A new form of menstrual pads fitted on a roll have appeared in gender-neutral cubicles across LJMU campus buildings as part of an initiative to give students who need them more discretion.
Similar to a toilet roll, the pads are on a roll and provide an accessible use of absorbency products for everyone.
One benefit of this type of sanitary pad provision is a reduce of waste, making them more environmentally sustainable.
New research led by Dr Katherine Neary reveals the issues with menstruation products are not just about affordability, but also issues surrounding embarrassment and dignity.
Students are reportedly going home when their periods start – which an LJMU trial is aiming to change.
Dr Neary, Senior Lecturer in International Business, noted students said: “Please don’t highlight me if I have to get up and leave the room. Please don’t highlight me if I come in late.”
The study, funded by LJMU, is exploring how menstruation can impact attendance, well-being, and the participation of students. Some survey participants say they would simply go home if they weren’t prepared.
She is passionate to implement the Egal products throughout educational facilities, and is seeking feedback from anyone who has used the product.
Previous research resulted in a student-led website that provides advice and contact information for support.
The research has sparked a wider conversation about menstrual health as a legitimate issue when it comes to accessing education.
Dr Neary said some students experience complex menstrual symptoms that go beyond discomfort. She said: “It’s not just take paracetamol and get on with it.”
Medical conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Endometriosis can cause severe pain, fatigue, and disruption to daily life.
Tamsin Keeney, an LJMU student, said: “”It takes up a large chunk of my life as it is not just my periods, but my mental health and physical health, which are hugely impacted. It would be a relief for it to be recognised, and it is time for reproductive health to be acknowledged.”
Dr Neary hopes these health conditions could be recognised within Individual Student Learning Plans (ISLPs), which provide adjustments for students facing ongoing health conditions.
Ms Keeney said: “It would be a massive step forward for the university, and all institutions, to formally recognise conditions such as PCOS by the disability team. Conditions surrounding reproductive health are still misunderstood and ignored by many when they are truly debilitating.”
