Support for menstrual health for girls in India

“I didn’t know how to use a sanitary pad so I used to wear pads in a wrong way and used my sweater to hide my spoiled skirt. I used to skip my school during my periods in the absence of period education”

When Sonia (name changed), 17 years, got her first period at the age of 14. She was unaware about biological changes and issues related with periods. At that time when she got her first period in winter season, she had no idea what it was and she was afraid of seeing the blood. She shared her story with the team, “I didn’t know how to use a sanitary pad so I used to wear pads in a wrong way and used my sweater to hide my spoiled skirt. I used to skip my school during my periods in the absence of period education. I tried to manage my period by own without informing my mother. Because I thought I caught a severe disease. None of my family member noticed anything. But one day, my mother caught me”.

“I was rushed to the school that day and bent down to do up my shoe laces. I didn’t notice that my mother was standing behind me and she saw a red spot on my school uniform. She smiled for a moment and hugged me. I started cry and hide my face. She described me about periods and that evening, she took me to the IDF’s centre. The team taught me many things like; how to use sanitary pads, what to do to maintain hygiene during periods? Now I am happy and feel proud on my periods. Because Periods are the symbol of a good health and it’s a natural process”.

She said, “Thank you team IDF to provide us important information on menstruation and realize us Period is Proud”.