For many people, a period is just another natural process of the human body; a monthly sign of reproductive health. But for millions of girls and women who menstruate, it’s a monthly challenge laced with stigma, financial burden, and lost opportunities.
In some communities, menstruation remains shrouded in whispers, as the subject fuels shame and isolation.
One of the most damaging aspects of menstruation in Nigeria is the shame attached to it. In some communities, menstruating individuals are considered “unclean,” barred from cooking, attending religious gatherings, or even sleeping in the same room as their family members.
Such restrictions not only violate dignity but also perpetuate harmful myths. When young girls grow up hearing that their bodies are “dirty” during menstruation, it erodes self-esteem and reinforces gender inequality.
The Senior Programme Manager and Team Lead of Menstrual Health Initiatives at Population Services International (PSI), Dr Abdul-Hameed Adediran, has said that menstruation is a natural process that should be understood and managed without stigma.
Dr. Adediran who stated this during a two-day Menstrual Health Workshop for media professionals in Abuja, explained that menstruation, commonly referred to as a period or menses, is the monthly discharge of blood and the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina when pregnancy does not occur. It begins at puberty, usually between the ages of 9 and 14, and continues until menopause, typically between ages 45 and 55.
He noted that while the bleeding phase lasts between two and seven days, the process is part of a larger reproductive cycle influenced by hormonal changes. “The body prepares for a possible pregnancy each month by thickening the uterus lining to house a fertilized egg. If no pregnancy occurs, the lining is shed as menstrual blood,” he said.
Dr. Adediran advised girls and women to carry a small purse containing sanitary pads or menstrual cups, extra underwear, disposal bags, wipes, and hand sanitizers, especially as their period approaches. For those yet to start menstruating, he recommended preparing a “first period kit” in advance.
Highlighting the physical and emotional experiences associated with menstruation, he said many women may feel abdominal cramps, breast tenderness, bloating, headaches, fatigue, mood changes, or acne. “Some symptoms can affect school attendance, work productivity, and social life,” he added.
To manage discomfort, Dr. Adediran recommended using heating pads, taking warm baths, engaging in regular exercise, staying hydrated, and eating foods rich in vegetables, fruits, and omega-3 fatty acids. He also encouraged relaxation techniques such as meditation and mindfulness to help manage stress and mood swings.
“Using comfortable, breathable menstrual products and changing them regularly is essential not just for comfort, but also for preventing infections,” he stressed.
He urged continued public education on menstruation to break the silence and taboos around it, adding that menstrual health should be recognised as a human rights and public health priority.
Menstrual Health As A Human Right
Menstrual health is a human right. Every person who menstruates deserves safe, affordable products, accurate information, and a stigma-free environment. Yet, in Nigeria, this right is far from being realised.
In urban supermarkets, a pack of sanitary pads can cost from ₦700 to over ₦1,500, a steep price for low-income families already struggling to make ends meet. In rural areas, access is even more limited, with some girls resorting to using cloth rags, tissue paper, or even leaves.
For 14-year-old Amara, a secondary school student in Nyanya, Abuja, the high cost of menstrual products means missing school every month.
“If I don’t have pads, I just stay at home to avoid staining my uniform,” she said.
Amara”s story is not unique. Studies show that a significant number of Nigerian schoolgirls miss between one to five days of school each month because of their periods. Over the course of a year, this absenteeism adds up, affecting academic performance and future opportunities.
The United Nations recognizes menstrual health as essential to achieving gender equality and the Sustainable Development Goals. Yet, without urgent action, millions will continue to be left behind.
A 2023 UNICEF report revealed that only 54 per cent of schools in Nigeria had basic sanitation facilities, and even fewer had menstrual hygiene resources. This gap, if not addressed, will continue to cost girls their education, dignity, and future.
During the 2025 Menstrual Hygiene Day, WaterAid Nigeria called for national recognition of menstrual health as a human right, urging governments, schools, and communities to break the silence around menstruation and dismantle harmful taboos that prevent women and girls from managing their periods with dignity.
The organisation highlighted that millions of Nigerians who menstruate face stigma, shame, and health risks due to the lack of basic menstrual hygiene facilities and accurate information. The absence of adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in schools and communities, it warned, continues to limit educational and economic opportunities for women and girls.
According to the 2021 WASHNORM survey, only 46 per cent of Nigerians have access to basic sanitation services, while a mere 13 per cent use improved sanitation facilities with proper handwashing stations. For menstruating girls and women, this gap often means facing infection risks, public shame, and social exclusion; factors that can have lasting consequences on their health and self-esteem.
The Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, Evelyn Mere, said “It is unacceptable that menstruation continues to limit the potential of millions of girls and women in Nigeria. No one should miss school, feel ashamed, or be unsafe simply because they are menstruating. A period-friendly world is one where dignity, access, and rights are protected for everyone, regardless of age, location, or income.”
Breaking the silence around menstruation is not just about pads and toilets, it’s about dignity, equality, and respect. Every girl who skips school, every woman who suffers in silence at work, every person made to feel ashamed of their body is a reminder that the country has more work to do.
Menstrual health influences education, gender equality, public health, and economic productivity. A society where menstruation is supported is a society where everyone benefits.
Fathers who ensure their daughters have pads, employers who provide period-friendly workplaces, policymakers who push for better access, all contribute to a healthier, fairer world.
Call To Action
While awareness is growing, change requires more than just conversation, it demands concrete action. Communities, families, and leaders all have a role to play.
Menstrual health advocates urged that menstrual health should be discussed in government meetings, community discussions and in family conversations, adding that it should be part of school curriculums and workplace policies.
They also called on the government to reduce or remove taxes on menstrual products, making them more affordable, stressing that such policies are already having positive effects In some African countries
They urged schools to ensure that clean, private toilets with water are available, and that menstrual products are stocked for students in need.
Menstrual health is not a privilege. It is not optional. It is a right, and like all rights, it must be protected, respected, and fulfilled for everyone, everywhere.
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