World Menstrual Health Day: Let’s Celebrate!

Every month, approximately 1.9 billion women menstruate. No big deal, you might think. But for many, this means monthly stress. Many women don't have access to menstrual products, feel embarrassed, or experience unpleasant symptoms like cramps or mood swings. It's a health crisis no one talks about.

At Guud Woman, we want to change that. And what better day to raise awareness than World Menstrual Health Day?

We've entered into a fantastic partnership with top athlete Naomi Van Den Broeck , our newest Guud Ambassador. Naomi represented Belgium at the Tokyo Olympics, where she competed in the 4x400-meter relay.

We spoke with Naomi about sports, her cycle, and the complaints she experiences around her period… Watch the video here ⬇️

World Menstrual Health Day – You're Not Alone

Naomi already mentioned it: Most women experience symptoms during their menstrual cycle. Sometimes the symptoms are so severe that they affect our daily lives.

But meanwhile, we still think we have to keep going, that we are the only ones, or that we have to accept our complaints…

We commissioned a survey among 1,000 Flemish and Dutch women. The results are shocking. We've summarized the most important facts for you:

• 90% of women have complaints around their menstruation.
• Women most often suffer from cramps (66%), headaches (52%), fatigue (50%), back pain (49%) and mood swings (45%).
• As many as 2 out of 3 people think it is part of being a woman .
• And that doesn't come out of nowhere: 31% are told by their doctor that complaints are simply part of life and that they have to learn to live with them.
• More than a quarter of women do not know who to turn to with their problems.
• Of all women who use contraception, 7 out of 10 take the pill .

Is the pill a solution for menstrual problems?

The majority of Dutch and Flemish women use hormonal contraception. Most use the pill, primarily to prevent pregnancy. But more than half of these women also take the pill to reduce their menstrual symptoms .

In addition, a whopping 25% say they're taking the pill as a solution to their menstrual problems (not to prevent pregnancy!). The pill is prescribed by a doctor or gynecologist as a solution to their symptoms.

Shocking, yet we see it more often. Doctors prescribe the pill to combat PMS symptoms. But the pill contains artificial hormones. These suppress natural hormones, and thus hormone-driven processes like ovulation. The pill doesn't cure PMS . It's a band-aid solution, not a long-term solution.

So what is a long-term solution? Research shows it's a combination of:

• a healthy lifestyle;
• a balanced diet;
• where you focus primarily on getting the right vitamins and minerals – with supplements if necessary

Fast forward to 2030

The goal of World Menstrual Health Day is to ensure that no one in the world is held back by their period. By 2030, we want menstruation to be a normal part of life. Read all about this important goal on the WMHD website.

The good thing is that we're making progress, but honestly, there's still much to be achieved. World Menstrual Health Day is only one day, but there's something you can do all year round:

• Talk about it – Break taboos and prejudices about menstruation by sharing your own experiences and stories.
• Use Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media to raise awareness—whether you want to talk about menstrual products, share knowledge, or discuss cramps, mood swings, and other complaints.

So, how are you doing ?

Struggling with menstrual problems can feel very lonely. Perhaps you feel like no one understands what's going on, or people think you're making a big deal out of it. Or maybe you're afraid your problems point to something serious and that your symptoms aren't normal? Perhaps you feel ashamed.

Whatever you're feeling, know that we're here to help. At Guud Woman, you'll get the support you deserve – whatever your problem.

We work with a team of experts. This way, we can help you understand your cycle. We also offer advice and tips for adjusting your lifestyle. Small changes can make a big difference in your daily life.

We only use the very best ingredients to ensure we deliver only the highest quality products. All our ingredients are scientifically proven.

Do you have any questions? Or want to know more? Contact us via our live chat support or see which products are right for you using our product finder . We're happy to help, so you can feel great every day of the month.