Create a positive menstrual culture in your school – raise girls’ attainment and attendance and provide high quality menstrual education.
We are working towards a world where periods are taught as part of the whole menstrual cycle and it is safe to talk about and experience menstruation whatever your age, gender or location. This begins in school.
Research has found that 1 in 8 girls will start their periods in primary school (1). In their 2018 study, Plan International (2) found that 1 in 4 girls they spoke to didn’t know what to do when they started. 49% had missed at least a day of school because of their period and 48% were embarrassed by it.
Girls tell us that they are afraid of leaking during lessons, that period pain can be so bad that they stay at home, and that teasing and embarrassment keep them away from school during this time.