A period blood emoji has finally been given the go-ahead today after months of campaigning.
The arrival of the sticker was confirmed by Unicode Consortium and follows calls from more than 55,000 people for it to be added to the emoji keyboard under a campaign led by global girl's rights charity, Plan International UK.
The charity hopes that the period emoji will help break down the stigma and open up the conversation on the menstrual cycle.
"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," said Lucy Russell, Head of Girls Rights and Youth at Plan International UK.
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"For years we've obsessively silenced and euphemized 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."
A survey by the charity found that almost half of women aged 18 to 34 felt a period emoji would make it easier to talk about periods with people.
Lucy added: "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."
Plan International's campaign was also backed by NHS Blood and Transplant.
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This new emoji will be joining keyboards throughout the year, and is just one of many others which have been approved for use today.
Disability rights campaigners have welcomed a number of inclusive, accessibility-themed emojis such as prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, hearing airs and guide dogs.
And other new stickers include a sloth, Sumatran orangutan, flamingo, otter, skunk, waffles and a ballet shoe.
A period blood emoji might not eradicate all the stigma surrounding periods, but it's step in the right direction.
Featured Image Credit: Plan International UK