Report - women uncomfortable around others when menstruating

Essity is a Swedish company that sells pads and tampons, amongst other products. A report on their website, the Hygiene and Health Report 2018-19, includes the results of a survey of more than 15,000 respondents in 15 countries, including China, Russia, the USA, Great Britain and Australia. The on-topic findings include:

• 27 percent of respondents feel uncomfortable and 22 percent feel very uncomfortable being around other people during their period, and 
• in China, 69 percent of women feel either uncomfortable or very uncomfortable about being in a social situation when they have their period. In Russia, it’s 46 percent, the USA 45 percent, Great Britain 40 percent and Australia 51(!) percent. 

These figures seem quite high to me, particularly 51 percent for Australia – anecdotally, I would have thought most Aussie women wouldn’t be so stressed about going out when they have their period. Unfortunately, the survey doesn’t provide any info about why women are stressed – I guess it could be a medical issue (for example, period pain) or a non-medical issue (for example, I’ve seen posts online from women who worry about possible odour when using pads).

reports.essity.com/2018-19/essentials-initiative-survey/results.html#filter=.s-menstruation.s-women