We are one-quarter of the way through the 21st century, yet menstrual health is still seen as a private matter, whispered about behind closed doors. However, experts argue that it is high time menstrual health be recognised as a public health issue affecting millions of women and adolescents worldwide.

From the moment Sowmya Simhan, a disability activist, who spent over four decades of her early and professional life in a caliper or crutches, got ready to school or work, and returned home, there was no space to address the discomfort or the stigma that came with changing a sanitary napkin.

At an event organised by Sanitation First, in collaboration with the office of the Lok Sabha MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian, to mark World Menstrual Health Day 2025, Ms. Simhan explained how she had to fit into a world not designed for her needs and faced long days in classrooms and offices without privacy or proper facilities to manage her menstrual health.

According to T.S. Padmapriya, Chief Executive of Sanitation First, a study of 8000 women conducted by their organisation paints a stark picture. One in three women suffers from some form of menstrual disorder and one in four women and one in three adolescents experience heavy menstrual bleeding, a condition that, when untreated, can lead to moderate or severe anaemia.

Thiripurasundari Thiyagarajan, a sexual and reproductive health expert, pointed out that women in unorganised sectors — such as domestic workers, sanitation workers, and agricultural labourers — are often the hardest hit. “We need to demand dignified spaces, because menstrual health and safety are not just the responsibility of individual workers,” Dr. Thiyagarajan said.

Panelists also discussed actionable policy opportunities, data-driven research, transgender inclusion, and implementation strategies for inclusive menstrual health.

Ms. Thangapandian, who was part of a panel with experts including Georgina Harding, Chief Executive Officer, The Cycle, stressed the need for radical policy changes that treat menstrual health as a right, urging collaboration between Health, Labour, and Education departments to create inclusive solutions. She highlighted the importance of incorporating marginalised voices, especially women in rural areas, in decision-making and called for equal gender representation in policy-making panels to ensure more inclusive and sensitive approaches to menstrual health.