Menstrual and reproductive health: Why it must be front and centre

I know this isn’t my usual rant, but this one is important. Every year on 28 May, Menstrual Hygiene Day is commemorated globally to break the silence, raise awareness, and change negative social norms around menstruation. While this annual milestone is crucial, for many of us in the menstrual health space, such as Dignity Dreams and like-minded organisations, it is also a sobering reminder of just how slow progress has been.

After more than 15 years of dedicated advocacy, education, and distribution of menstrual products to underserved communities, the global and local response to menstrual and reproductive health still feels painfully inadequate. Menstruation is not a choice. It is a biological function experienced by over half the global population for an average of 40 years of their lives. Yet millions of people who menstruate still lack access to safe, affordable, and sustainable menstrual products.

In South Africa, period poverty is a stark reality. Thousands of school-going girls miss school each month because they cannot afford pads. This loss of learning time sets off a domino effect that impacts their academic performance, self-esteem, and long-term economic opportunities. But menstrual health goes beyond products. It is intimately connected to sexual and reproductive health, dignity, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and education. Ignoring or underfunding this area is not just a failure of policy, it’s a violation of fundamental human rights.

The onset of menstruation marks a critical turning point in a girl’s life—not just biologically, but also socially and psychologically. Once a girl has her first period (menarche), she becomes biologically capable of conceiving. Yet, in many parts of South Africa and the world, there is an alarming lack of education about what this means. Without proper information about reproductive health, contraception, consent, and bodily autonomy, many girls are vulnerable to early and unplanned pregnancies.

According to the Gauteng Department of Health, almost 200 school-going girls fell pregnant in the first quarter of 2025 alone. These are not just numbers; they are young lives altered forever—often leading to school dropout, economic dependence, and cycles of poverty that are hard to break.Education—especially comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education can change this. When girls are empowered with knowledge about their bodies, their menstrual cycles, and their reproductive rights, they are better equipped to make informed decisions about their futures. It is time to ensure that menstruation is not just acknowledged, but deeply understood—by girls, boys, parents, educators, and policymakers alike.

While addressing access and education, we must also confront the environmental toll of menstrual health management. The average woman uses between 10,000 and 16,000 disposable pads or tampons in her lifetime. These products often contain plastics, bleaches, and chemicals that take hundreds of years to decompose. They clog landfills, pollute waterways, and contribute to microplastic contamination.

In South Africa, where waste management infrastructure is already strained, the proliferation of single-use menstrual products adds to our growing environmental crisis. When millions of pads are used and discarded each month, we are not only facing a health issue but also an ecological one.

At Dignity Dreams, they advocate for sustainable, reusable menstrual products—not just because they are better for the environment, but because they are economically sensible and socially empowering. Their washable cloth pads, for example, are designed to last up to five years.

They are comfortable, discreet, easy to clean, and significantly cheaper in the long run than buying disposables every month. For girls in rural and under-resourced communities, this isn’t just a product; it’s a lifeline. It means uninterrupted education, restored dignity, and the chance to manage menstruation without shame or fear.

There is also growing interest in menstrual cups, period panties, and other eco-conscious alternatives. These solutions not only reduce waste but also shift the narrative—inviting us to see menstruation not as a burden, but as a manageable, natural process that deserves respect and innovation.

In many communities, menstruation is still shrouded in shame, secrecy, and misinformation. Girls are told not to talk about their periods, not to touch certain foods, or even to stay home. These myths, rooted in cultural taboos, are dangerous. They isolate young menstruators, limit their opportunities, and reinforce gender-based discrimination.

We need to start with early, honest, age-appropriate conversations—in classrooms, homes, churches, clinics, and public platforms. Boys must be included too. Understanding menstruation and reproduction is not just a “girl’s issue.” When boys are educated, they grow into men who respect, support, and advocate for gender equity. Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is proven to reduce teenage pregnancies, lower rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and increase school attendance. It empowers young people with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to protect themselves. Yet, in many South African schools, CSE is either poorly implemented or absent altogether. This must change. 

We cannot rely on NGOs and individual donors alone to solve a systemic issue. Government buy-in and policy reform are critical. We call on national and provincial departments to: Provide free access to sustainable menstrual products in all public schools. Also, to integrate menstrual and reproductive health education into Life Orientation and health curricula. Support local manufacturers and distributors of eco-friendly menstrual solutions. Launch public campaigns to break stigma and normalise menstruation.

At the same time, we must keep supporting grassroots initiatives. Communities know their needs best. Training local women to sew and distribute reusable pads not only addresses period poverty but also creates micro-enterprises that stimulate local economies. Menstrual Hygiene Day is more than a hashtag—it’s a call to action. A chance to honour the dignity of girls and women everywhere. A reminder that menstruation is not dirty, shameful, or a private inconvenience—it is a powerful, natural process that deserves our full attention, investment, and respect.

If we truly believe in gender equality, if we truly care about the health of our planet and the potential of our youth, then menstrual and reproductive health must move from the margins to the mainstream. We must invest in reusable products, dismantle shame, educate our children, and demand better from our leaders. Because dignity shouldn’t be a dream. It should be a guarantee.

Dignity Dreams is a South African non-profit organisation that provides washable, reusable menstrual hygiene products to disadvantaged communities. Since its inception, Dignity Dreams has distributed thousands of packs across the country, while offering education on menstrual, sexual, and reproductive health. We believe every girl deserves the right to manage her period with dignity, comfort, and confidence.

Help us continue this important mission. Donate, volunteer, or partner with us. Together, we can end period poverty, protect our environment, and build a more equitable world. Visit: dignitydreams.com