Irise

Irise Towards global menstrual justice Building a world where everyone can realise their potential, unlimited by their period.

Lead change. Break stigma. ❤️We’re inviting students from The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University ...
17/06/2026

Lead change. Break stigma. ❤️

We’re inviting students from The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University to join the Irise Student Ambassador Programme and help build advocacy, community, leadership, and communication skills while creating real change around menstrual justice.

Ready to raise your voice and make an impact? Sign up today!

The Red Report data shows that 1 in 5 menstruators in the UK struggle to afford period products (21%). And among those w...
10/06/2026

The Red Report data shows that 1 in 5 menstruators in the UK struggle to afford period products (21%). And among those who have struggled to afford them, nearly 1 in 2 have felt embarrassed about their period in the last 12 months (49%).

Our friends at report similar findings - an alarming 92% reported that not having access to period products affected their mental health in some way.

We must ask ourselves why, in one of the world’s wealthiest countries, meeting the basic needs of all people who menstruate continues to be such a challenge.

Menstrual justice means breaking that cycle: ensuring access to affordable, safe products, challenging stigma, and recognising the emotional impact of menstrual injustice alongside the financial one.

www.irise.org.uk/mindthegap
www.irise.org.uk/theredreport-2026

The places people turn to for information about menstruation matter deeply.Our latest research shows that healthcare pro...
04/06/2026

The places people turn to for information about menstruation matter deeply.

Our latest research shows that healthcare professionals and general internet searches are now the joint most common sources people turn to for menstrual health information in the UK (54%).

What's changing fast is the growing role of digital spaces.

Nearly a quarter of people now say they would turn to AI chatbots and online forums like Reddit for information and support, and its young people who are increasingly seeking private, immediate and judgement-free ways to learn about their bodies.

But these spaces are not neutral. They are spaces shaped by shadow banning, censorship, algorithms, misinformation, and stigma and this has real consequences for menstrual literacy and bodily autonomy.

That’s why we’re proud to be part of the groundbreaking work of and in holding governments and digital platforms to account for the censorship and shadow banning of women’s health content, including conversations about menstruation.

Links in bio!

Our good friends at are a powerful example of what menstrual justice looks like when it is rooted in community.A grassr...
03/06/2026

Our good friends at are a powerful example of what menstrual justice looks like when it is rooted in community.

A grassroots charity, Cysters works to challenge the systemic inequities surrounding menstrual, maternal, mental, and menopausal health. Their work reminds us that menstrual injustice is political as well as personal.

Irise International’s 2026 Red Report found that whilst 1 in 10 menstruators have experienced discrimination due to menstruation in the last 12 months, this rises to nearly 1 in 7 among menstruators from ethnically diverse communities and nearly 1 in 8 among menstruators with disabilities

These aren’t isolated experiences. They reflect wider systems of inequity that shape whose voices are listened to, whose pain is dismissed and whose bodies are valued.

Menstrual Literacy opens our eyes to these systemic inequities and helps us to make small changes which collectively drive change that is collective, intersectional, and rooted in justice.

https://www.irise.org.uk/theredreport-2026

https://www.irise.org.uk/mindthegap

reminds us that knowing what’s normal for your body can be lifesaving: “Abnormal bleeding is often the first symptom to...
02/06/2026

reminds us that knowing what’s normal for your body can be lifesaving: “Abnormal bleeding is often the first symptom to arise with these cancers… it’s really important to get to know what is normal for you so you can spot if anything changes.”

But Irise International’s 2026 Red Report found that 1 in 6 women and people who currently menstruate don’t feel knowledgeable about menstruation and only 76% say they would feel comfortable talking to a doctor about a menstrual concern. Importantly however - this rises to 82% among those who feel knowledgeable about menstruation.

Menstrual Literacy enables people to recognise when something may be wrong, seek support sooner and advocate for their health.

https://www.irise.org.uk/mindthegap

If you’re worried about any abnormal bleeding, please see your GP. The Eve Appeal also has a free and confidential nurse information line, called Ask Eve, which can give information and support on any of your gynae health questions and concerns. You can get in touch by emailing [email protected] or calling 0808 802 0019.

https://www.irise.org.uk/theredreport-2026

A third of adults still don’t feel comfortable buying period products. But Irise International’s 2026 Red Report found s...
01/06/2026

A third of adults still don’t feel comfortable buying period products. But Irise International’s 2026 Red Report found something hopeful too: when people feel knowledgeable about menstruation, comfort levels double. That’s why representation, visibility, and the messages we see every day matter so much.

We love because they are the OG period care disruptor and remain a household name in plastic-free period care. Our research found that advertising plays one of the biggest roles in reducing menstrual stigma - meaning brands have real power to shape how menstruation is understood and talked about.

That’s why we value the advocacy and awareness-building work Mooncup continues to do alongside providing sustainable period care options. When trusted brands talk openly and authentically about menstruation, they help normalise conversations, challenge shame, and close the menstrual literacy gap.

https://www.irise.org.uk/theredreport-2026

https://www.irise.org.uk/mindthegap

Irise International’s 2026 Red Report shows that 1 in 5 adults in the UK still struggle to afford period products - and ...
31/05/2026

Irise International’s 2026 Red Report shows that 1 in 5 adults in the UK still struggle to afford period products - and for those who do, embarrassment around menstruation is significantly higher.

The research also shows that people who feel more knowledgeable about menstruation are more comfortable buying period products, reinforcing something we see again and again: knowledge = power.

When we address The Menstrual Literacy Gap, we begin to break down shame and stigma too.

That’s why we love the work of - an incredible women-owned social enterprise combining sustainable period products with menstrual health education and a buy-one-donate-one model to help tackle period poverty and build menstrual confidence around the world.

We’re proud to work with organisations like Asan that support our work through donating products to our network of product banks, and amplifying our messaging.

www.irise.org.uk/theredreport-2026

www.irise.org.uk/mindthegap

29/05/2026

The Va**na Museum is the world’s first bricks-and-mortar museum dedicated to gynaecological anatomy and reproductive health - a space that builds confidence around conversations about vaginas and vulvas, which for centuries have been systemically silenced.

Irise’s 2026 Red Report reveals that knowledge about menstruation remains critically low, and discomfort talking about it remains persistently high. But knowledge is power - when we know more, we talk more, and when we talk more, stigma starts to break down (this is especially true for men...)

We ❤️ the Va**na Museum because its very existence is helping to break the silence, build confidence, and close The Menstrual Literacy Gap.

28/05/2026

Following the Red Report findings we published this morning, we're launching our new campaign: Mind The Menstrual Literacy Gap.

Our research makes one thing clear.

Knowledge = power.

Adults that report feeling more knowledgeable are three times more likely to feel comfortable talking about menstruation in a variety of everyday settings and are twice as likely to feel comfortable buying period products if they also feel knowledgeable.

Strengthening menstrual literacy dismantles stigma.

Literacy isn’t only about how much you know, it’s about confidence in using what you know, understanding its meaning and applying it in everyday life. We know that compounding experiences of menstrual stigma restrict our ability to effectively navigate, evaluate and apply our knowledge - with serious impacts on our human rights.

Part of our campaign is challenging everyone to become Menstrual Micro-Activists. Small things everyone can do to reduce stigma and shame, be an ally and advocate for change. This work is everyone's responsibility, not just those who menstruate.

Over the next few weeks we'll be sharing more detail of our findings, digging into the details and shining a spotlight on some of the brilliant organisations driving change across our community.

We'd love for you to join our movement.

www.linktr.ee/IriseInternational

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