You never forget your first period, and the same goes for the parents supporting children through it. Superdrug recognises that the trepidation surrounding the start of menstruation is felt on both sides and is on a mission to support young people and parents alike.
Enlisting the help of 19-year-old Olympic bronze medallist Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix to open the conversation and share her personal story – from getting her first period to how she deals with her menstrual cycle as an athlete and young woman.
Back on UK soil with a bronze medal after the highly anticipated Paris Olympics, Andrea shared with Superdrug that: “Like many women who menstruate, my first period came as a shock. It wasn’t the gift I was expecting to receive on Christmas Day… I remember sheepishly walking to mum to tell her, and she came to my rescue. She had a stash of pads and tampons in the bathroom and began explaining to me what each of them did. No wonder I am so confident talking about periods, she showed me that it wasn’t something to be embarrassed or scared of.
“Only after years of being on my period do I finally have a grasp of how my body reacts during my menstrual cycle. I am my strongest on my period and even won my Commonwealth gold medal on my heaviest day. I am fully aware of my work attire as I step onto the platform, and even more aware when I am bloated, emotional, bleeding and uncomfortable. I know there is so much more work to do in terms of awareness on this topic especially for young girls in sports. That’s why I am so excited to be partnering with Superdrug, to shake the taboos of periods and share the best products to use for different occasions. I hope that the work we’re doing for this campaign will help young girls and women feel confident in themselves whether they are on their period or not.”
With 85% of young people trying to hide the fact that they’re on their period from those around them, Andrea is not alone in this. Superdrug is here to help those feeling embarrassed and afraid offering guidance by enlisting obstetrics and gynaecology doctor Dr Brooke Vandermolen to share knowledge and dispel the narrative of needing to feel ashamed or nervous:
“After completing a fellowship in adolescent gynaecology, I am thrilled to be partnering with Superdrug to provide some information and reassurance to anyone who is at the beginning of their period journey, or any caregivers supporting them – and Superdrug is here to provide education on misconceptions to break the taboos. Whether you’re wondering when is the right time to try a menstrual cup or unsure which period pad is right for your flow, we’re here to support with the My First Period campaign.”
Mirroring Superdrug’s mission to ensure teenagers and parents feel comfortable enough to have open conversations about starting their first period, Dr Brooke comments “Parents have so many hurdles to jump over when it comes to educating their children about their bodies and there isn’t one approach which is right for everyone, but I would recommend talking about periods within the home as early as possible so it’s seen as a normal bodily function.
“For parents with a child who is approaching the age of starting their period or has just started, it’s important to prepare them both emotionally and physically. Make sure you create an environment where you can discuss the emotions they’re feeling and provide practical guidance on using period products in the home and in school, alongside managing any physical symptoms they may struggle with.”
With most people who menstruate starting their periods at 12 (but some can be as early as 82) Superdrug has partnered with Andrea and Dr Brooke to reduce fear and stigma attached to this life stage. The My First Period campaign also aims to raise awareness of the importance of accessible period hygiene products – including the Superdrug own-brand range.
“It’s important to everyone at Superdrug that we are a reliable and trust-worthy retailer for our younger customers to be able to purchase their first period products with no shame or fear, as well as being there for parents experiencing this with children. We couldn’t be more excited to have Andrea and Dr Brooke on board to spread the word as part of our My First Period campaign. We also pride ourselves on being affordable and accessible and aim to become the go-to retailer for anyone who menstruates – no matter your life stage,” says Superdrug own-brand director Jamie Archer.
Andrea and Dr Brooke are supporting Superdrug’s My First Period campaign which launches on 14th August – with video content launching across both Andrea and Dr Brooke’s social profiles that will share personal stories and expertise for young shoppers and parents. Further information on first periods, product and the campaign can be found here https://www.superdrug.com/my-first-period (live from 14th August).
