Scotland passed the Period Products law on Monday, Aug. 15. This grants all women free access to menstrual products such as tampons and pads. They can get these in public facilities across the country.
Truly, Scotland became the first country to do so. This is also in line with the lawmakers' aim to end period poverty for those women who cannot afford to buy these sanitary items.
However, this would mean the government has another baggage to carry in the next few years. The next challenge will lie in how they could address concerns about period-related conditions.
Scottish Parliament Grants Free Access to Period Products
(Photo : Natracare from Unsplash)
Aside from free menstrual products, the government might need to address another concern among women: period-related cases.
According to CNN's previous report, lawmakers have been discussing passing this law since 2020. The politicians wanted to eradicate the period of poverty among women slowly.
The newly-passed law will cover the widespread availability of period products in universities and other public buildings in Scotland.
Monica Lennon, the lawmaker behind the Period Products law, hopes other countries will implement the same ruling soon. She said she's proud of what they have achieved in the country.
Given that about 20% of Scottish women belong to an impoverished state, it's reasonable that this program could be a big help to this population.
The passing of the Period Products law can also signal that women's struggle during the menstrual period is acknowledged by any means.
Period-Related Conditions
The Scottish government did a great job alleviating the period of poverty that has been staying for the last few years. However, the lawmakers might need to focus on extending their help to women in another area: period-related conditions.
Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS is the most common condition affecting many menstruating women. The number of patients with this disorder is reportedly growing in numbers. They usually take a long number of leaves because of this condition.
If a woman has PCOS, she can experience irregular menstrual cycles. It could span for months and result in abnormal production of androgens or male sex hormones.
Another condition called endometriosis involves the unusual growth of uterus cells in other parts of the body. According to the South China Morning Post, the first case of this disorder was first reported in 1860 in ancient Egypt.
At present, 1 in 10 women has been suffering from either one of these conditions. People have high regard for the study of medicine back in the golden times, but they often overlook the importance of studying a woman's body.
As a result, they attributed endometriosis and other period-related conditions to witchcraft. Somehow, Sigmund Freud later recognized that they could fall under "hysteria" which gives more ground for analysis.
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Medical Negligence Remains a Thing at Present
The advancement in medicine and modern cure is evident these days, but still, some health professionals dismiss the idea that a woman's condition is only related to her emotional state.
Unfortunately, medical negligence remains a thing in the field of healthcare. If the community wants to change this stigma among women, it should start with awareness of these conditions.
The government should take part in this action and lead as a great epitome in acknowledging the proper solutions to treat these menstrual disorders.
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Written by Joseph Henry
