Dear Professor Alice Gast and Professor Ian Walmsley,

I am writing to you to bring your attention to a growing issue, which is the lack of access to menstrual products provided for students who menstruate at Imperial College London. This problem has severe effects on the mental and emotional wellbeing of students at this university.

Menstruation is experienced by approximately 50% of the world’s population. Yet, 1 in 10 girls in the UK struggles to afford menstrual products. With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of individuals who suffer from period poverty in the UK has only increased. The financial stress incurred by COVID-19 has led to three in five university students considering dropping out. In the face of financial scarcity, students should never be forced to decide between buying menstrual products and buying food or other necessities. To alleviate some of this financial burden, Imperial College London should provide access to free menstrual products at all on-campus facilities.

Lack of access to menstrual products isn’t just a problem for individuals who cannot afford them, it is also an issue for individuals who have forgotten their products or have come on their periods unexpectedly. Unfortunately, there is still an overwhelming taboo surrounding menstruation. For that reason, the lack of access to menstrual products can be devasting to one’s mental health and self-esteem. In a survey of more than 1,000 girls, around half of the respondents admitted to being embarrassed by their periods and three-quarters of the respondents were embarrassed to buy menstrual products. As someone who menstruates, I have experienced my period unexpectedly and would have to use toilet paper as a substitute for menstrual products on multiple occasions. During these times, I would experience feelings of shame, embarrassment and humiliation. These, Professor Gast and Professor Walmsley, are unpleasant circumstances that I hope no other individual should ever go through. As the President and Provost of Imperial College London, you have the power within you to not relay the same experience on another student ever again.

The studies I have mentioned above solely focus on individuals who identify as female in the UK. However, as you are probably aware, not all women menstruate and not all people who menstruate are women. Thus, Imperial College London should also stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community and make menstrual products available for all genders, and at all gendered, gender-neutral and disabled restroom facilities.

Please, Professor Gast and Professor Walmsley, consider the reputation that Imperial College London needs to uphold. As a world-class academic institute, Imperial College London has the responsibility to set an example for the rest of the educational establishments. Menstrual product provision is a valuable investment for all menstruating students and is no less valid than expenditure elsewhere. Several UK universities (such as the University of Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow, the University of Exeter, and the University of West of England) are already providing menstrual products support. I can only hope that Imperial College London will quickly follow suit.  

Access to menstrual products is a basic human right. To not provide it to your students is to also neglect the problems that people who menstruate face. I hope you take this into consideration.

Best regards,

Erika Lau

Postgraduate Researcher

Imperial College London

Class of 2021