We often talk about mental load . About those invisible lists that women carry in their heads, about those thousand everyday details that they tirelessly manage.
But there is another burden, even more silent, even more intimate: the menstrual burden .
The one that accompanies every cycle, every pain, every preparation, every unexpected event.
The one that no calendar signals, but that every woman feels, often alone.
Because periods are not limited to a few days of bleeding. They involve logistical, emotional, physical, and sometimes social planning .
And that is precisely what we are going to talk about here: this invisible weight that is added to everything else — and which, paradoxically, society still too often ignores.
1. What is menstrual load?
1.1. An extension of the mental load
Menstrual load refers to everything a woman has to think about, organize, or manage because of her period — before, during, and after.
It's not just a biological constraint. It's a set of tasks, reflexes, decisions, and concerns that are added to an already busy day.
This could be:
- Check the date of your cycle and plan for the necessary protections;
- To wonder if we will be in pain that day, if we will be able to go to work or to play sports;
- Prepare a spare pouch, check if the clean panties are dry;
- Managing pain discreetly in meetings;
- Finding "social" words to apologize without really telling the truth;
- Remember to buy more mild soap, painkillers, and hot chocolate to compensate…
All these micro-thoughts , added together, form a constant mental burden.
1.2. An invisible emotional reality
Menstrual burden is not just a matter of logistics: it also affects the psychological aspect .
Anxiety about staining clothes, fear of being judged, shame about talking about it, fear of sudden pain or excessive flow… All of this creates an underlying tension.
Even when the rules are regular and well-accepted, the mind anticipates, calculates, and plans.
And when they are irregular or painful, the burden doubles: we learn to live in the uncertainty of the body .
2. Where does this charge come from?
2.1. A cultural silence
For centuries, the rules have been passed over in silence .
Deemed impure, taboo, shameful, or embarrassing, they were relegated to the realm of women's secrets. As a result, many women learned to manage on their own, to hide, to anticipate, without ever complaining.
This collective silence has shaped an entire generation of women who carry everything without saying a word .
And the menstrual load was born from this habit: that of planning everything without anyone noticing.
2.2. A society conceived without the cycle
Our professional, academic, and social rhythms have been built on a linear model — without taking into account hormonal fluctuations.
Women are expected to be productive, efficient, available, and smiling every day of the month.
However, a cyclical body, by its very nature, is not constant . It experiences phases: energy, fatigue, concentration, sensitivity.
But these natural variations are almost never taken into account.
The result: the menstrual burden is also that of adapting to a world that does not adapt to us .
3. The multiple forms of menstrual load
3.1. Physical load
It is the most visible, and yet the most commonplace.
Abdominal pain, migraines, back pain, intense fatigue, nausea or cramps: all real symptoms, but often minimized.
The women get used to working, driving, and raising their children despite the pain.
Countless are those who slip a hot water bottle under the desk, swallow a painkiller in silence, or force their body to keep up with the pace.
3.2. The emotional burden
Periods are not only experienced with the stomach: they are also experienced with the heart.
Hormonal variations influence mood, sensitivity, and motivation.
But because society values emotional consistency, many women feel guilty about being “different” on certain days of the month.
The emotional burden is having to deal with these fluctuations without allowing oneself to do so.
It's holding back tears, smiling despite the pain, or pretending to be okay.
3.3. The logistical burden
How many times have we heard:
"Oh no, I forgot my spare underwear!"
"I'm out of towels at home..."
"I can't wash my underwear today, it's raining..."
These minor inconveniences are part of the daily menstrual cycle.
Planning, organizing, washing, buying, transporting — it's an invisible organization .
Even with reusable products like period panties , planning is still necessary: washing, drying, rotation.
3.4. Social security contributions
The fear of how others perceive us is a central element.
Some teenage girls hide their periods as a shameful secret.
Some adult women continue to invent excuses for not saying they are in pain.
And others still face comments at work when they dare to talk about menstrual pain.
The social burden is this weight of collective unspoken rules , this fatigue of having to normalize what is perfectly natural.
4. What this burden reveals about our relationship to the body
Menstrual load highlights a deep tension: that between our biology and our culture .
On one hand, the female body functions according to a cyclical and organic rhythm.
On the other hand, society values linear performance, consistent productivity, and emotional discretion.
Each woman therefore learns to compose, to smooth, to hide — and it is precisely this camouflage that creates the charge.
Because concealing what is natural requires energy.
And because adapting to a non-cyclical world requires constant vigilance.
But the good news is that things are changing .
New generations, committed brands, educators and platforms like Adopte Ma Culotte are helping to make visible what was previously invisible.
By speaking openly about the rules, we lighten the burden .
5. How to lighten the menstrual load?
5.1. Reclaiming one's cycle
Understanding one's body is already an act of liberation.
Keeping a cycle journal, observing physical and emotional signs, noting your needs according to the phases — all of this helps to regain control over your rhythm .
Because part of the burden comes from unpredictability: the more you know your body, the less you suffer.
5.2. Simplify your organization
Reusable menstrual products like period panties make life easier.
They eliminate last-minute shopping, reduce waste and adapt to all flows.
Having several models to suit your needs allows you to create a smooth routine without logistical stress.
A good practical tip: prepare a “menstrual box” at home with everything you need (underwear, mild soap, carrying pouch, hot water bottle, relaxing herbal tea).
The idea is to centralize and ritualize the moment, rather than simply enduring it.
5.3. Saying things
Easing the burden also means breaking the taboo .
Saying that you have your period, that you are tired, that you need a moment for yourself — that's not complaining, that's being honest.
The more freely women talk about it, the more workplaces, families, and schools will be able to adapt.
5.4. Acknowledge your emotions
During menstruation, everything seems amplified: doubts, desires, sensitivities.
Rather than fighting it, it is possible to make it a space for listening to oneself .
Resting, writing, meditating, walking, or simply doing nothing: allowing yourself to slow down is to rebalance your inner scales.
6. The future: towards a more cyclical society
The world is beginning to realize that menstruation is not a weakness , but a natural feature of the female body.
Some companies are testing menstrual leave, schools are introducing menstrual education programs, and reusable menstrual products are becoming the norm.
But beyond concrete measures, a culture of respect for the body is taking hold.
The goal is not to erase the burden, but to share it:
- Between partners, by supporting each other more;
- Between colleagues, recognizing the needs of each individual;
- Between generations, by speaking openly about the subject.
Easing the menstrual burden ultimately means easing the silence .
And in this silence that is broken, a new form of freedom is born.
What if easing the burden of menstruation also involved a better understanding of your cycle? Many women discover that by observing their body's rhythms, it becomes easier to anticipate physical and emotional fluctuations. Knowing when your flow begins, how many days it lasts, or when pain occurs allows you to organize yourself differently—with more gentleness and less stress. This approach leads to a new way of experiencing your period: more conscious, more peaceful. Understanding your cycle is already a step towards regaining control of your well-being. And to go further, discover how to calculate your menstrual cycle or identify the causes of a delayed period , so you can approach each part of the month with serenity and self-compassion.
Menstrual load is everything that women carry without it being seen.
But it is also a strength: the strength of having learned to organize oneself, to listen to oneself, to weather inner storms without losing oneself.
Today, it is time to acknowledge this burden in order to better transform it .
By talking about it, by sharing it, by simplifying it.
And by choosing solutions that respect the body, such as menstrual panties — designed to liberate, not to conceal.
Because the real menstrual revolution isn't just about products.
It is through awareness that our bodies deserve to be heard, honored, and understood.