03
Menstrual education
I teamed up with two menstrual educators who were keen to promote menstrual education from a feminist perspective among pre-adolescent and adolescent girls. Our aim was to help them understand the bodily transformations that occur during puberty, especially with the onset of menstruation. The educators wanted to normalise menstruation as a natural function of the female body, though one not always experienced with calmness or acceptance. The way girls relate to their menstrual cycles and the bodily changes surrounding menarche directly influences their identity, particularly regarding self-acceptance, confidence, and self-care. Menstrual education creates space for girls to discover new narratives, enabling them to experience adolescence through conscious choices about their bodies.
Many girls and women have negative experiences with menstruation, rooted in the oppression, control, stigma, and taboos of patriarchal society. The educators recognised the importance of offering a different perspective to help girls experience menstruation more positively but were uncertain about how to achieve this. They had some initial ideas (which can be risky at this stage, but unfortunately inevitable). Therefore, we decided to organise a focus group with adolescents to learn more about their experiences with menstruation.
The session took place online, as participants were from different countries (Brazil, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal). The girls were aged between 12 and 18 and had all started menstruating. Facilitating a focus group with children and adolescents requires specific skills, as facilitators need to create a safe and comfortable environment for participants to share intimate and sensitive topics such as menstruation and emotions. It was important to remember that this was not a discussion about a new game on the market, we were delving deep into their psyche. For this reason, the menstrual educators and I facilitated the session together. It was fascinating to hear about their individual feelings: some girls thought they were dying, while others felt a heavy burden “for being ready to get pregnant.”
After talking with the girls, we also interviewed psychologists and other educators to better understand common issues during puberty that children might not be able to explain themselves. We organised additional focus groups with parents to explore family needs, difficulties, perceptions, and concerns. This first round of user research revealed key priorities, which inspired several product ideas that were later validated with the girls through concept testing.
Produtct ideas:
Virtual roundtables: The group hosted different roundtable discussions for parents, educators, and children (both boys and girls), providing a safe space for sharing experiences and concerns.
Virtual workshops for girls: Menstrual education workshops were offered in varying durations and tailored to different age groups. These workshops aim to help girls understand what happens in their bodies and how to manage their emotions throughout the menstrual cycle.
Online courses for educators: One key need identified during the discovery phase was training educators to integrate menstrual and sexual education into school programmes.
My Blood is Good - first period box: An insight from the user survey was that menstruation was often not celebrated, contributing to negative associations. To mark and celebrate this important milestone, it is vital to create positive memories. Throwing a party, having tea with friends, or receiving gifts are ways to commemorate this moment. The “First Period Box” was designed as a celebratory gift for girls experiencing menarche, containing items that foster connection with menstruation and their bodies. It includes a small mirror (to help girls become familiar with their vulvas and bodily changes), eco-friendly pads, menstrual panties, a waterproof bag for storing used products, natural deodorant, an herbal thermal bag, a multifunctional essential oil blend, an interactive printed poster, and a printed self-care guide with information, tips, and recipes.
Intuitive Snake - interactive period tracking poster: Women connected with their cycles often record days, flow, duration, emotions, mood, appetite, cravings, and other changes. Many menstrual diaries provide tables and graphs to visualise patterns, along with tips and space for writing sensations and dreams. Girls would benefit more from a simple, visually appealing poster that helps them learn about their body patterns in a fun, straightforward way, matching their design preferences.
Tangled Sensations - puberty playing cards: To encourage greater awareness of their feelings, the group is developing a deck of cards co-created with girls and boys, in partnership with the public school system. Each card features an illustration by a female artist, inspired by imagery and symbols shared by children during co-design workshops. This product has since turned into a project, funded by the Ministry of Art and Culture of Brazil.
ROLE
UX researcher
LOCATION
Brazil, Spain & Ireland
PARTICIPANTS
30+ stakeholders
▪︎ Children
▪︎ Parents
▪︎ Educators
▪︎ Psychologists
UX TOOLS
▪︎ Co-design workshop
▪︎ Concept testing
▪︎ Focus group
▪︎ Interview
PAIN POINTS
▪︎ Most girls do not receive menstrual or sex education.
▪︎ Many girls only learn about menstruation after having their first period.
▪︎ A common feeling was “thinking they were dying” because they didn’t know what was happening when they first bled.
▪︎ One negative association with menstruation is the “constant reminder that they can get pregnant.”
▪︎ The most common feelings about the first period are sadness, fear, and anxiety.
▪︎ They feel confused about their identity: they are neither a girl nor a woman.
INSIGHTS
▪︎ Many girls do not have access to information because menstruation is taboo.
▪︎ Girls don’t have a space to talk about the physiological changes and emotional processes of puberty.
▪︎ Children are not taught how to identify and deal with their emotions.
▪︎ The lack of information compromises their self-esteem and the healthy development of their sexuality.
▪︎ Menarche and menstruation are not usually celebrated.
▪︎ Boys must also learn about menstruation so that taboos are broken and female cycles can be recognised and respected.
DESIGN IDEAS
▪︎ Celebration of feminine cycles: rituals for menarche.
▪︎ Workshops for girls to learn about the changes of puberty and tools to recognise and express their emotions.
▪︎ A space for girls to talk about their puberty.
▪︎ Resources for menstrual and sexual education that can also be used in schools: books, playing cards, games.
