Why is bleeding left out of the workplace conversation? | Hey Girls
We recently spent a day at a menopause conference. We heard about policy, symptoms, managers and culture, and it was really informative. But one thing barely got a mention: bleeding.
For many women and people who have periods, changes to their bleeding are one of the first signs of perimenopause. It can happen years before menopause itself, often while they're at work. So let's talk about it.
Five unspoken truths about perimenopause at work
1. It can start earlier than you think, and last longer
Perimenopause is the stage before menopause, and it can last several years, sometimes up to 10. In one recent study, nearly two-thirds of women aged 36 to 40 reported moderate or severe symptoms linked to perimenopause, yet most didn't seek help until their mid-50s.
2. Periods are often the first change
Irregular, unpredictable bleeding can come before a single hot flush. Periods might get heavier or lighter, longer or shorter. Some months they don't arrive at all, so it's easy to stop carrying products. Then one turns up at work, with nothing to hand.
As Head of Sales, Vicky Tamplin says on Lyreco’s The Green Room #7: Menopause Matters podcast.
“You'll maybe have months where you don't have a period, and then out of nowhere it arrives and you're not prepared for it. You might be at work. You've got no products. It feels absolutely devastating at the time."
3. Flooding happens
On site, on shift or in a meeting, heavy bleeding can arrive with little warning. The fear of flooding onto a meeting room chair, or bleeding through a presentation, can knock anyone's confidence. And not everyone can step away when they need to: think of a nurse mid-shift, a firefighter on a call-out or someone on a building site with the nearest toilet a long walk away. Flexible working helps some people, but it isn't an option for everyone.
4. There's a fix many people haven't heard of
Period pants hold 4 to 5 tampons' worth and can be worn for a full shift. For anyone who can't get to a toilet easily, they can make a real difference.
5. Bring everyone into the conversation
Whether you'll go through menopause yourself or not, we all have a part to play. In our training sessions, men often tell us afterwards that their partners, family members, colleagues or friends are going through perimenopause or menopause. It isn't just a women's issue. It affects families, relationships, workplaces and communities.
What good support looks like
If there's loo roll, there should be period products. Full stop. Here's where to start:
- Products in every toilet, site cabin and staff room, including heavier flow options and period pants. Not behind reception.
- Period pants for shift, site and field teams.
- Bleeding named in your menopause policy. If it isn't there, add it.
- Someone in every team trained and ready to have the conversation, with men included in it.
- An understanding that every journey is different. Not everyone gets symptoms, and it's far more nuanced than the headlines suggest.
Say it plainly
Part of the reason bleeding gets left out is the language we use. Say period, bleeding and blood, rather than "time of the month", "hygiene products" or "the change". Change takes time, and breaking the stigma is exactly why we're here.
Getting ready for 2027
Equality action plans are expected to become mandatory for employers with 250+ staff from spring 2027, subject to final regulations. Each plan will need at least one action supporting employees through menopause, and that includes perimenopause. A policy is the start, not the finish. Make sure yours includes bleeding.
How Hey Girls can help
- Period products at work: award-winning products for office bathrooms, site cabins, staff rooms and everywhere in between, including heavier flow, period pants and bladder control.
- HomePacks: you set the budget and your team orders what they need, delivered discreetly to their door.
- Training for your team: partner training sessions on periods and menopause, plus our Train the Trainer programme.
- Impact you can report on: as a social enterprise, 100% of our profits go into tackling period poverty in the UK.
Get the free employer guide
Our guide, Menopause in the workplace: Periods & perimenopause, covers all five unspoken truths, a practical checklist of what good support looks like and the words to use with your team.
Very heavy or significantly changed periods are worth raising with a GP.
