Menstruation, Menstrual Health, and USG Initiatives
Across
- 1. Equity Law: legislation passed in 2022 by the Connecticut General Assembly requiring all public schools to supply a free menstrual products in bathrooms
- 2. Time: student-led and funded initiative that provides pad and tampon dispensers in a variety of bathrooms across campus
- 4. a type of morning after pill that is available at Student Health and Wellness, but requires a prescription and is billed through insurance
- 5. student-led and funded initiative that directly addresses period poverty on campus by providing students with a six-month supply of free, high-quality, and sustainable menstrual products
- 6. B: a form of emergency contraception known as a morning after pill that is available over-the-counter at the Student Health and Wellness pharmacy; it currently available for free for undergraduate students
- 8. Poverty: the lack of access to menstrual products, education on menstrual health, hygiene management or waste facilities
- 10. a guiding principle for the Connecticut legislation centered on promoting empowered decision-making regarding health for all genders, fostering an environment free from stigmatization
- 11. infection caused by bacteria entering the urethra, bladder and kidneys, symptoms include frequent urination and a burning sensation during urination, usually treated with antibiotics
- 12. a driving principle behind the Connecticut legislation urging for the elimination of stigma and shame around menstruation and learning how bodies work
- 14. a guiding principle for the Connecticut legislation focused on empowering students to care for themselves in schools, ensuring they feel safe and able to make choices about personal matters
- 15. disc: disposable device for collecting menstrual blood that sits at the base of the cervix, commonly made of medical-grade polymers
- 16. blood and other bodily fluids discharged through the uterus during menstruation
- 17. also known as painful periods or painful menstrual cramps
- 18. menstrual periods that are abnormally heavy in flow, or that are prolonged and last much longer than usual
Down
- 1. cup: eco-friendly alternative to tampons or pads that is inserted into the vagina to collected menstrual blood, frequently made of silicone and available in different sizes
- 2. average age, in years, of menarche for people in the United States
- 3. tax: term used to bring attention to the fact that tampons—and other menstrual hygiene products are subject to value-added tax, at odds with the tax exemption status granted to other products considered basic necessities
- 7. a guiding principle for the Connecticut legislation centered on ensuring equitable access to products, materials, and information for all students, regardless of age, gender, ability, or socioeconomic status
- 9. condition where endometrial tissue, which normally grows inside the uterus, grows in the abdominal cavity and often on other reproductive organs such as ovaries and fallopian tubes
- 13. syndrome: combination of physical and emotional symptoms that occur a few days before a woman’s period starts. Symptoms include bloating, acne, breast tenderness, fatigue, anxiety, food cravings.