers like Tylenol and Advil. Olson believes that better resources for menstrual care can help improve the sense of uneasiness while on your period at school. 

“Even [when] having your own products, it can be hard to get things out when you’re in a classroom and around a lot of people,” Olson said. “If you knew that there were good-quality products that were accessible, then you’d feel like you could get them when you needed them. But if there are not comfortable products [in the bathrooms], it can be anxiety-inducing.”

Bathrooms across campus offer pads and tampons in dispensers, but students have observed that the materials are flimsy and inefficient at curbing blood flow.

“Having pads in the first place is already such a privilege, but the pads we have just don’t work very well,” junior Shimeka Sahu said. “The pads are very small and they’re short, so they don’t hold as much blood. Usually, my friends that have heavy flow have to stack two pads on top of each other.”

Sophomore Student Council members Samaara Patil and Nicole Dean proposed an initiative with ASB Treasurer Ananya Pradhan (11) to supply higher-quality pads and tampons in upper school bathrooms.

“We’re trying to see if we would be able to get more store name brands because it would make students’ lives easier,” Samaara said. “What a lot of students do right now is go to the nurse’s office and ask for pads, because she has the brand ones, but that’s inconvenient. If we’re spending money on pads that are already in the restroom, there’s no point in getting them if they’re never used.” 

Samaara hopes that improved bathroom accommodations can lessen that public embarrassment; she aims to implement her plan for higher-quality pads by mid-to-late February.

“There’s a bit of awkwardness that often surrounds [periods],” Samaara said. “People don’t want to go to the nurse to ask for a pad. That’s why we want to implement the [new] everyday bathroom dispensers, so we can give people ease when they’re looking for these products.”

Olson advises the community at large to support students on their period.

“It’s hard as it is, so it would be good to have more understanding even from non-female people on campus,” Olson said. “Just know that this is hard for women and be encouraging. Don’t contribute to the embarrassing nature of it.”