February 2025: Survey of 3,004 UK consumers (men aged 16-65 and women aged 16-50)

Delays seeking help

• Half (50%) of the women surveyed say they have seen a healthcare professional about heavy bleeding or period pain.
• There were on average 22 months between symptoms of heavy and painful periods starting and first seeing a medical professional.

Shame and stigma

• 86% of women who have had a period have experienced a period mishap
• Over three quarters (77%) would feel ashamed if they had a period mishap in public and 2 in 5 (45%) would feel ashamed if they had a period mishap in private – i.e. leaking onto bedsheets
• Over half (53%) of women and girls have been shamed in relation to their period symptoms, and almost third (32%) say this has happened more than once. The people most likely to have shamed them were;
  • Friend (42%)
  • Partner (27%) 
  • Colleague (26%) 
  • Sibling (23%)
  • Parent (22%)
  • Teacher (17%)
  • Manager (11%)
• Young people are more likely to report being shamed. Almost 7 in 10 (69%) women aged 16-24 say they have been shamed in relation to their period symptoms, while just a third (33%) of those aged 45-65 say the same.

Experiences of dismissal

• Half (50%) of women surveyed say their period symptoms have been dismissed by someone.
• This is higher for 16–24-year-olds, 3 in 5 (61%) say their symptoms have been dismissed.
• Women who've had their symptoms dismissed say this was most likely to be by;
  • Partner (26%)
  • Healthcare Professionals overall (23%)
  • Male family member (26%) 
  • Female family member (20%) 
  • Male colleague (19%)
  • Male friend (19%)
  • Male healthcare professional (17%)
  • Female friend (14%)
  • Male manager/boss (14%)
  • Female healthcare professional (13%)
  • Male teacher (13%)

Life impact 

• 51% of women surveyed say that having a period negatively impacts their life
• 51% of women avoid exercise when they’re on their period

Impact on work

• 55% of women said they would feel uncomfortable discussing their periods with their boss or manager.
• Half (50%) of women surveyed said that they worry that if they took time off for period symptoms it would negatively impact their career.

Men's views

• Over a third (35%) of men surveyed agree that they would be hesitant to promote someone who frequently took time off for their period related symptoms.
• A third (32%) of men say it’s not reasonable to take time off or work from home because of period pain.
• Almost a quarter (24%) say it’s not reasonable to take time off or work from home because of heavy period bleeding.
• More men think it's more reasonable to take time off work for toothache (35%), musculoskeletal problems eg. backpain (48%), cold/flu (45%), and migraine (50%), than for period pain (33%).

Recognising the signs of heavy menstrual bleeding

• Only 1 in 10 women* can correctly identify all the signs of heavy menstrual bleeding.
• Only 1 in 2 women can correctly identify that passing large blood clots (54%), periods lasting more than 7 days (51%), and using two types of period products together (48%) are signs of heavy bleeding. Even more concerningly, more than 6 in 10 women don’t know that avoiding daily activities because of bleeding can be a sign of heavy bleeding.

Which symptoms did women recognise as signs of HMB?

The following were presented as a checklist with women asked to tick any that were signs of heavy bleeding.

• Change your pad or tampon every 2 hours: 66%
• Bleeding through to clothes of bedding: 65%
• Passing large blood clots: 54%
• Periods lasting more than 7 days: 51%
• Two types of product together: 48%
• Avoiding daily activities, like exercise, or take time off work because of period bleeding: 39%
• Feeling tired or short of breath a lot: 34%
• 4% of women said there are no signs

*The number of women who selected all the signs was 165/1502 which = 10.99%.

Access the full survey results here (PDF)

December 2023: survey of 3001 UK girls aged 12-18

To inform our "Just a Period" campaign, Wellbeing of Women commissioned Censuswide to carry out a survey of 3001 UK girls aged 12-18. 2620 of those surveyed had started their period.

Pain

• On average, girls said they started their periods aged 12
• Almost all (97%*) experience painful periods.
  • Almost a quarter (24%) of UK girls surveyed said they experience painful periods every time they have a period.
  • 3 in 10 girls aged 16 and 18 said they have painful periods every period, whereas 2 in 10 girls aged 12 said the same.
    
