Menstruation is generally seen as something to be managed and contained—with period leaks considered a source of embarrassment. This is despite campaigns aimed to help younger people feel more able to talk about menstruation.

For many women, the time of the month means relying on tampons, pads or a menstrual cup to collect the two to three tablespoons of blood that are lost over the four to five days of their period.

But a 2019 study of how women around the world manage menstruation showed that many still use leaves, sheep's wool, newspaper, grass or even cow dung, as an absorbent substance.

A 2016 report from Unesco found that 10% of young women in Africa did not attend school during their periods. Indeed, one way of avoiding leaks is simply not to go outside the home when menstruating, which is why menstruation still has important consequences for women's education.