Why Do We Still Struggle to Talk About Menstruation?

Menstruation is a biological process as ordinary as digestion or sleep. Yet in classrooms, homes, and workplaces across Pakistan, it is still often discussed in whispers, if it is discussed at all. Something that happens to millions of women regularly remains surrounded by silence, embarrassment, and discomfort. The contradiction is worth sitting with: why does something this common, this universal, still make so many people lower their voice?   

When a Normal Process Becomes Something to Hide?

Part of the answer is cultural inheritance rather than individual choice. Research shows that menstruation is often treated as something shameful to talk about. These attitudes can develop from an early age and may continue without being questioned. A study of teachers and school leaders in Hyderabad district found that educators also viewed menstruation as a significant social taboo. This means the discomfort is not limited to students. Adults who are responsible for educating them may also find it difficult to discuss menstruation openly. When menstruation is difficult to discuss even in schools, where young people should be able to ask questions and learn about their bodies, the silence can easily continue from one generation to the next.

How Silence Creates Misinformation?

When people cannot openly talk about menstruation, myths and incomplete information can fill the gap. Research with adolescent girls in Ghizer, Gilgit found that many girls in Pakistan have limited access to accurate information about menstrual health. Their understanding is often shaped by religious, cultural, and social factors rather than by reliable health education. 

Another study of 400 women and girls in Islamabad and Rawalpindi found that menstruation is often not taught in schools. This can leave families as the main source of information. But when parents and other family members grew up without open conversations about menstruation, they may also have limited information to share. The result is a cycle of silence and misinformation. It is not necessarily intentional. When people are never given the opportunity to ask questions or receive accurate information, they may simply pass on what they were told.

Why Men and Boys Need to Be Part of the Conversation?

Menstrual stigma is not something that women and girls can address alone. When menstruation is treated only as a private topic for women, boys and men may grow up without understanding what menstruating people experience. This lack of understanding can contribute to embarrassment, teasing, or discomfort in schools, workplaces, and relationships.

Talking about menstrual health does not mean ignoring privacy. It means making sure everyone has basic knowledge about a normal biological process. Boys and men also need accurate information so they can respond with understanding rather than confusion or discomfort.

The Cost of Keeping Periods Private

Menstrual stigma is not only a social or emotional issue. It can also have practical consequences for girls’ education and daily lives. UNICEF estimates that nearly 44 percent of girls in Pakistan do not have the minimum resources needed to manage their periods safely at home, school, or work. Around one in five girls miss school because of their periods. Over time, these missed days can add up to a significant loss of education. Access to suitable facilities is also a challenge. Between 14 and 17 percent of girls’ schools in Pakistan lack functional toilets, making it difficult for students to manage their periods privately and comfortably.

Research from Hyderabad found that more than 60 percent of surveyed girls used cloth during menstruation rather than commercial menstrual products. Fear of visible stains was also reported as an important reason for missing school. These findings show that the problem is not simply about personal hygiene or individual choices. When girls lack accurate information, suitable products, private facilities, and a supportive environment, managing a normal biological process becomes much more difficult.

Talking About Menstruation Without Shame

Talking openly about menstruation does not mean that it has to become a public matter. Privacy and shame are not the same thing. People can have privacy while still being able to talk about menstruation without embarrassment.

The solutions are also practical. Schools can provide age-appropriate menstrual education before girls reach puberty, along with clean and private facilities where students can manage their periods comfortably. Families can use clear and ordinary language instead of treating menstruation as something that needs to be hidden. Boys should also receive basic information about menstrual health so they can understand it as a normal part of life rather than something strange or embarrassing.

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