The Forgotten Art of Menstruation: Have We Really Progressed?

From red tents and sacred rituals to period poverty, patriarchy and menstrual leave, perhaps it's time we rethink our relationship with menstruation.

Imagine waking up with your period and, instead of reaching for painkillers, rushing to work and pretending everything is fine, you're encouraged to slow down.

Someone makes you a warm meal. You have the opportunity to rest, spend time with other women, share stories or simply enjoy a little peace and quiet.

Sounds lovely, doesn't it?

Now imagine that same period means you're forbidden from entering your own kitchen, attending religious ceremonies or sleeping in your own home.

Not quite so lovely.

Throughout history, menstruation has been celebrated, feared, hidden, misunderstood and, in some cultures, considered sacred. In others, it's been treated as something dirty or shameful.

And here we are in 2026, with menstrual cups, period underwear, cycle-tracking apps and more conversations about women's health than ever before.

Yet plenty of women still feel uncomfortable telling their boss they're struggling with their period.

So, have we really progressed? Or have we simply become better at hiding something that affects roughly half the population at some point in their lives?

As a clinical naturopath who works with women's hormonal health, I find this conversation fascinating. Not because I think we should return to ancient traditions, but because I wonder what we've lost, what we've gained and what we still need to change.

The Red Tent: A Place of Rest, Ritual and Female Connection

You've probably heard of the red tent.

The idea of women gathering during menstruation, stepping away from daily responsibilities, sharing wisdom and being supported by other women is rather beautiful.

The concept became widely known through Anita Diamant's novel The Red Tent, published in 1997. While the novel helped bring menstrual gathering traditions into modern conversation, the broader history of women's menstrual experiences includes centuries of seclusion, restrictions and exclusion, with many women's voices and experiences poorly represented in historical records.

Menstrual seclusion practices have existed across many societies.

And this is where things become interesting.

A space set aside for menstruation could offer community, rest and connection. But separation wasn't always voluntary, comfortable or empowering.

The important question is whether women had a choice.

Because there's an enormous difference between being offered time to rest and being told you're not welcome.

Personally, I love the idea of women having spaces where they can share experiences without embarrassment. Not because we're incapable of participating in everyday life while menstruating, but because community and connection are so often missing from modern women's health.

Perhaps we don't need a literal red tent.

Perhaps we simply need more places where women feel heard.

Sacred, Powerful or Impure? How Different Cultures View Menstruation

One of the most fascinating things about menstruation is how differently it has been interpreted around the world.

In some communities, a girl's first period marks an important transition, recognised through ceremony, family gatherings or the sharing of cultural knowledge.

For example, the Kinaaldá ceremony of the Diné (Navajo) people celebrates a girl's coming of age and draws on teachings associated with Changing Woman. It is a significant cultural and spiritual tradition, not simply a celebration of menstruation.

In parts of South India, puberty ceremonies may involve gifts, special foods, family gatherings and recognition of a girl's transition into a new stage of life. The details and meanings vary considerably between families and communities.

Then there are traditions such as chhaupadi in Nepal, where menstruating women and girls have been excluded from their homes and required to stay in separate shelters.

This practice has been associated with serious health and safety risks and has been prohibited under Nepalese law, although enforcement and continued practice remain concerns.

It's tempting to divide these customs into good and bad, sacred and shameful.

But culture is rarely that simple.

A ceremony can create belonging while also reinforcing expectations about femininity, marriage or reproduction. A tradition described as protective can feel restrictive to the woman experiencing it.

And women within the same culture may have very different feelings about the practices they've inherited.

What matters is dignity, safety, informed choice and the ability to participate fully in society.

We can appreciate traditional wisdom without romanticising practices that deny women their freedom.

Patriarchy, Periods and the Pressure to Pretend Nothing Is Happening

Let's talk about the elephant in the room.

For centuries, menstruation has been used in various societies as a reason to exclude women from religious spaces, leadership, education and other areas of public life.

