Code Red

Jane Sharp, The Midwives Book (1671)

This was the first book written by an English woman about midwifery. Its author, Jane Sharp, didn’t only write about childbirth, but covered menopause and menstruation as well. Like most writers in the 1600s, Sharp used euphemistic language to describe these taboo subjects. She referred to menstruation as ‘the flowers’, with a corresponding flower placed over the woman’s genitals in this illustration.

More dramatically, some referred to ‘the time of your wonted grief’ or ‘poison, dispersed’. Similarly, the Roman author Pliny wrote that menstruating women would cause crops to wither and die, turn wine bad, blunt swords and make bees forsake their hives. By the 1800s, terms like ‘monthly infirmity’ and ‘the sickness’ conjured up images of weak and sickly women. 

James Hope, Principles and Illustrations of Morbid Anatomy (1834) 

For hundreds of years medical illustrations of women’s reproductive organs were focused on the foetus, with little attention given to the non-pregnant womb. The wombs themselves were illustrated stylistically rather than accurately, often being depicted as a flask or fruit. 

The illustrations on display here are unusual because they show the female reproductive organs without focusing on pregnancy. Figure 193 shows the ovary when ‘red, turgid, and filled with menstrual fluid’. By the 1800s texts like this one began to explore the topics of menstruation and menopause. Before the discovery of the sex hormone oestrogen in the 1920s, doctors struggled to understand what caused the menopause, arguing that causes could include ‘unwomanly’ activities like manual work, reading novels or drinking coffee.

Humphreys Menopause Pills (c.1940s)

These pills were first produced in the 1850s by an American doctor, Frederick Humphreys. They were number 32 in a series of different products sold by Humphreys, all described by him as ‘homeopathic’ and each one supposedly tackling a different condition. One targeted heart problems, while others were marketed for diseases of the eye, throat and head. 

According to the packaging, these menopause pills contain cactus flesh and snake oil. Pill peddlers like Humphreys filled a gap in the market. The menopause had long been neglected by doctors and even when they began to study menopause more closely, the recommendations rarely alleviated women’s distress. Treatments ranged from the surgical removal of ovaries to the institutionalisation of menopausal women in asylums, where they were diagnosed with something called ‘climacteric insanity’.

Hey Girls Pad and Cup (2023)

These re-usable period products were created by Hey Girls, a Scottish social enterprise. For every product they sell, one is given free to a charity or group in need. Period poverty is a very real problem and around 500 million women worldwide struggle to manage their periods safely. Stigma surrounding periods can make it harder to ask for help.

A recent poll by ActionAid showed that 21% of women in the UK struggle to afford menstrual products. Some of those surveyed said they would reuse their tampons or keep them in for longer than recommended while others used alternatives like toilet paper or socks. Women living under period poverty are at greater risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome and urinary tract infections.

What I Wish I Knew (2022) 

This textile banner was made by the community during workshops delivered by artist Leigh Bowser and period poverty charity Freedom4Girls. They worked with four groups, including LGBTQIA* youth, students at East Leeds Academy and an over 55's group. Participants were asked to share things they wish they had known about menstruation to capture experiences about starting a period, pregnancy and menopause. 

By giving participants a creative outlet and focus, they're able to feel more comfortable with sharing their thoughts. Many participants began the workshops feeling shy about discussing their periods, but by the end enthusiastically added their stories and thoughts to the art on display here. The banner aims to share experiences to help reduce stigma and feelings of loneliness. 

 This object is on loan from the Thackray Museum of Medicine