Managing Menstruation in Extreme Environments Project (MMiEEP)

Managing Menstruation in Extreme Environments Project

Welcome to MMiEEP, our long-term research project! MMiEEP aims to identify and explore issues around menstruation in extreme or challenging environments around the world, looking at many different factors including types of environment, age, health status, contraception status, cultural background, and practicalities in the field. The project looks to produce practical information for women and guidance for practitioners. Ultimately, the project will seek to encourage solidarity between women, and promote their health and wellbeing, including participation in adventure and outdoor activities.

We were thrilled to officially launch our MMiEEP Survey at our flagship annual event WAExpo, in October 2017. Please click on the link below and help us to collate valuable information which will help make Adventure more inclusive for women. Thank you!

The MMIEEP Survey is now closed

Menstruation is a globally shared experience among women, but often not addressed in this context. MMiEEP will help empower women interested in, or engaged in outdoor activity by exploring issues surrounding menstruation in challenging environments, and produce both useful and practical information. Women’s Adventure Expo also hope the project will encourage solidarity between women, promote their health and wellbeing, and encourage participation in adventure and outdoor activity.

With 2 million fewer women than men regularly playing sport, according to Sport England’s 2014 survey, we want to find out whether menstruation is a barrier for any women participating in adventurous activities, and if it is, how we can overcome it. Physical exercise is good for mental and physical well-being, and we want to remove any barriers, perceived or otherwise, that may prevent women from participating. This is why we are launching our Managing Menstruation in Extreme Environments Project, which will investigate issues surrounding menstruation and provide information to aid women’s participation.

MMiEEP is a multidisciplinary, collaborative project involving academics, explorers, adventurous travellers, remote workers/volunteers, expedition leaders and companies, and travel health practitioners. We will gather experiences from many women, and information from many organisations.

The project will also cover many different aspects, including: types of environment (such as mountains, deserts, jungle, marine), possible risks from wildlife, type of activities, stage of life, use of contraception, cultural background, resources and practicalities in the field, including disposal or waste management.

MMiEEP academic adviser, psychologist Dr Emma Barrett, Research Fellow of the University of Lancashire, will oversee a formal academic research study. In addition, the Women’s Adventure Expo are delighted to have a research internship funded by the University of Bristol. The study will gather and collate data to build a detailed picture of experience and practice. Data will be analysed and presented in a range of formats for different audiences; including an academic paper, report and short articles.

Managing Menstruation in Extreme Environments Blog

The MMiEEP Newsletter

Keep up to date with project news! 2018 has exciting things in store for MMiEEP, so if you would like to know more about the project and how to get involved, please sign up to our Newsletter on the link below. Thank you!

We never share details or email addresses for marketing.

Support the Project

Please contact us to donate and help us deliver MMiEEP. Your generosity helps fund our research. Our aim is to produce and publish a guide detailing practical solutions in different environments and contexts which will be a valuable resource for women, expedition leaders and outdoor professionals. We also hope that this project will open up the conversation surrounding menstruation in extreme environments and support further research in the future. Let’s end the period taboo!

Complete the Survey

The MMiEEP survey is our primary research method. We value every single contribution, so please fill out our survey now! It helps us to learn as much as possible about the broad experience of menstruation and its effects on people’s lives.

Sign up for News

Keep up to date with MMiEEP news by signing up for our newsletter! We never share your details or use them for marketing. Thank you for you participation!

Focus Groups

Would you like to engage more actively in the project? We welcome you to attend a focus group, designed to provide a safe space to discuss menstruation as a barrier to women and girls’ participation in expeditions and adventurous activities, concerns, and menstrual-related problems that may be faced. Details of focus groups will be provided in MMiEEP newsletters, or, contact us for more info.

Please contact us to support MMiEEP