logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2021
40m 13s

What is the point of menstruation?

Bbc World Service
About this episode
It's a topic that's taboo in many cultures, yet it's also something nearly every woman experiences – on average upwards of 400 times throughout her life: menstruation. Responding to a flood of questions from our CrowdScience listeners, Marnie Chesterton seeks to unpack how periods affect women physically, mentally and societally. Why did humans evolve to ... Show More
Up next
Jul 4
Can we harness solar energy from other stars?
Listener Dickson Mukisa from Uganda has been gazing up at the stars. But he’s not making wishes. He wants to know whether we can harness their energy, in the same way we do with our OWN star – the sun. After all, they may seem small and twinkly to us, but each one is a gigantic f ... Show More
26m 28s
Jun 27
Why are twins special?
No one really cares that CrowdScience listener Sam has a younger brother, but they do care about his sister. In fact, they’re fascinated by her. That’s because Sam and his sister are fraternal twins. He’s been wondering all his life why he’s treated differently. Could it be cultu ... Show More
26m 28s
Jun 20
How can we persuade more people to cycle?
Cycling is good for our health, good for the planet, and it can be an efficient way of moving around busy cities. But despite all the rational arguments for it, in most cities the number of people who get on their bikes is low.CrowdScience listener Hans wants to know whether it’s ... Show More
26m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2023
Special Episode: Dr. Kate Clancy & Period
Menstruation. Is there any other biological process that is so widely experienced yet is still discussed in hushed tones or with an air of disgust? Period product commercials that never mention menstruation (and what’s with the blue liquid?), sex education classes covering what p ... Show More
55m 6s
May 2022
Do we need to talk more about menstruation?
Despite it being a regular bodily function, menstruation isn’t often talked about. But it’s something that is causing huge problems for many women on the continent. It’s estimated that one in ten girls miss school while they’re on their period And the cost of sanitary products ca ... Show More
16m 45s
Jan 2023
The Period Talk (For Adults)
Every month, 1.8 billion people menstruate globally. For those people, managing periods is essential for strong reproductive and emotional health, social wellbeing and bodily autonomy. But a lot of people haven't been educated about periods or the menstrual cycle since they were ... Show More
13m 11s
May 2024
Menstruation: Science, medicine and mythology
Periods are taboo! Despite the fact that half of the world’s population experience them. This taboo has led to countless myths around the topic. “The internet’s gynecologist” Dr. Jen Gunter is here to usher in a new era where people understand – and can advocate for – what they n ... Show More
57m 10s
Mar 2024
The Evidence: The science of the menopause
Millions of women around the world experience the menopause each year; it’s an important milestone, which marks the end of their reproductive years.But every individual's experience of it is personal and unique. In some cultures, there's a stigma about this life stage – it's view ... Show More
49m 26s
Sep 2022
2.1 Murderous menstrual blood
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that periods are terrifying. Well, men have certainly seemed to think so. All the way back to Roman times, the male chroniclers of the human condition have agreed on one thing: menstruation is unseemly, ungodly and just plain horribl ... Show More
40m 35s
Mar 2024
Empowerment during menopause with Dr. Cari Schaefer
Today’s episode is with Dr. Cari Schaefer, who is a (Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine), who stands at the forefront of menopausal wellness as the founder of Your Menopause Midwife. With over 23 years of experience as a women's healthcare provider, lecturer, teacher in h ... Show More
58m 36s
Sep 2023
How hormones and the menstrual cycle affect mental health, with Tory Eisenlohr-Moul, PhD
Despite the sexist jokes, the menstrual cycle doesn’t cause significant changes in mood or behavior for most people. But a small percentage do suffer severe premenstrual symptoms, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Tory Eisenlohr-Moul, PhD, of the University of Illinois C ... Show More
30m 23s