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Initial research highlights menstrual taboos in the workplace
A survey by Initial, titled “Mito vs Realtà,” reveals that despite increasing openness, menstruation and menopause remain significant taboos in professional environments. While 76% of female respondents feel comfortable stating they are menstruating, only 28% feel no embarrassment when carrying menstrual products through office corridors.
The research highlights a gap in perception between genders: 79% of men surveyed believe discussing menstruation is natural, whereas 93% of women disagree. Additionally, 82% of men acknowledge that the topic remains a taboo accompanied by embarrassment or inappropriate jokes.
Infrastructure and support also remain lacking. Only 13% of women reported finding menstrual products in office restrooms, and 50% of women reported changing their plans due to fear of staining. In the absence of menstrual leave, half of the women surveyed use vacation days or personal leave to manage intolerable pain, and 39% struggle to admit to pain for fear of judgment.
The findings coincide with the release of the ISO 45010:2026 international guide, which aims to help organizations support employees through accessible hygiene services, recovery spaces, and corporate culture that does not treat the menstrual cycle as a pathology.
Entities
Initial · Maria Francesca Torriani · Rentokil Initial Italia · Rome · iSo
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Half of women use vacation or personal leave when dealing with intolerable menstrual pain in the absence of menstrual leave. www.ilpuntonotizie.it · www.dialessandria.it · www.quotidianodelsud.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] Only 13% of women find a sanitary pad in their office bathroom. www.ilpuntonotizie.it · www.dialessandria.it · www.quotidianodelsud.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] 79% of men surveyed find it natural to talk about menstruation, while 93% of women believe it is not. www.ilpuntonotizie.it · www.dialessandria.it · www.quotidianodelsud.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] 39% of women struggle to admit to menstrual pain due to fear of being judged. www.ilpuntonotizie.it · www.dialessandria.it · www.quotidianodelsud.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] The ISO 45010:2026 international guide was published in September to help organizations support menstruation and menopause in the workplace. www.ilpuntonotizie.it · www.dialessandria.it · www.quotidianodelsud.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] Only 28% of women report carrying a sanitary pad through an office corridor without embarrassment. www.ilpuntonotizie.it · www.dialessandria.it · www.quotidianodelsud.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] 76% of female respondents in the Initial survey say they can say 'I am menstruating' without problems. www.ilpuntonotizie.it · www.dialessandria.it · www.quotidianodelsud.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] One in two women changes their plans due to fear of staining. www.ilpuntonotizie.it · www.dialessandria.it · www.quotidianodelsud.it