MORE than 35 per cent of young women in the North-East and Yorkshire and the Humber use periods as an excuse to get out of PE lessons.

Betty for Schools, a national period education programme, is launching a campaign to encourage parents and teachers to talk to girls about periods and exercise, as research reveals many young women avoid participating in sports because of period taboos.

The launch coincides with Women’s Sport Week (June 19 to 25) and follows a poll of 2,000 women by Betty for Schools. According to the research, 38 per cent of women in the North-East and 44 per cent in Yorkshire and the Humber use periods as an excuse, with the top reasons for skipping PE listed as fear of leakages and concerns that the pad might be visible. Two thirds of those polled in Yorkshire and almost three-quarters in the North-East said if girls were better educated about periods they would not be so reluctant to take part in PE.

England and Team GB hockey player Sam Quek MBE, who is supporting the campaign, said: “We have to work to break down taboos around periods. This starts with elite sportswomen being more open and honest, with schools creating the environment where girls can talk about the changes the bodies are going through, and education that empowers us all to know and understand our bodies better”

Free resources for teachers are available at bettyforschools.co.uk

The website also includes tips for parents and teachers on how to tackle conversations with confidence, as well as Miss Quek’s advice on how to handle sport and exercise during your period.