• Over 2 in 5 (42%) who experience period pain, typically experience severe* pain
  • 1 in 11 (9%) said the pain level is very severe
  • 1 in 10 girls aged 18 said the pain is very severe, 1 in 20 girls aged 12 said the same

Bleeding

• Over 9 in 10 (92%) experience* such heavy bleeding that they have to change their daily activities.
  • 1 in 10 say this happens every period
  • 26% say this happens most periods

Mental health

• 1 in 9 (11%) said their period symptoms have made them feel like life isn’t worth living.
• Girls said their period symptoms make them feel sad (43%), unmotivated (40%), anxious (39%), down about themselves or appearance (38%), depressed (33%), angry (31%), and lonely (19%).

Impact of period on life

• 20% said they have been unable to do anything –bed bound.
• 44% were unable to participate in sports/physical activity
• 43% have difficulty sleeping and/or eating
• 36% have missed days of school or education

Seeking help/information and learning about periods

Girls currently learn about periods from their parents, seek help for their periods from parents, and would trust their parents most to learn about period related symptoms.

• 60% learn about periods from their parents, 47% said they learn about periods from teachers, and 22% learned about periods from friends. 13% use social media to learn about periods.
• 74% of girls trust their parents most for information about periods and period related symptoms, 38% would trust their doctor the most, 31% would trust a teacher and 30% would trust their school nurse.
• 64% have sought help for their periods from their parents, 30% have sought help from friends, and 22% have sought help from a medical professional (GP surgery). Only 14% used social media.
  • The majority >75% feel like they were taken seriously.
• Despite a high proportion of girls experiencing pain and heavy bleeding, when asked what has or might stop them from seeking help, 35% said it’s because they’ve been told pain is normal and 25% said it's because they’d been told heavy bleeding was normal.
• Girls want more information on what to expect and how to prepare for their periods
  • Just over 3 in 5 (61%) agree* with the statement, ‘I wish I was given more information about what to expect and how to manage my period before it started’
• Girls think information about period symptoms and how to get help should be taught at school age
  • 4 in 5 (81%) UK girls surveyed agree* with the statement, ‘Information about period-symptoms like heavy bleeding/severe pain and how to get help should be taught at school age’, with over 2 in 5 (44%) who strongly agree.

Access the full survey results here (PDF)

August 2023: survey of UK women and girls aged 16-40

To inform our "Just a Period" campaign, Wellbeing of Women commissioned Censuswide to carry out a survey of 3,002 women and girls* in the UK (aged 16-40) in August 2023. The survey was nationally representative.

Period pain

• Almost all women and girls aged 16-40 have experienced period pain (96%) and over half (51%) experience pain every period.
• Over 3 in 5 (62%) women surveyed who have experienced period pain, said their pain is severe, with just under a quarter (24%) saying very severe.

Heavy bleeding

• More than 9 in 10 women and girls have experienced heavy periods (93%), with almost 3 in 10 (28%) saying they had heavy bleeding during every period.
• Over half (53%) of women and girls who experience heavy bleeding in relation to their period say it is severe.
• Only 1 in 2 women feel comfortable talking with someone they know about whether their periods are heavy or light.
• Only 37% of all women and girls feel comfortable talking to someone they know about period ‘mishaps’ such as bleeding onto bedding or clothing.

Mental health

• Nearly 9 in 10 (87%) of women and girls have experienced mental health problems (e.g. depression / anxiety / mood changes) in relation to their period, with almost 3 in 10 (28%) experiencing this every period.
• More than 4 in 10 (48%) of women and girls who experience mental health problems in relation to their period, say these are severe.

Management of symptoms

• Of those who experience period symptoms;
  • 62% have tried or are trying over-the-counter pain relief (e.g. paracetamol, ibuprofen) to help manage their symptoms.
  • 48% have tried or are trying heat therapy for their symptoms such as hot water bottles or a hot bath.
  • 34% have tried or are trying the hormonal pill to help manage their symptoms (e.g., combined pill, mini pill)
  • 23% have tried or are trying prescribed painkillers for their period symptoms (e.g. co-codamol or naproxen).
  • 16% have tried or are trying antidepressants to help them manage their symptoms
  • 14% have tried or are trying medication to reduce heavy bleeding (e.g., tranexamic acid)
  • 9% women have tried or are trying the coil - hormonal or copper to manage period symptoms.

