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March 21, 2022 14 mins

India considers the role of the femcare industry in perpetuating menstrual stigma and single use products with Chris Bobel, an Associate Professor of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Co-Editor of the Critical Guide to Menstruation.

We also meet Dr Sharra Vostral, a Professor of History at Purdue University in Indiana, to discuss the rise of Toxic Shock Syndrome in the 1970s and 80s and how this healthcare event shaped the tampon industry today.

Later India considers the rise of reusable products with Alec Mills, the founder of the sustainable period product brand, DAME.

Credits: Presented by India Rakusen. Producer: Ellie Sans. Assistant Producer: Jorja McAndrew. Executive Producer: Suzy Grant. Original music composed and performed by Rebekah Reid. Sound Design by Charlie Brandon-King.

Special thanks to all contributors and audio diarists.

A Listen production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

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