The idea that menstruating women are somehow unclean, unstable or less capable has a long and complicated history.

And although attitudes have changed enormously, traces of menstrual stigma are still very much alive.

How many of us grew up hiding a tampon in our sleeve on the way to the bathroom?

How many women have apologised for being emotional, blaming their hormones before anyone else has the opportunity?

How many have sat through meetings with debilitating cramps, quietly counting down the minutes until they can go home?

The feminist movement fought, and continues to fight, for women's right to education, employment, financial independence and equal opportunity.

Those achievements matter enormously.

But I think there's another conversation we need to have.

When did equality become confused with the expectation that everyone must have exactly the same physical needs?

Recognising that menstruation can affect someone's wellbeing doesn't make them less capable, less intelligent or less deserving of opportunity.

And it certainly doesn't mean every woman experiences predictable changes in her performance or abilities throughout her cycle.

It simply means our bodies aren't all the same, and our support systems should be flexible enough to recognise that.

True equality shouldn't require women to pretend their bodies don't exist.

Menstrual Leave: A Luxury or a Legitimate Health Consideration?

Imagine calling your employer and saying, "I'm having a really difficult period today and need to stay home."

Would you feel comfortable?

Would you be taken seriously?

Or would you find yourself reaching for a more socially acceptable explanation?

Several countries have introduced specific menstrual leave provisions, although their policies differ significantly.

Japan has had menstrual leave legislation for decades. Indonesia also provides for menstrual-related leave under its labour laws. More recently, Spain introduced medically certified leave for incapacitating menstruation associated with specified health conditions.

In Australia, there is no universal standalone menstrual leave entitlement under the National Employment Standards.

Eligible employees can access personal sick leave when illness or injury makes them unfit for work, including when menstrual symptoms are sufficiently severe. Some employers also offer additional reproductive health leave or flexible arrangements.

But this raises an interesting question.

Should women need to use their ordinary sick leave for recurring menstrual symptoms? Or should workplaces offer more specific support?

There are legitimate concerns on both sides of the menstrual leave debate.

Dedicated leave may improve recognition and support for people experiencing severe symptoms. However, poorly designed policies could also reinforce stereotypes, compromise privacy or create additional opportunities for workplace discrimination.

And I certainly don't believe every woman needs time off simply because she's menstruating.

Some women feel absolutely fine.

Others experience severe pain, heavy bleeding, migraines, nausea or exhaustion that can make normal daily activities incredibly difficult.

What we need is flexibility, not another set of assumptions about what women can or cannot do.

And while we're having this conversation, let's remember that debilitating menstrual symptoms deserve medical investigation, not simply an annual allocation of days to suffer at home.

Menstrual Products: We've Come a Long Way, But at What Cost?

From washable cloth and homemade absorbent materials to disposable pads, tampons, menstrual cups and period underwear, menstrual products have changed dramatically.

And thank goodness for that.

Modern menstrual products have provided many women with greater comfort, mobility and freedom.

But their history also tells an interesting story about how society has viewed menstruation.

For years, menstrual products were marketed around discretion, secrecy and avoiding embarrassment.

Remember advertisements demonstrating absorbency with blue liquid?

Apparently, even menstrual blood was too confronting to show.

Today, conversations about menstrual products are becoming more open, and women have more options than ever before.

But access isn't equal.

Period poverty remains a significant issue, including here in Australia.

For some women and girls, the cost of menstrual products creates genuine financial pressure. Others lack access to appropriate toilets, running water, privacy or safe disposal facilities.

And let's not forget the environmental conversation.

Reusable menstrual cups, washable pads and period underwear can reduce reliance on disposable products, although affordability, suitability, comfort and access vary.

There isn't one perfect menstrual product for everyone.

Some women love menstrual cups. Others prefer pads, tampons or period underwear. Some need different products depending on their flow or circumstances.

