Younger generations of women are finding themselves in the position of educating their mothers about menstrual health topics, from understanding conditions like Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) to concepts like cycle syncing. This shift highlights a significant generational knowledge gap, where information once confined to hushed conversations or medical consultations is now more accessible and openly discussed.
Iqra Wasim, who has experienced symptoms of PMDD since age 11, noted that she now educates her own mother on managing the condition. PMDD affects approximately one in eight women and can lead to issues such as irregular periods, excessive hair growth, and weight gain, and is a major cause of female infertility. Wasim explained that her mother was unaware of birth control options for managing heavy bleeding associated with PMDD. "My mum was going through heavy bleeding with her PMOS and didn't know what birth control was," Wasim stated. "I told her about it and she thought I was talking about being sexually active, but I explained there's so much more to the medicine - that showed the main knowledge gap between us."
Wasim believes that while previous generations had knowledge, it was largely kept within family or doctor-patient circles. In contrast, today's digital age allows for open online discussions about periods and PMDD, enabling millions of women to relate and share experiences. "Our generation is more willing to ask whether something is normal," she added, while also cautioning that social media is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Caroline Herman, co-founder of 'All Yours Period Box' in Wiltshire, which provides period products to foodbanks, echoed the sentiment of a generational divide. Herman noted that her generation was not taught much about periods, and a "layer of silence" has had to be overcome. She emphasized that despite progress, there is still "a huge amount of work to be done" to improve menstrual health education.
This evolving landscape of menstrual health awareness sees young women proactively seeking and sharing information, bridging gaps in understanding that were prevalent in previous decades. The increased openness, facilitated by digital platforms, is empowering a new generation to be more informed and vocal about their reproductive health.