International Women’s Day is something I’ve wanted the opportunity to write about for some time but never had the chance. Today I want to talk about some of the issues I’ve had myself, and managed to over come. So in collaboration with SCA and their Hygiene Matters campaign, #BeBoldForChange, I want to chat about fitness and feminine hygiene issues.
I have hated those situations where I am due to go swim training or into the gym and have suddenly come on my period. Initially I’d avoid going full stop, I’d just feel awkward, uncomfortable and almost dirty. Why should I still be able to do this? What if I had an accident? Is it a bit disgusting and unhygienic if I do? Each month the same mental battle. It is crazy when I think back to how I use to feel about it all. Now I just prepare better, because if you can imagine taking a full week out of training coming up to a race… I’d be in a bit of a mess!
As I say this post is in collaboration with SCA, a leading global hygiene company and manufacturer of UK brands such as TENA, Bodyform, Plenty, Velvet, Cushelle. SCA have kindly put together some interesting infographics below, these are the current statistics about us women feel about menstruating.
Have a look at the stats below. What do you think? Do you agree?
In this day and age, are these statistics alarming to you? I personally was rather shocked. I think that comes from me having the attitude of, I can’t do anything about it, as it’s part of being female, but I have met people in the past who wouldn’t go to the gym if they were on their period.
When looking at those statistics I must admit one thing I used to find difficult. I would bizarrely feel slightly embarrassed about going in to a shop to purchase sanitary towels or tampons. Particularly if I was going in just for them and buying nothing else. I’d be thinking to myself that the person behind the counter would clearly know I was on my period and again, bizarrely that made me feel dirty. As I say now it doesn’t bother me, and I’ve come to terms that I still have a good lot of years to deal with it! But I’d completely forgotten about it until writing this post that I would feel so terrible about it.
Be Bold For Change is important to me as a female, because I firmly believe life shouldn’t have to stop because it’s that time of the month. We shouldn’t feel embarrassed because it is part of who we are and it is an element of life! I have been there, sat in a meeting on the worst period of my life obsessing I was going to have an accident. I’d done my hair and make up as always but I couldn’t help but feel unclean and uncomfortable. I get it, it is horrible but you’re not alone, and women globally experience it every single day. Why should we hit the life pause button because of it? Why shouldn’t you go for that run, that swim or that fitness class? Does it need to dictate you?
With regards to hygiene and fitness, we need to be on top of our body cleaning regardless of female body functions. When I hit that time of the month I’ve actually tried a few things to help me feel more safe and comfortable when training. I firstly always change before and after exercising, even though realistically I don’t need to, I like to because it makes me feel clean. I wear comfortable pads like the breathable ones from Bodyform, (you forget they are even there) and I invest in good tampons and great body cleaning products too. My biggest hatred of my period is feeling dirty, that teamed with feeling sweaty from an exercise class is a horrible combination, but I refuse to let it ever stop me – why should it? This is part of our bodies, part of life and part of being a woman.
Do you find you avoid exercising or swimming because of this? If you’re part of those stats above just remember there is nothing to be embarrassed about. We’re all the same and we all have the same hang ups about it too, but Be Bold For Change this month and do that fitness class you avoid, or go to that social gathering you’d put off.
Remember the Bodyform Red.Fit campaign? Watch the video below, as this brand attempt to tackle those sigmas and taboos of having your period during fitness.
*Post in collaboration with SCA
Here's to IWD2017 – thanks for posting this… I've not had a chance to yet, glad to see so many people celebrating today x
Its so lovely celebrating IWD, there are some absolutely fabulous and inspiring ladies out there. Im trying to educate my girls to not be ashamed to be open about totm things, it happens and its not a bad thing x
Great to celebrate women's day as so much to appreciate! I have only found as got older (and in last few years) i feel more comfortable getting sanitary pads etc. I used to only buy it with other things. I do find it surprising that so many women feel how i used to feel. I do still feel dirty like hair is greasy even if just been washed and feel sweater too x
I relly love this – we definitely need more conversations like this everywhere! I love the beboldforchange campaign this year!
I don't think women should feel like they can't do fitness when they're on their period as it happens to everyone, it's about maintaining it to feel comfortable x
Great conversation and I think if you feel comfortable then go for it, some people dont and some do x
I didn't realise it was IWD until someone else told me. I have started doing power walks during the end of my period the last few months where I would never have considered doing them before until it was all over. I must say I flt better for it.
Great post. It's important to raise these issues. I can't believe that many people feel awkward in a social situation if they're on their period!! I guess I would feel awkward if I was having bad cramps but otherwise I've never really thought about it.
You know what? I still feel a bit funny about buying tampons, especially if it's a younger chap on the till. It's weird and I've no idea why, but I'd much rather be served by a female! xx
Being honest I do feel really awkward when on my period. My anxiety runs away with itself but I don't mind going and buying tampons. That doesn't bother me one bit. Every lady goes through it and no one should feel ashamed.
I think it depends on how you feel. Sometimes they can be so painful that some women can't workout when they're on their period.
i use to be embarrassed buying tampons etc but when i went to uni, i had to suck it up and get them. it's normal and natural now so it doesn't bother me. being on my period is an excuse to not exercise but these days, i book classes to get me out of it. it works 😀
I totally relate to that embarrassment which I know is so ridiculous. I find that life stops when I'm on my period, whether that's exercise or something else because of the way I feel. And like you said it shouldn't- it's all part of being a woman!
I loved swimmer Fu Yuanhui's comments during the 2016 Olympics, you could see her crouch down in pain after the race. She said “It’s because my period came yesterday, so I felt particularly tired – but this isn’t an excuse, I still didn’t swim well enough”. No shame, just discussing another part of being human.
You have really touched on some real facts at some point in life we have all been through these problems.In fact I still feel conscious if I need to buy pads and tampons and tend to hind them under my supermarket shopping.
Loved it and everything was so true. I could totally relate to it.
I think that it's so awesome that so many people are celebrating international women's day.
The statistics don't surprise me to be honest, I think women still do feel stigma, I don't worry about buying products, but my periods have been so heavy that I have come through layers of clothing – you can't help but worry when you face those situations.