Ladies, we need to talk. And gents, we need you not to cringe.
A significant shift is taking place in the way we talk about women’s health and it’s having a tremendously positive impact on the lives of many.
The “dirty” words that we women have traditionally whispered beyond earshot of others or substituted for ridiculous euphemisms like “the change” or “feminine hygiene products” are finally weaving their way into mainstream, loud conversations.
READ MORE: How to use your menstrual cycle to maximise your workouts
So taboo were some of these words that they remained unspoken even among our closest confidants.
When “that time of the month” arrived unexpectedly, we didn’t need to say the “t” word. We’d eyeball a female colleague or classmate, leaning in with a hushed tone: “Do you have a…?”, eyes wide and intense.
Enough said. A tampon was handed discreetly between two closed fists to avoid exposing our dark secret to Paul in the neighbouring pod.
But the times, they are a-changin’. In fact, for the first time in my professional life a communal supply of tampons and liners is on display in the female bathrooms in my workplace. They were purchased by my employer.
READ MORE: ‘I used to fantasise about being a mum, but there was just one problem’
And it gets even better; there was no GST applied to the sale of those items, thanks to a better-late-than-never epiphany among members of parliament that period products are not an optional luxury.
This significant change was forced by those who were willing to drive a conversation that was long considered too icky for the public domain.
“Women’s health is having a moment and we ought to shout it from the rooftops. All together now: Menopause! Tampons!”
Menopause is the next frontier and thanks to the likes of Naomi Watts, Oprah and our own Shelly Horton, the hormonal shift experienced by every woman is finally getting the attention it deserves.
The menopause conversation is gaining so much momentum there are growing calls for menopause and menstrual leave to be included in Australia’s Fair Work Act. Spain has recently committed to a similar plan.
READ MORE: ‘I’m in the midst of perimenopause, but I never hear anyone talking about it’
Access to menstrual leave would bring immense relief to the thousands of women who live with severe endometriosis, a widely misunderstood condition that affects one in nine women. It happens when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus, or “womb” grows outside of the uterus (sorry, not sorry I said the “u” word again).
And in an even more encouraging development for endo sufferers, a team of specialists at The Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney has made a world-first breakthrough in endometriosis treatment, discovering a more targeted approach that will improve the health of women living with the debilitating condition.
Women’s health is having a moment and we ought to shout it from the rooftops. All together now: Menopause! Tampons! Uterus lining!
Paul’s just going to have to deal with it.
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