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The South West’s Best Student Publication 2025
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ISSUE 781 25 MAR 2026 exepose.com @exepose
THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987
University Holi celebration Page 4 Image: University of Exeter
Survey reveals student’s attitudes towards menstruation at the University of Exeter Amberly Wright & Lani Elatta Deputy Editor
Latest album reviews Page 22
How much caffeine is too much? Page 29 Title graphic: Amelie Redfern Images (top to bottom): photo courtesy of UOE, Wikimedia Commons, Pexels
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NICEF estimate that at any given time, around 26 percent of the world’s population will menstruate. Many complications can arise from a menstrual cycle, such as endometriosis, which occurs when cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow elsewhere in the body, leading to inflammation, pain, and difficulty conceiving. It is estimated that one in ten of those assigned female at birth suffer from endometriosis, equating to 176 million people worldwide. Endometriosis UK says it takes an average of eight years and ten months from an initial GP visit to get a diagnosis. PCOS, which stands for polycystic ovary syndrome, is a similar condition, where the ovaries become enlarged and contain many follicles that surround the eggs. This leads to irregular periods, difficulties conceiving due to the lack of ovulation, painful periods, and fluctuating hormone levels. It took Amberly, our Deputy Editor, four years of GP visits to get her PCOS diagnosis, with her being prescribed several methods of contraception and unsuccessful pain relief to alleviate her pain, before finally being referred to have an ultrasound. While endometrial tissue and ovarian cysts can be removed, there are risks that they will grow back, therefore there are currently no
cures for either endometriosis or PCOS. Wellbeing of Women, a charity that aims to break down period stigma, found that over half of women and girls had been shamed for their period, with 32 percent saying it had happened more than once. Their ‘Just a period’ survey revealed that women wait an average of 22 months between abnormal period symptoms starting and seeing a medical professional. Further, only one in ten women could identify all of the signs of abnormally heavy bleeding, while ten percent of women experienced bleeding that affected their day-to-day activities. The survey further demonstrated that 97 percent of women and girls experience painful periods, with 42 percent saying their pain is extreme. A study by the University of Exeter and University of Bristol found 27 percent of girls has a lower change of achieving five GCSE passes, due to lower levels of attendance and attainment. These results show that heavy bleeding and painful periods aren’t just a myth — there are real people behind each statistic. The survey revealed that over 40 percent of girls felt sad and unmotivated whilst on their period, with over 30 percent feeling anxious, depressed, insecure about their self-image, and angry. A further 19 percent felt lonely. Regarding their everyday impact, 20 percent of women said they were unable get out of bed when on their period, and over one out of three girls missed days from school and education due to feeling unwell. Exeposé asked University of Exeter
students who menstruate for their opinions on menstruating. Among the 84 students who answered the survey, disruption to learning was common. 61.9 percent said they had missed a lecture or seminar because of their period this academic year. Beyond missing classes, many students reported interruptions during teaching. 53.6 percent said they had left a lecture or seminar to check for leakage. Reflecting when students are physically present, they still may be unable to fully participate or concentrate while on their period. Time spent on campus was also significantly affected. 78.6 percent of respondents said they had cut studying on campus short due to their period. This is the highest figure recorded in the survey and points to a widespread impact on study routines, particularly outside of timetabled teaching. This is especially detrimental when considering these students may well have been trying to catch up on work they’ve missed because of their period too.
78.6 percent of respondents said they had cut studying on campus short due to their period.
Coursework has also been affected, although to a lesser extent. 22.6 percent of students reported requesting an extension as a direct result of their
period. It is important to note that this smaller figure may be due to the fact that students may not feel this is a valid reason.
22.6 percent of students reported requesting an extension as a direct result of their period. Rose, your Communities and Equality Officer, is advocating for changes to mitigation for those who menstruate. She said, “Nearly 500 of you shared your experiences of menstrual health support at Exeter, and it’s clear there’s more we need to do together to get this right. Managing your menstrual health alongside everything else university brings can be challenging, and you deserve support that feels accessible, understanding, and consistent when you need it most.” “I’m taking your feedback forward as part of ongoing, constructive conversations with the University. Together, we want to explore what more effective, compassionate support could look like — from clearer mitigation and ILP processes and more flexible exam arrangements, to staff training that helps you feel confident and comfortable asking for help. This is the start of that process. I’ll continue to work with the University to push for meaningful, practical changes with your voices at the heart.” Continued on page 3