Menstruation’s Hidden History
For most of human history, menstruation has been hidden, hushed, and shamed. But in recent years, women have been sharing their stories, showing how menstruation deeply affects their daily lives and identities, often in ways we don’t openly acknowledge.
We've gathered stories and insights from research and honest conversations, bringing these overlooked truths into the open.
“I missed school, not because of cramps, but because of shame”
In southern Malawi, a 15-year-old girl named Bridget experienced her first menstruation while at school, in a classroom full of peers and many boys. Since she had no prior warning, no information, and nothing to protect herself with, the moment became humiliating when classmates noticed her. She left the classroom floor, unsure of what to do, and didn’t attend class for a week afterward. The taunts, the jeers, the sense of alienation weren't just minor embarrassments – they altered her ability to keep up with school, changed her confidence, and introduced painful shame.
Bridget’s story is reflected in many qualitative studies in low and middle-income countries, where lack of menstrual education, stigma, and inadequate hygiene facilities lead to school absenteeism. Adolescent girls sometimes miss exams or avoid school entirely during their period, not because the cycle is unbearable, but because the social environment around menstruation is intolerable.
“You never talk about it — until you absolutely must”
In a recent study among young adults (ages 18-25) in diverse settings, many respondents said they had never had conversations with family members, friends, or healthcare providers, about what to expect with menstruation – pain, heaviness, emotional shifts – until they were in crisis. Whether it was extreme discomfort, anxiety over leaks, irregular periods, or hiding supplies needed during menstruation, these stories often begin with silence.
One familiar anecdote: a person discovers heavy bleeding, but when they try to describe or seek help, medical professionals dismiss them or minimize their pain. The emotional burden of being told “everyone deals with this” or “it’s normal” can compound physical suffering, leaving people feeling isolated and misunderstood.
“It’s uncomfortable, and I feel like I’m doing it wrong”
Another set of stories comes from qualitative work conducted in rural India (Tamil Nadu), which includes interviews with girls in the early years of menarche (first period). When girls go through their first period, they describe biological transitions—discomfort, uncertainty, fear—but also cultural expectations. A girl might think she caused the bleeding or that her body was unclean. Some hid it, avoided specific spaces, and felt they needed to perform rituals to purify themselves.
Getting clean water, affordable pads, or finding a private space to manage bleeding became a real struggle for many girls. Some had to use whatever they could find, like old rags or scraps of cloth, because they couldn’t afford or access proper products. The constant worry about leaks or being seen added stress to what should be a regular part of life.
“Stigma follows you even in places it shouldn’t”
Period stigma doesn’t just show up in schoolyards or rural communities. It follows women into workplaces, into relationships, sometimes even into their own internal monologue. From the study “Navigating menstrual stigma and norms: a qualitative study on young people’s menstrual experiences and strategies for improving menstrual health” (BMC Public Health, 2024) come many accounts of people feeling shame about having to carry pads in their bags, avoiding specific colors of clothes, or fearing someone will see a stain. The constant worry wears you down.
In Philadelphia, a qualitative community-based study asked cisgender women about menstrual communication with family, friends, and health providers. Many said that talking about periods felt awkward, taboo, “tucking it away like it shouldn't exist.” Even when menstrual health providers are willing, people often wait to raise symptoms until they become severe.
There’s strength in stories, solidarity in sharing
Yet hope is emerging, and social media is changing everything — people are using hashtags like #periodpositivity and #periodstigma to share their stories openly. Not to forget, community groups are distributing menstrual kits and education. Friends are talking to friends. And people are finally taking back control of their own narratives and refusing to stay silent.
In Nigeria (Enugu State), a study of secondary school girls found that while shame and embarrassment are deeply ingrained, many girls also develop personal methods: hiding stains, preparing emergency supplies, arranging supportive friends, and avoiding certain days. These adaptations are a personal strength – but also a sign that more structural change (education, facilities, openness) is needed.
What these stories show us
Shame looks the same everywhere: Whether it’s a rural village in India, a classroom in Malawi, or a city in America, periods come with secrecy and discomfort.
Poverty makes it worse: When people can’t get access to pads, tampons, discs, clean bathrooms, or factual information, it becomes a physical, emotional, and mental burden all at once.
The real damage is hidden: Girls miss school. People miss work. Self-esteem drops, and health problems go untreated. The stories show that period stigma costs people far more than just a few days of discomfort.
Talking about it actually helps: When people share their stories, the shame starts to crack. Having conversations with friends, support from others, and people speaking up — it all matters. And breaking the silence is how things change.
What needs to change, and how storytelling helps
Better, earlier education: Schools need to do more than explain the biology. Kids need emotional support, practical tips, and to know where to get help.
Make products and clean spaces available: Good intentions don’t matter if someone can't afford a pad or has nowhere private to change it – access to both matters.
Actually listen to people's experiences: Researchers, policymakers, and tech companies get better answers when they include real stories from people who menstruate — not just statistics. What people actually live through is the most important data we have.
References:
Åkerman, E., Wängborg, A., Persson, M., & others. (2024). Navigating menstrual stigma and norms: A qualitative study on young people’s menstrual experiences and strategies for improving menstrual health. BMC Public Health, 24(3401). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20936-5
Gold-Watts A;Hovdenak M;Daniel M;Gandhimathi S;Sudha R;Bastien S; (n.d.). A qualitative study of adolescent girls’ experiences of menarche and menstruation in rural Tamil Nadu, India. International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33203319/
It’s not just physical: Using interpretive phenomenology to understand the menstrual experience of young adults. (2025). Nursing Reports, 15(2), 65. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15020065
Tucker, A. L., Glickman, M., & Schwartz, A. (2024). “It shouldn’t be just hush-hush”: A community-based study of menstrual health communication among women in Philadelphia. Journal of Community Health.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39073267/
Roche. (2023). Bridget: Breaking the silence around menstruation. Roche Stories. https://www.roche.com/stories/bridget
Journal, P. A. M. (2023, May 18). Menstruation behaviour influencer model: A grounded theory of menstrual experiences of shame, embarrassment, stigma and absenteeism among pubescent girls in semi-urban and Rural Secondary Schools in Enugu State, Nigeria. The Pan African Medical Journal. https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/45/47/full/
