Period products and incontinence products

[sarawilcox]

Should we follow GOV and move away from "sanitary" or "hygiene" products?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/period-products-in-schools-and-colleges/period-product-scheme-for-schools-and-colleges-in-england

[sarawilcox]

To be published 19 September. Approved by clinical team.

[sarawilcox]

At July 2024 Style Council meeting, we approved the following wording:

“Do not use “sanitary products” or “hygiene products”. You could use “period products” or specify the products you mean.”

Action: For next Style Council meeting, Sara to work up an example of non-period use. Look at incontinence, for example.

[sarawilcox]

I asked NHS.UK content designers if they use "incontinence products". Comments below.

"Bowel incontinence is transformed - we used "incontinence pads or pants". It was one of the secondary care exemplars and that wording didn't come up as an issue in user testing as far as I can remember."

"Presumably as incontinence is the name of the condition, talking about incontinence products won't confuse or cause any offence."

"I've also transformed enlarged prostate though it's not signed off and published yet - I used 'products such as pads, pants or sheaths'."