A teenager watches a favorite show after school. A parent sits nearby. A difficult topic comes up on screen—one that might otherwise never come up at the dinner table.
Moments like these are rare when it comes to menstruation in teen television.
According to a new Geena Davis Institute study, Period Pieces: How TV Shapes Teens’ Understanding of Menstruation, television has the potential to help normalize conversations about periods, reduce stigma, and improve understanding among young audiences. Yet despite menstruation being a routine experience for millions of people, it remains largely absent from television storylines.
The study draws on multiple sources, including a survey of U.S. parents and teens, an analysis of more than 59,000 television scripts spanning nearly seven decades, and a review of hundreds of teen television episodes. Together, the findings offer a broad look at how menstruation appears—or does not appear—in television content.
The research arrives at a moment when conversations about adolescent health, body literacy, and media influence are increasingly visible. Decades of scholarship have shown that media representations help shape social norms and influence how young people understand themselves and the world around them. Television is no exception.
What makes the study especially notable is its focus on both media content and audience perception. The findings suggest that when menstruation does appear on screen, it can serve as a catalyst for discussion between parents and teens. These moments create opportunities for questions, learning, and normalization around a topic that is still frequently treated as taboo.
Historically, menstruation has often been portrayed through embarrassment, secrecy, or humor. Research examining film and television portrayals has found that period-related storylines have long relied on euphemisms and stigma-driven narratives. While representation has evolved over time, visibility remains limited.
The Geena Davis Institute’s findings point to an opportunity for creators. Including menstruation in television stories does not require turning every storyline into a lesson. Instead, authentic portrayals can reflect a reality already familiar to millions of viewers. When television treats menstruation as a normal part of life, it helps challenge the notion that it should remain hidden or ignored.
For entertainment professionals, educators, parents, and advocates, the study offers a reminder that what is left off screen can be just as influential as what appears on it.
Read the full report, Period Pieces: How TV Shapes Teens’ Understanding of Menstruation, and help support the Geena Davis Institute’s research advancing more accurate and inclusive representation in media.