Blog

By Belen Torondel-Lopez, Associate Professor LSHTM

 

In a #PeriodFriendlyWorld, the stigma and taboos surrounding menstruation are history. It is a world where everyone can access the products, period education and period-friendly infrastructure they need

 

Approximately 500 million women and girls experience period poverty globally due to a scarcity of resources and the existing social stigma associated with women’s pain and health.

The prevalence of period poverty is even worst in rural communities across low-income and middle-income countries, where poor water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities prevent women from exercising proper hygiene. In these settings, access to menstrual products, education, and social and health support for menstrual health and hygiene are also significant challenges. All these barriers can have an impact on girls’ and women’s daily activities, such as school and work participation, and can also affect their reproductive health. In some circumstances, young girls have traded sex for menstrual health products, which increases their risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections and experiencing sexual and gender-based violence.

Improving menstrual health around the globe requires a multisectoral approach that addresses the various factors influencing menstrual health and hygiene: including health, education, WASH sectors, policy and governance, NGOs, civil society, research and innovation, among others. By working collaboratively across these sectors, it is possible to create a comprehensive approach that significantly improves menstrual health and hygiene, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and quality of life for individuals who menstruate.

On 28 of May, we unite to advocate for better menstrual health. Menstrual hygiene day brings together researchers, non-profits, governments, the private sector and millions of individuals! Together we increase awareness and actions towards our common goal: a #PeriodFriendlyWorld. A world where the taboos and stigma surrounding menstruation are history, and where all the sectors and all the society work together for a better menstrual world!