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Free period ­products on campus

Campus der Universität Bielefeld
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Contact:

The expansion of the provision of free period products was initiated by Bielefeld University's Equal Opportunities Office and implemented together with the Facility Management.

Contact persons:

Siân Birkner (Deputy Central Equal Opportunities Officer)

Louise Hartmann (Facility Management Department)  

Kathrin Schumacher (Facility Management Department)

Dispenser for free period products on ­campus

Bielefeld University has been providing free period products since 2019. On the initiative of student representatives, the rectorate financed the purchase and installation of a dispenser for period products in the largest women's toilet on campus, located in the main building. The provision was later expanded and dispensers installed in buildings X and Y. They have been very well received by staff, students and guests alike.

Since the winter semester 2022/23, the provision has been continuously expanded, furnishing more toilets on campus with dispensers. Certain toilets in nine buildings now provide "standard" sized tampons and sanitary pads. Care has been taken to distribute the dispensers in such a way that people of all genders, as well as people who use accessible toilets, have access to the products. All other buildings will be successively equipped in line with this approach.

Standorte

Buildings

 Women’s Toilets Accessible Toilets All-Gender-Toilets

University Main Building (UHG)
  • A3-108/108a
  • B01-110c/110d
  • B1-298/298a
  • F0-107/109
  • J0-102a/102b
  • P01-213/221 (WC-Changing Rooms)
  • P01-245
  • P1-219
  • S0-135/135a
  • S3-135/135a
  • S6-135/135a
  • T0-157
  • B01-110
  • B0-290
  • B2-290
  • P01-214 (WC- Changing Rooms)
  • P0-443
  • P1-223
  • S0-118 
  • S4-108
  • U0-119
  • A2-112/112a (Unofficial AGT)
  • P01-203 (WC-Changing Rooms)
CeBiTec
  • G0-112
  • G1-112
  • G01-114
  • G2-114
  • G01-114 (Access for all)
CITEC
  • 0-011
  • 2-008
  • 1-014
  • 3-014
  

Experimental Physics
  • E0-401/402
  • E0-106
  • E0-106 (Access for all)
Building R1
  • D0-109
  • A0-041
  • D0-108
  • A0-041.A
Building R2
  • Z1-100/102
  • Z2-101
  • Z4-103
Building X
  • E0-101
  • E0-115
  • F0-109
  • E1-116
Building Y
  • 0-105
  • 0-107
  • 0-104
Building Z
  • 0-203
  • 1-201
  • 2-207
       

Background

More than half of Bielefeld University members menstruate. They do so regularly and many for the entire duration of their affiliation with this institution. Nevertheless, it is not a topic that is talked about, even though it has a real impact on the everyday lives of all these people. In addition to period pains, the mere access to period products, such as tampons or pads, can become a problem.

If the start of your bleeding catches you off guard on campus, you may miss a seminar or lecture or have to interrupt or end your working day early. Spontaneously spending several euros on a new pack of period products is also not in everyone's budget. Alternatively, tampons and pads have to be used for longer than recommended, which can entail health risks. The university's provision of free period products helps to remedy this situation.

Period products are not luxury items. They are basic hygiene products and should therefore be freely available in toilets, just like toilet paper and paper towels.

Last updated: Nov. 2025

This is what the dispensers look like:

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