"'Benfica plays at home', 'those days', 'that time of the month'. Have you ever found yourself repeating some of these 'codes'? The stigma with menstruation "has much more harmful consequences than it may seem", warns Intimina.

It also states that this stigma can manifest itself in various ways, such as lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, financial difficulties, reduced education, lack of work and opportunities, and verbal discrimination. "Women who feel ashamed, victims of verbal abuse, and who do not have access to menstrual products is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more consequences, deeply more negative, that can affect these people's path", it emphasizes.

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In the same press release, Intimina states that "one in 10 girls in Africa miss school during menstruation, which corresponds to 10/20% of school days". "Many girls who attend school end up dropping out, in general, from education, as they start to fail and get bad grades, making them unable to receive the appropriate and necessary education. This can generate a greater risk of becoming child brides, or getting pregnant. In addition, it becomes more difficult to find work due to the low level of education, which can result in financial problems and other difficulties", it adds.

"In underdeveloped countries there is a great lack of access to adequate bathrooms or clean water. And although this affects everyone involved, girls and women have an additional problem, since they are not able to manage their menstruation in a safe and hygienic way." In addition, "many of these countries are scarce in suppliers of products and solutions for menstruation, making it difficult for these young women and women to leave home. This scarcity can have significant implications on the physical and mental health of those affected by these deficiencies". However, even in more developed countries, menstrual poverty is present. "For many, choosing between food and menstrual products is a reality and, for others, having access to these products is not even an option."

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The World Bank estimates that at least 500 million women and young people worldwide do not have access to basic products to deal with menstruation. UN Women also added the consequences of menstrual poverty to its statistics. It was concluded that, in 2019, 1.25 billion women and girls did not have access to safe and private bathrooms and 526 million did not have access to bathrooms at all.

It has been estimated that half of women who lack access to menstrual products and feminine health services in certain underdeveloped countries have to use rags, grass or paper during their period. "This is extremely dangerous and can cause infections", warns Intimina.

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In addition, female genital mutilation is still a reality in many African countries, which can contribute to serious health hazards. Let's also talk about ancestral rituals performed in certain countries. Chaupadi, for example, is a practice in the most rural areas of Nepal and involves young and adult women who are locked in sheds during menstruation, as it is seen as 'a sign of bad luck'. In these sheds, these women do not have access to basic necessities, which can generate a range of health issues, as well as physical and psychological problems.

Menstrual stigma can have equally negative consequences on how a woman or young person sees herself. This prejudice can, for example, generate decreasing levels of physical and mental well-being, low levels of satisfaction and sexual expectations and can make them feel socially irrelevant.

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"Religion is a field where this discrimination is very common. There is a traditional Jewish term - 'niddah' - which refers to a woman sleeping apart from her husband during menstruation and, in Islam, women are seen as 'impure' during their period and are excused from prayers", continues the brand.

Another aggravating factor is all the myths that generate reasons for shame and humiliation in female bodies. One of them, which is quite common, is the belief that using a tampon can 'take away a young woman's virginity'.

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In addition to body shaming, 'period shaming' is also a reality, that is, the shame generated by menstruation. In an article written by Valerie Seibert, entitled 'Almost half of women have experienced Period Shaming', it is mentioned that 58% of women have felt ashamed simply because they were menstruating. "The main issue with 'period shaming' is that it prevents open and honest conversations in schools, at home, or in the media on this topic and, consequently, the acceptance and normalization of menstruation, a completely normal and necessary bodily function, and which represents a sign of health."

For Intimina it is also important to reflect on the so-called 'tampon tax'. In several countries, menstrual products are classified, in the VAT table, as a Luxury or Non-Essential Item. This makes them much more expensive than they should be considering that they are, in fact, essential products for women's hygiene. While many countries have already abolished the added value, it is still a reality in many countries.

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