Introduction: Menstruation is experienced by most girls and women across the world and it has been stigmatized across most cultures and religions. Negative attitude towards menstruation seems to be a result of socio-historical processes and social relations. Therefore, approaching this issue should be encouraged by a desire to change. Purpose: The purpose of this diploma thesis is to research where stigma towards menstruation is coming from and to find out whether it is still present. Our goal is to indicate a method for »bridging« / overcoming this stigma so that menstruation will be looked at without prejudices. Methods: We used a descriptive method of work. We were collecting literature from May 2015 to February 2017 and gathered 21 sources in English language and 3 in Slovene. For our search we used databases CINAHL, Medline, SocINDEX and Co-operative Online Bibliographic System & Services – COBISS.SI namely in Ljubljana City Library – Library Šiška. 11 chosen articles were included in analysis and synthesis of answers on research questions. Results: Term stigma that was already used by the ancient Greeks tells us that stigma originates from differences, and the acquired response to these differences is fear. Menstruation is more of a hidden stigma and it is characterised by three major taboos: taboo of concealment, activity taboo and communication taboo. Science, religion, culture, socio-economic status, the media etc. all of these often contribute to menstrual stigma. This has a major impact on the health of women, their sexuality, social status and well-being. In order for women to accept themselves every day of the month, there should be a change of cultural view on menstruation and also women themselves must take over the control of how they experience and perceive menstruation. It is very important to educate girls about menstruation through authoritative, technical and embodied knowledge. Here healthcare professionals play an important role, as they are directly or indirectly involved in all three ways of transfering this knowledge. Discussion and conclusion: Prejudices or negative attitude towards menstruation, fear that provokes emotional response of disgust and aversion, concealment, restriction, shame of being discovered, unacceptable speech, etc. All of these are walls that prevent menstruation from being accepted as perfectly normal and as a desired monthly event which indicates health and not disease. For such a goal to be achieved, an active contribution from everyone is required. It may not be possible to remove all prejudices, but what is important is to remove those which discredit, destroy the reputation of an individual and lead to stigma. Menstruation without such prejudices is not utopia but the future.
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