TV presenter Steph McGovern has been praised after sharing the reality many people on their period face while out in public.
The 42-year-old Packed Lunch star took to Instagram earlier this month (8 November) to open up about her 'period drama', explaining that she's been having 'painful, heavy periods' since she was 12.
She continued: "And that can mean hormones going wild, embarrassing leaks in public, crippling pain at work. Us lasses just put up with it don’t we? Now after 30 years I need a rant about it..."
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She shared with her 131,000 followers that she was on a flight going down to London for work.
During the flight, she began to feel stomach cramps, continuing: "It was day four of my period and I had taken painkillers. Anyway, I cracked on prepping for work, trying to ignore it."
However, when the plane landed, Steph stood up and 'suddenly felt a gush of blood'.
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"I was wearing tampon and liner and had black jeans on so wasn’t too worried," she carried on. "Then another more powerful gush came and this time I felt blood running down my leg.
"I looked down and saw the blood, which was now on my white trainers."
Recalling the moment, Steph revealed she was 'mortified' by the situation, explaining: "Not only was I surrounded by businessmen I could feel more and more blood coming out. I had no idea what to do.
"I tried to wipe the blood off my leg and trainers with my coat sleeve hoping no one would notice."
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Fortunately, Steph's coat was 'long enough' to cover her body, but she was still on edge as she 'didn’t know what was coming next'.
"I was in full on panic mode," the presenter continued.
"From the plane I had to get a bus to the terminal and the whole time I was trying not to cry (or get blood anywhere else)."
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Eventually, Steph was able to get to the loo and was 'able to clean [herself] up as best [she] could'.
"Thank god I had some spare knicks and trousers in my case!" she exclaimed, before adding: "And from there I went straight to my meeting pretending nothing had happened (and praying it wasn’t going to happen again)."
Noting she knew 'stories' like hers may be 'very familiar' to many of her followers, Steph rounded off: "So why am I telling you this?
"Because periods are sh*t!!!
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"And I hate the fact that we end up embarrassed about them when it’s not our f’ing fault. I know they are what help us have babies and I am very grateful for my little girl.
"But honestly 30 years of this (minus the preggers years). It’s a joke."
You can say that again!
Since posting about the ordeal, Steph was inundated with praise and support, with one Instagram user writing: "So important to share the reality periods.
"The gush of blood clots is one I dread each month, especially if I’m at work. And if I am I have to wear like three nighttime pads during the day. I went to the doctor and they said there’s nothing they can do about it just said in perimenopause."
A second penned: "Oh god Steph I feel for you! And I couldn’t agree more we need to normalise talking about it!"
"This stuff needs to be discussed, thank you for talking so frankly about it," thanked a third, while a fourth shared: "Had some bloke in work the other day tell me it’s all in our head and women make it worse than it is. I had to get up and walk away."
And a final Instagram user echoed: "What’s a bloody nightmare, but like everyone here it’s great that you are sharing this reality and normalising the conversation."
Topics: Celebrity, Instagram, Periods, Social Media, News, UK News, TV And Film, This Morning, Health
Rhiannon Ingle