The BBC has come under fire for referring to ‘people who have periods’ in an article about a comedian.

In the online piece, Bella Humphries said she was using her medical condition, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), as material about for her stand-up show.

It said the condition – which can cause mood swings, depression and anxiety – can ‘affect up to 8 per cent of people who have periods in the UK’. 

But the remark was seized upon by women’s rights groups, which criticised the BBC for avoiding plain language to report health issues.

Helen Joyce, of the charity Sex Matters, said: ‘The BBC’s longstanding double standard when it comes to stories relating to women’s and men’s health is deeply sexist and frustrating.

The BBC has come under fire after publishing an article referring to ‘people who have periods’ (periods)

‘When the BBC talks about prostate or testicular cancer, it refers to ‘men’. So why do its journalists try so hard to avoid the word ‘women’ when it comes to women’s health issues? 

‘It’s well known that health messages should use straight-forward, easy-to-understand language. 

‘That means talking about ‘women’ – not ‘people with cervixes’ or ‘people who menstruate’.

‘Bowing to trans lobby groups’ demands to de-sex language about women means health messages will not reach many women who need to hear them, especially those with low literacy or English as a second language.’ 

The row comes just two months after the BBC’s new director of sport was forced to say he would leave his personal views ‘at the door’ after dismissing concerns about transgender athletes.

Alex Kay-Jelski came under fire from the likes of author JK Rowling for a 2019 column in another publication in which he suggested having separate categories for trans competitors was like having ‘special categories for Jamaican sprinters and Ethiopian marathon runners’.

He added: ‘Sounds mad, doesn’t it? Nasty, even.’ 

Women’s rights groups criticised the Corporation for avoiding plain language to describe health issues. It has now amended the story about Ms Humphries

The BBC has now amended its article about Ms Humphries, who was diagnosed with PMDD in 2021 after searching her symptoms online. 

She details her experiences in her show Square Peg, which is running at the Edinburgh Fringe this month.

The BBC said: ‘Bella Humphries’ stand-up show highlights the severe impact premenstrual dysphoric disorder can have. 

‘We have amended one reference to more accurately reflect the statistics about PMDD.’ 

Ms Humphries was contacted for comment.