When Periods Went Prime Time

Courtney Cox in first period commercial.

Menstrual product commercials were banned from TV until 1972. Just 53 years ago, periods were considered too "taboo" for public discussion. It wasn’t until 1985—40 years ago—that the first-ever TV ad for menstrual products aired, starring Courtney Cox. And even then, she only represented a fraction of the people who menstruate.

📺 Curious? Watch the commercial here.

This got me thinking—where does this deep-rooted menstrual shame come from? Why has society worked so hard to keep periods hidden? And how does this stigma show up around the world?

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Drop a comment and let’s unpack this together. 💬✨