Dismissal and stigma

• Just under 3 in 10 (29%) women and girls said they wouldn’t feel comfortable speaking to someone about their period because of embarrassment and just under a fifth (19%) said the reason is a fear of being judged.
• Over half (52%) of women and girls have felt their healthcare professional (e.g., GP / Nurse / Gynaecologist) didn’t take them seriously in relation to their period.
• Over half (58%) of women and girls have felt their family didn’t take them seriously in relation to their period
• Half (51%) have experienced strained family relationships in relation to their period and half (51%) have experienced marriage or relationship issues in relation to their period.
• Almost half (48%) of women and girls have felt their workplace didn’t take them seriously in relation to their period, and more than half (57%) have experienced problems at work in relation to their period.

Access to treatment and support

• Despite 99% of women and girls experiencing period symptoms, 31% of women and girls have never sought help from a healthcare professional for these symptoms.
• Of the 69% who have sought help for period symptoms;
  • 43% sought help from their GP
  • 19% have visited a pharmacist
  • 8% have called NHS 111
  • 6% have visited A&E
  • 5% have seen a private medical specialist
• More than a quarter of all women and girls say that long waiting times (31%), feeling like their GP or healthcare professional wouldn’t take them seriously (30%), and not thinking they would get treatment and support (27%) would prevent them seeking help from a healthcare professional if they were to experience problems with their period such as period pain or heavy bleeding.
• More than half (56%) have experienced difficulties getting treatment and support in relation to their period.
• Of those who sought help from a healthcare professional (including from a GP, nurse, pharmacist, 111, A&E or private medical help);
  • 42% were given treatment to help manage their period symptoms. 12% said they were not given anything for their symptoms during their appointment(s) and only 16% received a diagnosis.
  • 39% were given information or advice on how to manage their symptoms and only 25% received an explanation for their symptoms.
  • 19% were referred on to a specialist.
• Two thirds (67%) felt they could have been more supported by healthcare professionals to help manage their period symptoms effectively. This was because they:
  • didn’t feel as if their symptoms were being taken seriously (50%)
  • appointments felt rushed (42)%
  • they were not given enough information (28%)

Impact on the lives of women and girls: education, work and leisure

• Over half (55%) of women and girls have taken time off work in relation to their period, but only 1 in 8 (12%) do so always or frequently.
• 3 in 5 (60%) of all women and girls have taken time off school/college/university in relation to their period.
• Nearly 9 in 10 (87%) of women and girls have experienced their period preventing or making it more difficult for them to enjoy hobbies or other activities, with just over 2 in 5 (41%) saying this happens always or frequently.

Education and information

• Over 4 in 5 (82%) of women and girls agree that there needs to be more accurate and accessible information available on periods, with just under half (49%) strongly agreeing.
• Almost 4 in 5 (78%) of women and girls agree that there needs to be more awareness and public conversation around periods.
• Over 4 in 5 (83%) of women and girls agree that ‘There needs to be more accurate and accessible information on gynaecological conditions’, with over half (51%) who strongly agree.
• Over 4 in 5 (83%) of women and girls agree that there needs to be better education on periods in school / college / university, with over half (54%) who strongly agree.
• Just under three quarters (74%) of women and girls agree that healthcare professionals need more education on period-related symptoms / gynaecological conditions’.
• Just under 4 in 5 (79%) women and girls agree that ‘There needs to be better awareness and education on periods in the workplace’, with nearly half (47%) strongly agreeing.
• Just under three quarters (74%) of women and girls agree that ‘Workplaces should offer flexible working for period symptoms’, with over 2 in 5 (43%) strongly agreeing.
• Over 3 in 5 (63%) women and girls agree that ‘Workplaces should offer paid leave for period symptoms’, with over a third (35%) strongly agreeing.
• 60% of women and girls are aware of PCOS, 59% are aware of endometriosis and 58% are aware of heavy menstrual bleeding as a gynaecological condition. Yet only 39% are aware of fibroids, and only 1 in 5 (20%) are aware of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). Only 10% are aware of adenomyosis and 16% are not aware of any of these gynaecological conditions.

Access the full survey results here

*defined as having female sex on their birth certificate or gender recognition certificate, in-line with the National Census question on sex. Whilst this may include some trans women and exclude some trans men, it is nationally representative. Of those surveyed, 98% had had at least one period. No national statistic for “people who menstruate” exists, which is why we could not use that phrase.