The Period Emoji Is Finally Coming (And There’s A Waffle And An Otter Too)

The blood drop emoji is the result of a successful submission to Unicode from Plan International UK and NHS Blood and Transplant.

Research from Plan International UK found around half (47%) of 18-34-year-old women believed a period emoji would make it easier for them to talk about their periods with female friends and partners. 

Lucy Russell, head of girl’s rights and youth at the charity, said: “The inclusion of an emoji which can express what 800 million women around the world are experiencing every month is a huge step towards normalising periods and smashing the stigma which surrounds them.

“For years we’ve obsessively silenced and euphemised periods. As experts in girls’ rights, we know that this has a negative impact on girls; girls feel embarrassed to talk about their periods, they’re missing out, and they can suffer health implications as a consequence.

“An emoji isn’t going to solve this, but it can help change the conversation. Ending the shame around periods begins with talking about it.”