London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Sep 15, 2025

Periods: TikTok gives better education than schools, say teens

Periods: TikTok gives better education than schools, say teens

"I've got most of my information about periods from TikTok," said 18-year-old Efa Angharad.

The sixth-former from Gorslas, Carmarthenshire, said her period education had been "pretty shocking".

It comes as a Swansea University study found menstrual cycle education needed to be addressed in schools.

The Welsh government said period education would become mandatory as part of a new curriculum. The other UK nations said they have taken action.

Efa said she remembers having a puberty lesson in the final year of primary school and, at the end, the boys were sent out.

"You just get told 'oh, by the way at some point you're going to be bleeding for three-eight days once a month'," she said.


Lili Mai
Lili Mai: "There was no deeper explanation, we weren't talking about pain or cramps"


"There was no education about why, or symptoms before or after or hormone changes."

She said she and her friends educated themselves online more than they learned in the classroom.

"I just don't feel like the education system has changed at all since when my mam was younger," she added.

Lili Mai, 17, said her class was not really given information about why they had periods.

"There was no deeper explanation, we weren't talking about pain or cramps, anything that comes with it. I had to figure that out as I went along," she said.

Ffion: "We weren't educated on tampons, menstrual cups... it was just the basics"


Ffion, 17, from Ammanford, said she doesn't remember much about the lesson, other than a stranger coming into class.

"We weren't educated on tampons, menstrual cups... it was just the basics that led to problems years on when I started my periods. It's just really sad," she added.

It's a story Natalie Brown is familiar with.

She works with elite female athletes looking at the impact of their periods and their cycle on performance.

It was their lack of knowledge that led her to question what was being taught in schools.

"What we very much find is actually there is minimal education in school," she added.

The academic led the report by Swansea University, funded by Sport Wales, looking at menstrual cycle education in the UK.

The sport scientist said more than 90% of teachers that responded to the survey were female and often they drew on their own personal experiences.

Natalie Brown works with elite female athletes looking at the impact of their menstrual cycles on performance


The report recommended giving teachers more time, training and support to deliver classes regularly as well as providing more information on the emotional and social aspects of the menstrual cycle.

'We need to support girls more'


It also found that teachers felt periods affected attendance, participation in exercise, as well as behaviour and confidence.

"To me that shows it is an area that we need to support girls more on because it can have an effect on school performance, exam results... these kind of longer-term health and wellbeing benefits," she added.

Kathryn King runs the Bloody Honest social media account which she said aims to fill the gaps in period education.

She said the responses she gets to her videos highlight the desperate need for information.

"One of the most common questions I get is 'where's my vagina and how many holes do I have?'

"It's baffling to me that there's such a gap in the knowledge of young people and it's just filled by friends or family if they're lucky... and, if not, strangers on the internet," she said.

Kathryn King: "There's such a gap in the knowledge of young people and it's just filled by friends or family if they're lucky"


The 26 year old has no medical training but felt the urge to educate others about periods after learning about her own in her early 20s.

"The more you know, the sooner you can recognise any abnormalities for you... and the sooner you can speak to a doctor and have that checked and potentially that is life changing," she said.

How is period education taught?


The Welsh government said, within the new curriculum framework, teachers will be able to focus on a wide range of health and wellbeing topics.

"It is important that learning about menstrual wellbeing is not simply a 'one-off lesson' which is why the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Code sets out that it should be taught at various stages of the curriculum," it added.

The Scottish government said learning about periods and menstruation started in primary schools and was an important part of health and wellbeing education.

"Local authorities and schools can use a wide range of resources to deliver age and stage appropriate lessons," it said.

In Northern Ireland, the government said period education was provided to both primary and post-primary schools.

"Pupils have the opportunity to learn about scientific facts and engage in open conversation," it said.

"This can help to break down common taboos about periods, prevent stigma and reduce negative perceptions and behaviours."

The UK government said pupils in England should learn about periods, including its impact on physical and mental health, as a mandatory part of the curriculum.

"We have invested millions in rolling out the curriculum and are supporting teachers with training and guidance, so that they can gain the knowledge to teach it confidently and foster open conversations with their students," it said.


Teenage girls have been turning to the internet to learn about periods


Comments

johnyking 2 year ago
This particular papers fabulous, and My spouse and i enjoy each of the perform that you have placed into this. I’m sure that you will be making a really useful place. I has been additionally pleased. Good perform! careers advice
Oh ya 3 year ago
I guess it would be too much to ask where the parents are when their kids are growing up and needing info.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
Elon Musk Retakes Lead as World’s Richest After Brief Ellison Surge
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
×