Headteacher urges frank discussions in schools about women’s health

A secondary headteacher living with endometriosis is calling for more frank discussions in schools about periods and women’s health. 

Emma Lambden, who lives in Ripon and is head of Thirsk School, was diagnosed with the women’s reproductive condition in her early 40s, but says she had had problems with periods since her teens. 

She said: “Diagnosis of endometriosis typically takes about seven years, so I just want young girls to have sufficient information that they will go to the doctor early if need be, rather than thinking they ‘just have bad periods’, like I did.” 

The headteacher, who was educated at Ripon Grammar School, said discussions with groups of her own pupils had already yielded valuable feedback. Students aged 15 to 17 suggested the introduction of lessons about what periods look like, the emotional impact of periods, and the need to remove the “taboo” from talking about menstrual health. 

Ms Lambden has also made sanitary products available on demand at three points in her school – a move that was prompted by some of her own sixth-formers, who wanted to combat “period poverty”. 

She is now making that just one plank of a wider approach. She said: 

“North Yorkshire County Council has put out guidance around menopause, and the teachers’ unions have created a menopause policy for staff. There’s a lot of talk around the menopause – and rightly so – but I’d also like to see us talk more about the other health issues women can face. 

“I wanted to broaden the issue out to include our students, so as a school we’ve created a draft women’s health policy, and we’re looking at drawing up a men’s health policy too. 

“This feels like an idea whose time has come. When talking about women’s health, everyone always sticks to the biology and emotions, but we need to talk more about the practicalities of it. 

She added: 

“It always feels as if periods are the last taboo – we just don’t talk about them. We need to be able to talk about these things without embarrassment.” 

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