“They never said the word period:” The Impact of Stigma on Youth Menstrual Health Management
Location
Philadelphia, PA
Start Date
17-4-2026 1:30 PM
End Date
17-4-2026 2:30 PM
Description
Purpose
Period poverty – a lack of access to the menstrual supplies needed to menstruate in a safe and comfortable manner – is rooted in stigma, but the drivers and manifestations of period stigma are under-studied in the U.S., particularly among the vulnerable population of adolescent and young adults. The purpose of this study was to understand the facets of period stigma relevant to this age group and recommend policy to address their needs.
Methods
We conducted eight focus group discussions with menstruating youth, aged 14-24 years, living in Maryland. The focus group discussions used a guide developed from the principles of the Levesque framework for health care access, assessing dimensions of period poverty along the domains of approachability, acceptability, availability and accommodation, affordability, and appropriateness. Stigma theory was employed to examine youth experiences with period stigma, stigmatizing attitudes from the general population, and their effect on menstrual healthcare, product access, and education. This study was approved by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine IRB.
Results
There were 38 participants ages 14-24 (mean 18.6 years, SD 2.7) with 36 self-identifying as female and 2 as non-binary. Drivers and manifestations of stigma from the general population included stereotypes about period pain and discrimination in the form of unconducive regulations in school settings. Menstruators experienced internalized stigma (e.g., shame and disgust of menstruation), anticipated stigma (e.g., masking odor, concerns changing period products in public), and enacted stigma (e.g., cultural and religious stigma). Outcomes of period stigma included lack of accommodations for period pain, lack of period products in inclusive and accessible spaces, and a lack of education about menstrual health in multiple settings.
Conclusions
Youth face tangible added challenges during menstruation due to period stigma’s influence on their communities and their own views. Changes to school, workplace, and community infrastructure are vital to accommodate menstruators equitably (e.g., single-stall bathrooms and updated policies for pain medication use and bathroom pass distribution). This study additionally provides evidence for the need of educational campaigns with accurate sources of menstrual information for menstruators and non-menstruators alike.
Embargo Period
5-21-2026
“They never said the word period:” The Impact of Stigma on Youth Menstrual Health Management
Philadelphia, PA
Purpose
Period poverty – a lack of access to the menstrual supplies needed to menstruate in a safe and comfortable manner – is rooted in stigma, but the drivers and manifestations of period stigma are under-studied in the U.S., particularly among the vulnerable population of adolescent and young adults. The purpose of this study was to understand the facets of period stigma relevant to this age group and recommend policy to address their needs.
Methods
We conducted eight focus group discussions with menstruating youth, aged 14-24 years, living in Maryland. The focus group discussions used a guide developed from the principles of the Levesque framework for health care access, assessing dimensions of period poverty along the domains of approachability, acceptability, availability and accommodation, affordability, and appropriateness. Stigma theory was employed to examine youth experiences with period stigma, stigmatizing attitudes from the general population, and their effect on menstrual healthcare, product access, and education. This study was approved by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine IRB.
Results
There were 38 participants ages 14-24 (mean 18.6 years, SD 2.7) with 36 self-identifying as female and 2 as non-binary. Drivers and manifestations of stigma from the general population included stereotypes about period pain and discrimination in the form of unconducive regulations in school settings. Menstruators experienced internalized stigma (e.g., shame and disgust of menstruation), anticipated stigma (e.g., masking odor, concerns changing period products in public), and enacted stigma (e.g., cultural and religious stigma). Outcomes of period stigma included lack of accommodations for period pain, lack of period products in inclusive and accessible spaces, and a lack of education about menstrual health in multiple settings.
Conclusions
Youth face tangible added challenges during menstruation due to period stigma’s influence on their communities and their own views. Changes to school, workplace, and community infrastructure are vital to accommodate menstruators equitably (e.g., single-stall bathrooms and updated policies for pain medication use and bathroom pass distribution). This study additionally provides evidence for the need of educational campaigns with accurate sources of menstrual information for menstruators and non-menstruators alike.