Testimonials
We are deeply grateful to all the scientists who shared their personal period stories with us and we are proud to share them with the world.
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“There are often days when I’m at my desk with a heavy period, struggling to focus through the discomfort. It’s hard enough to stay productive when I’m feeling unwell, but what makes it worse is not feeling comfortable talking about it with colleagues.That silence turns into anxiety, because if things get worse and I need support, I wouldn’t know how to ask for it.”
“Once, I spent hours in the lab working with toxic chemicals, feeling faint but pushing through, trying not to show any weakness. When I finally left, completely exhausted, I noticed my lab coat was stained with blood…something I didn’t realise earlier when the lab was full of people. I felt deeply embarrassed.”
“I was on a small boat for a day, with just a group of male colleagues and no bathroom. I had to ask if we could stop off at the beach so that I could go behind a tree and sort out my menstrual cup. I felt frustrated and embarrassed.”
“Once I had a heavy flow and I was in a mangrove forest with no trees big enough to crouch behind and nowhere I could stop to sort out myself out. I was with only male colleagues so talking about period didn’t feel like an option. I ended up overflowing my period cup and bleeding through my sanitary towel. Thankfully I had black trousers on but I leaked everywhere!”
