Menstruation

We aim to inspire, educate, and support women, girls, and all menstruators about their periods

We offer social, emotional and informational support to everyone who menstruates; from menarche to menopause. Our mission is to create long-term, sustainable solutions to empower people about their menstrual well-being, challenge taboos and educate about reusable period products.

Keep reading to find out more.

We’ve been making a difference

Projects

Devon Women speak out

In 2021 we launched our survey to gather information about menstruation, pregnancy, birth and menopause experiences and how they can affect key areas of life. Read the report HERE


Meet the ‘Transitioneers’

These Nest volunteers are being trained to e able to deliver menstrual wellbeing sessions in Exeter schools and youth groups in Autumn 2021. Menstrual education aims to break taboos and shame by discussing cycle awareness and emotional processing, building body and emotional literacy. We are so proud of them! Read more HERE.



Our carefully curated list of sites, books, podcasts and shows to help you navigate your cycle from beginning to end.

Resources

Starting periods

‘Menarche’ (MEN-ar-kee) is the name of the first period. Periods can start anytime between 9 – 16 years for people who have a uterus.

Websites to find out more:

Menstrual cycle

Period Tracking

Period tracking is when you record information about your period to help you learn about and keep track of your menstrual cycle. People have been tracking their periods manually for thousands of years, you can write it down on paper or use an app to keep track your menstrual cycle, such as Clue and Flo.

Period tracking can help you predict when your period is due, but there is more to your menstrual cycle than just your period. Tracking every day, or in the days before and after your period, can help you understand your cyclical symptoms throughout the whole month. (Taken from Brook)

Cycle Awareness

Your menstrual cycle is more than your period. Tracking your cycle will help you develop a sense of your body’s natural rhythm and better identify any patterns. This cycle tracker will help you easily compare one cycle to the next and help you spot any changes as they arise.

Use a Cycle Tracker to:

  • Keep on top of your monthly cycle
  • Identify and understand your body’s unique patterns
  • Note any similarities or differences that might occur with your period, and throughout the month

Get your FREE printable tracker HERE from us – you’re welcome 😉

Why periods stop

There are lots of reason why people with vaginas might not have periods durng their life. Some people are on contraception, or have health conditions that mean their periods stop or they may take medication/have an operation to stop them having periods. Periods also stop when people get pregnant and for some time after they have had a baby. Trans women will not have periods and some trans men and non-binary people will have periods.

Menopause

Periods slow down and then stop completely after approximately 40 years, between the ages of 45 – 55. This is called the menopause. There can be some fluctuations and hormonal changes in the perimenopause (the time leading up to the menopause when periods have completely stopped). Some people think this time is like puberty because of the amount of hormonal changes that are taking place. Puberty is the beginning of the fertility cycle and menopause is the end.

Websites with more info:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/

If you want to learn more about the menopause then head over to our Nest Menopause page HERE

Social Media

We often share information relating to positive periods on our social media platforms. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram

Other Instagram accounts we like:

Books we like

Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom by Dr Christine Northrup

Energy Medicine for Women by Donna Eden

Yoni Shakti by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli

Wild Power by Alexandra Pope & Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer

Her Blood is Gold by Lara Owen

Moon Time by Lucy Pearce

The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods by Robyn Steward

Be Period Positive by Chella Quint

Period Products

Here are some options for products to use, you can mix and match them or choose just one kind. It’s a personal choice, and it might change over time.

Menstrual cups

Here is a video of some FAQs about using menstrual cups:

Blog

Read this blog from a 17 year old who has used a cup since she was 14

https://www.theperiod.co/blogs/news/a-teenagers-experience-with-menstrual-cups

Vloggers
  • Period Nirvana (US Youtuber) Here’s an example of one of their videos:

Some places we know of that sell menstrual cups (we do not have any association with any of these companies and there are plenty more):

Period Pants

Blog:

https://www.asustainablelife.co.uk/a-beginners-guide-to-period-pants/

Vlogger:

xameliax- how many pairs do you need

Trans guy- I tried period pants

Some places we know of that sell period pants:

WUKA https://wuka.co.uk/ 

Primark https://www.primark.com/en/periodunderwear 

Hey girls https://www.heygirls.co.uk/shop/ Modibodi https://www.modibodi.co.uk/

Reusable pads
Disposable pads

Some of the disposable pad brands we know of (there are LOTS more!):

  • Bodyform
  • Always
  • Supermarket own brands
  • Natracare
Video:
Tampons
Videos:
Menstrual Discs


How periods affect different people

Trans & non binary menstruators

Understanding non-binary people – how to be respectful and supportive link HERE

Vloggers:
Period Poverty
In the UK

Period poverty means when someone can’t afford period products, and in the UK that is 1 in 10 girls. Products can be expensive. If you need help talk to your school as they may be able to provide you with free products. If you can, use a menstrual cup that is reusable for several years.

Websites:

https://www.bodyform.co.uk/our-world/period-poverty/

https://plan-uk.org/media-centre/over-one-million-girls-in-the-uk-struggled-to-afford-or-access-period-products-during-the-pandemic

https://www.freeperiods.org/ Amika George started the campaign to get free period products into schools when she was 17.

https://www.bloodygoodperiod.com/about

Period poverty around the world

Stay Away Drama

Dignity without Danger

From rags to cups

Malawi girl guides

Binti (India)

Environmental impact

Waste and the environment

It’s not just people who are affected by periods- periods also have an impact on our planet.
https://www.wen.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Fact-Sheet-Environmenstrual.pdf

Places to get help if you’re worried about anything
  • Talk to a trusted adult, this could be your parents, or guardian
  • Talk to your teacher (also ask them about free periods products available at school)
  • Talk to the school nurse
  • Get non-urgent medical care from NHS 111. Phone, or online.
  • Contact your family doctor

Want to make a resource suggestion? Pop it over to us via our contact page.

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