Image: 21-year-old Sophia
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21-year-old university student Sophia reveals how her GP gave her pills to delay her periods so she could travel and play sports
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Women in the UK are spending up to £9,000 on their periods
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A £25 menstrual cup changed Sophia’s life and has saved her hundreds of pounds so far
November 2024: 21-year-old university student Sophia, originally from Leeds, would get her GP to prescribe her pills that would delay her periods, and allow her to play sports and travel stress-free.
Since her periods started, Sophia struggled with heavy periods that would leave her unable to play sports comfortably or travel where she wanted to without the worry of her periods leaking.
At just 13 years old, Sophia visited her GP for the first time ahead of a gymnastics competition. As a gymnast, she was advised not to wear underwear beneath her leotard, but she felt anxious about managing her period without the option of shorts. Her GP prescribed period-delay medication, which Sophia found helpful in managing her heavy flow. She continued to use period delay medication once or twice a year, particularly during challenging times.
Sophia’s experience is not uncommon, three in five (61%) women in the UK take medication for their periods, with a quarter (23%) taking taking prescribed painkillers. Women also delay their periods despite the health risks it has, such as irregular vaginal bleeding, changes to their menstrual cycle, abdominal discomfort, and altered moods.
Fortunately, two years ago, Sophia was able to stop using medication to delay her periods, all thanks to a £25 purchase that transformed her life. Sophia explained, “I’m very passionate about living sustainably, so when I first heard about period cups, I was curious to try them.” Since making the switch, her life has been less impacted by her menstrual cycle. She now praises menstrual cups for their many benefits, saying, “You can wear them much longer, which means you can go about your day without the constant worry of leaks.”
Using the Asan Cup not only improved her quality of life but also allowed her to save money. Each year, Sophia would spend a small sum on her prescribed pills, in addition to the £228 per year women have to spend on their cycle, which is a significant sum for a student.
With 81% of students in the UK worrying about making ends meet, budgeting is harder than ever. Despite the government increasing maximum loans by 2.5% for 2024/2025, it falls short of covering living costs by £504 per month.
An analysis by menstrual cup company, Asan Cup, reveals that women in the UK have to spend up to £8,892 during their lifetime, simply for menstruating.
Cost breakdown per month:
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Sanitary pads/ tampons = £10
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Washing clothes due to leakage = 50p per cycle
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Pain relief = 50p per pack
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New underwear = £8
Total = £19 per month/ £228 per year
Women in England, typically between the ages of 12 and 51 – the average span of a woman’s menstrual cycle – spend at least £5,000 on period-related costs over their lifetime. Many also invest an additional £4,000 for extra comfort during their periods.
By swapping to the Asan menstrual cup, Sophia has saved over £150 so far after struggling to afford her period essentials.
“I’ve felt the impact of the situation most significantly when paying my London rent, but I’ve equally noticed the price of everyday essentials going up and up. After rent, bills, groceries, and travel, it can be really difficult to afford to live on a student budget.” Sophia shared.
“It could be very frustrating at times trying to make fewer period products last longer for me until my period was over just to avoid spending more than I have to,” Sophia added.
Asan’s period impact calculator can help you discover how much you could save by making the switch.