My view? Women deserve accurate information, affordable options and the freedom to choose what works for their bodies.

No shame, no judgement and certainly no blue liquid required.

When Did Period Pain Become Something We're Expected to Put Up With?

This is the part of the conversation that really matters to me as a naturopath.

I regularly speak with women who have spent years believing their menstrual symptoms are simply something they need to tolerate.

Heavy bleeding.

Debilitating cramps.

Migraines.

Extreme mood changes.

Fatigue that leaves them barely functioning.

And somewhere along the way, they've been told it's just part of being a woman.

But there's a difference between common menstrual symptoms and symptoms that significantly interfere with everyday life.

Severe period pain can be associated with conditions such as endometriosis or adenomyosis. Heavy bleeding may contribute to iron deficiency and can have several underlying causes. Significant premenstrual mood symptoms may warrant assessment for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Not every symptom means something is seriously wrong.

But persistent or debilitating symptoms deserve to be heard, assessed and investigated.

For too long, women's experiences of pain have been dismissed or minimised in healthcare settings.

And while awareness is improving, many women still face challenges accessing timely diagnosis and appropriate support.

This is why I encourage women to understand their cycles, track symptoms and ask questions.

Not to become obsessed with every hormonal fluctuation, but to recognise what's normal for their own body and when something needs attention.

Cyclical Living: Is There Something We Can Learn From the Past?

One of the things I love exploring with women is the concept of cyclical living.

Rather than viewing the menstrual cycle purely as a monthly inconvenience, what happens when we become curious about the changes taking place throughout it?

The menstrual cycle involves fluctuations in hormones, including oestrogen and progesterone, which can influence physical and emotional symptoms.

Some women notice changes in energy, appetite, sleep, mood or exercise tolerance throughout the month.

Others experience very little variation.

And importantly, the scientific evidence doesn't support rigid rules suggesting all women should eat, work, exercise or socialise in a particular way during each menstrual phase.

But there is value in paying attention to your individual patterns.

Perhaps you notice your sleep becomes unsettled before your period.

Perhaps you're hungrier in the luteal phase.

Perhaps menstrual cramps mean a gentle walk feels more manageable than a high-intensity workout.

Or perhaps you feel wonderful throughout your entire cycle.

All of these experiences are valid.

As a naturopath, my approach is to use this awareness alongside nutrition, lifestyle support and appropriate clinical assessment.

Sometimes that means looking at iron status, dietary adequacy, stress, sleep or other contributing factors.

Sometimes it means helping a woman understand that she doesn't need to force herself through a demanding workout when she's exhausted.

And sometimes it means reassuring her that she doesn't need to organise her entire life around her menstrual cycle.

Cyclical living should be about understanding your body, not creating another set of rules women feel pressured to follow.

So, What Would a Menstrual-Friendly Society Actually Look Like?

I don't think the answer is to return to ancient menstrual huts or expect every woman to retreat from society once a month.

But I do think we can learn something from the idea that menstruation deserves recognition, understanding and support.

Imagine a society where girls learn about menstrual health without embarrassment.

Where boys receive the same education and grow into men who understand that periods are a normal part of life.

Where workplaces offer reasonable flexibility without questioning someone's competence.

Where menstrual products are affordable and accessible.

Where women can discuss their symptoms with healthcare professionals and feel genuinely heard.

And where resting when you're unwell isn't viewed as weakness.

Perhaps the most powerful change isn't bringing back the red tent.

Perhaps it's creating a world where women don't need to hide what they're experiencing in the first place.

We've fought hard for equality, and we should never underestimate how important that progress has been.

But equality doesn't have to mean ignoring our bodies.

It can mean creating a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, with the understanding and support they need.

And surely that's something worth fighting for.

I'd love to know: Did you grow up in a household where periods were openly discussed, or were they something you were expected to keep quiet about?

If your menstrual cycle is affecting your quality of life, you don't have to navigate it alone.