Menstrual Hygiene Day with Period & Pause

This guest blog post is written by Anna Price - founder of Period & Pause.

Living with severe endometriosis and adenomyosis since my teenage years has been a challenging and painful journey. These gynecological conditions caused immense pain and disrupted my life 2 weeks out of 4, making even the simplest tasks seem insurmountable. My path to relief and recovery led me through surgical menopause, a decision that was not made lightly but ultimately provided a necessary respite from the outrageous levels of pain.

Emerging from this intense personal struggle, I realised there was a significant gap in awareness and conversation surrounding menstrual health and peri-menopause. This inspired me to launch Period & Pause, a social enterprise dedicated to raising awareness and opening up these crucial conversations through group workshops and talks.

Balancing my own health has been a journey of finding what works best for me. I have found a combination of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and holistic practices to be incredibly beneficial. Alongside HRT, I incorporate herbal teas, acupuncture, and regular walks with my dog, Juniper, on Hampstead Heath. These activities have not only helped manage my symptoms but have also provided a much needed sense of peace and balance and inspiration for the future.

Menstrual Health / Hygiene Day with Period & Pause
For us Menstrual Health Day is every day! It’s about breaking the silence, raising awareness, and changing negative social norms surrounding menstrual health. At Period & Pause, we are committed to these goals every day.

I founded Period & Pause with a clear mission: to educate and empower teens and women and people who menstruate about menstrual health and peri-menopausal symptoms. By sharing knowledge and creating open dialogues, we can break down the stigmas and misconceptions that often surround menstrual health.

Our Educational Workshops: We run workshops in schools and youth clubs, providing accessible education about menstrual health and wellbeing. These sessions are fun, informative and engaging, a place to learn, ask questions and share experiences.

Why It's Crucial to Educate Teenagers About Menstrual Health
Reflecting on my experiences, I believe it's crucial to talk with teenagers about menstrual health. In school, no one discussed periods, especially not ‘women’s problems’, and I knew something was very wrong with my body to be experiencing that level of pain each month. Despite being dismissed by many health professionals, I persisted in seeking answers. At that time, little was known about endometriosis, and I began to lose hope.

It took 10 years before a specialist gynecologist diagnosed me with stage 4 endometriosis & adenomyosis. This condition affects 2 in 10 women, and can impact fertility, quality of life, and work. Early diagnosis by an endometriosis specialist is essential, and much work remains to find causes and non-hormonal treatments.

I want all young people to be educated about menstrual health so that if they do happen to experience a menstrual health condition they do not have to suffer in silence and alone. Instead, they should be able to lean on each other and navigate the healthcare system with confidence, be listened to and supported. Understanding that health is multifaceted is crucial; we need to look after our diet, emotions, and physical health for a holistic approach to wellbeing and have the knowledge to be able to advocate for ourselves to have the best health we can and deserve.

Collaborative Partnerships
We are proud to partner with organisations that share our vision. One such partnership is with HotTea Mama, who generously support our workshops with their delicious herbal teas. We particularly love "Over The Moon," a beautiful blend of organic chamomile, balancing rose, and uterine-toning raspberry leaf, along with dandelion and spearmint to support digestion. It's a fabulous menstrual health tea that also tastes delicious!

Join Us in the Menstrual Health Movement!
On this Menstrual Health & Hygiene Day, we invite you to join us in our mission to break the silence and stigma surrounding menstrual health. Founding Period & Pause has been deeply personal and rewarding. We aim to continue raising awareness, fostering open conversations, and help empower everyone to achieve their best menstrual health. Let's recognise Menstrual Health Day by committing to a future where menstrual health is openly discussed and supported!

Anna founded Period & Pause in 2023 after recovering from surgical menopause caused by severe endometriosis. She has a midwifery skills background and is a trained accredited Menopause workplace coach and member of British Menopause Society.

Period & Pause deliver friendly and professional menstrual health and menopause awareness workshops. They provide a safe space led by independent facilitators to share experiences, gain knowledge and challenge misconceptions about periods and the menopause. Helping women understand and recognise peri-menopausal symptoms and gain valuable knowledge including helpful trusted sign-posting and resources.