Menstrual health, equity, and culture: why USI's menstrual stations go beyond practical service

Having access to a sanitary pad in a moment of need might seem like a minor detail, but for many women, it is anything but. Even today, menstruation remains a reality frequently accompanied by self-consciousness, inconvenience, and genuine discomfort—compounded by the challenge of accessing appropriate sanitary products within safe, dignified spaces.

Despite being a natural biological process that shapes the daily lives of millions for decades, menstruation has long been surrounded by stigma and cultural interpretations that associate it with shame, fragility, or impurity. In ancient times, menstrual blood was frequently viewed as mysterious and inherently hazardous; the Middle Ages saw women excluded from certain sacred spaces during their menstrual flow; and even parts of nineteenth-century medicine pathologised the condition as a source of physical and mental instability. Despite significant modern cultural and scientific progress, the subject stubbornly remains a matter of some taboo.

In recent years, however, menstrual health and period poverty have gained traction in public discourse, sparking a wider examination of the link between health, equity, and overall quality of life. This shift directly challenges schools, universities, and workplaces to reconsider how they design their environments to be more accommodating of people's daily needs.

It is against this backdrop that Università della Svizzera italiana has introduced "Menstrual Stations" across its campuses. These free sanitary product dispensers installed in female restrooms are designed to provide practical, immediate support to students, staff, and visitors alike. Launched to coincide with International Menstrual Hygiene Day on 28 May, the initiative aims to cultivate greater sensitivity toward menstrual health while actively promoting wellbeing, inclusion and attention to the quality of university life.

To explore the deeper significance of the project, we spoke with Professor Maria Luisa Gasparri, gynaecologist and senologist, Head of Service at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Adjunct Professor at USI Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and Founder and President of the association GO WINneRS – Women in Research, Gyn&Ob and Professor Stefania Rizzo, radiologist, Deputy Head at the EOC's Department of Radiology of Istituto di Diagnostica Integrata della Svizzera Italiana (IDISI), Adjunct Professor at USI Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, and a committee member of the association.

A matter of culture, even more than healthcare

The way an institution designs its spaces reflects the specific needs it chooses to acknowledge. While the menstrual cycle spans a significant portion of a woman's life, it has historically been treated as a matter to be kept out of public sight.

Addressing menstrual health within a university setting is, therefore, a cultural and social milestone and not just a matter of healthcare. Academic institutions are not merely spaces for education and research; they are environments that actively shape language, institutional values, and cultural models.

In this context, initiatives like "Menstrual Stations" hold immense symbolic value. They bring a concrete, physical need into the open, helping to normalise a topic that many environments still approach with hesitation or reticence.

Providing hygiene products on university campuses does not mean offering something additional; it is about recognising a basic necessity and establishing a core principle of substantive equity. Ultimately, it is a cultural statement.

The invisible impact of period poverty

The term "period poverty" refers to the difficulty of securing consistent access to appropriate sanitary products, accurate information, and safe facilities to manage menstruation.

This condition has tangible consequences on an individual's quality of life, social participation, and even their educational and professional journeys.

Even in economically developed societies, the menstrual cycle is still widely treated as an exclusively private matter, leaving these critical needs largely invisible.

Professors Gasparri and Rizzo emphasise that discussing these topics openly is vital for dismantling stigma and misinformation.

Many women grow up believing that severe pain or intense discomfort during their cycle is simply something to be endured. This societal expectation often leads to the minimisation of serious symptoms and significantly delayed medical diagnoses.

A prime example is endometriosis, a chronic condition that studies show faces prolonged diagnostic delays, largely because menstrual pain is so routinely normalised or dismissed.

Women's health in scientific research

The taboo around menstruation has even influenced the world of scientific research.

For decades, women—particularly those of childbearing age—were routinely underrepresented in clinical trials to avoid the 'confounding variables' associated with hormonal fluctuations. Consequently, medical models and therapeutic protocols were developed predominantly using data from males. Today, medical research is shifting toward a more balanced and inclusive approach.

The safety of menstrual products and the theme of awareness

The introduction "Menstrual stations" also prompts broader reflection on the quality and safety of care products.

In recent years, attention towards the composition of menstrual products has grown. Some studies have highlighted the presence of potentially harmful substances in various commercial products. For this reason, it is important to promote greater transparency, information, and awareness.

Because pads and tampons remain in close contact with highly vascularised mucosal tissue for thousands of hours over a lifetime, several studies have raised concerns about the presence of trace chemical residues, including phthalates, volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals, in certain commercial brands.

While this remains an area of ongoing scientific investigation, it is important that individuals can make increasingly informed choices about their health.

This is part of a mature approach to female wellbeing: integrating the menstrual cycle into everyday public discourse, free of stigma or self-consciousness.

GO WINneRS: collaborative research and outreach

Active listening and engagement sit at the heart of GO WINneRS - Women in Research, Gyn&Ob, the association founded by Professor Gasparri.

The group's mission is to promote a more inclusive, multidisciplinary, and participatory style of research that bridges the gaps among healthcare professionals, researchers, students, and patients.

"We believe in scientific outreach that makes knowledge genuinely accessible and useful in people's daily lives," Professor Gasparri explains. "Science that is not communicated risks remaining confined to specialist circles, failing to generate a timely, tangible, and meaningful impact on society."

To bridge this gap, the association hosts regular public encounters and discussion forums where scientific expertise and lived experiences can interact.

The organisers note that many of their research projects stem directly from listening to patient needs, turning real-world struggles into new scientific inquiries. Engaging the next generation of medical professionals is a crucial part of this puzzle.

"A number of female medical students have chosen to actively participate in our initiatives," shares Professor Gasparri. "This reflects a growing desire for a more holistic approach to medicine—one that is deeply attentive to the relationship between science, society, and quality of life."

An institution that listens

For both specialists, USI's decision to launch the Menstrual Stations aligns with a progressive vision of what a contemporary university should be.

Inclusion is not just an abstract principle; it is constructed through practical choices and daily considerations.

Recognising needs that are often kept invisible and creating spaces tailored to the realities of its community fosters a university environment that is more conscious, respectful, and innovative. Ultimately, societal progress is measured not only by grand scientific discoveries but by the capacity of institutions to listen to everyday needs and translate them into meaningful action.