This post is part of Plan’s blog series, “Periods through the ages,” highlighting girls and the women in their families as they share period stories and break stigma in their communities.

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  In central Togo, 16-year-old Denise has had many conversations with her mother and grandmother about their period stories. For Denise’s grandmother, Inna, getting her period wasn’t something she could talk about openly.

“On the first day of our period, we had to hide and call our mother or one of our sisters to help in secret,” Inna says. “It was forbidden to enter the house. The family had to find a room on the roadside where the menstruating girl had to spend her entire period.”

 

Denise (left) with her mother Esther (right) and grandmother Inna (center). © Plan International | Izla Bethdavid

 

According to Inna, when a girl finished her period and returned from isolation, she would cover herself and her friends with white talcum powder to re-enter the village. Girls also had special clothes and beaded jewelry that they would wear to celebrate the end of their periods.

 

In the past, girls would wear cloth hung on beads around their waist during their periods. © Plan International | Izla Bethdavid

 

“Men and boys, even if they were your brothers, were not supposed to see menstruation cloths,” Inna says. “It was forbidden, and we carefully hid them. Really, it was a great burden. I pray that [my granddaughter’s] generation will no longer experience the suffering of our time.”

With the support of a Plan project in her community, Denise learned more about menstrual health and how to dispel myths about it. Now, she’s advocating for access to cheaper products so girls can manage their periods with confidence.

 

Inna and Denise both struggled to manage their periods in unique ways growing up, but Denise is determined to change things for future generations of girls. © Plan International | Izla Bethdavid

 

“I understand that my mother’s generation also suffered a lot,” Denise says. ‘To my fellow girls all over the world, including those living in remote communities, I encourage you to stop being ashamed about menstruation. It’s a matter of rights!”

 

 

This post is part of Plan’s blog series, “Periods through the ages,” highlighting girls and the women in their families as they share period stories and break stigma in their communities.

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  Grandmother Tilki in Nepal has seen firsthand the change in attitudes and practices surrounding menstruation.

“When I first started menstruating, the situation was different from what it is now,” she says. “I felt scared and embarrassed about telling my parents that I had started my period. These feelings of fear and shame kept me from discussing menstruation and understanding what should be done during that time. These days, managing menstruation is much easier. Access to nutritious food, sanitary pads and affordable clothing has improved significantly.”

 

Tilki (left) with her daughter Rita (right) and granddaughter Pushpa (center) show what they use for their periods. © Plan International | Bita Creatives

 

Her daughter Rita also had difficulty managing her period growing up, sharing how they made their own pads at home.

“In the beginning, it was very challenging,” Rita says. “Concealing menstruation was nearly impossible, and we relied on makeshift pads made from old clothes. Cleaning these pads often left stains, adding to the difficulty of managing our periods.”

 

Pushpa, Rita and Tilki walk across a crop field at their farm. © Plan International | Bita Creatives

 

When Rita’s daughter Pushpa first got her period, she was at her uncle’s house. She was scared at first because she didn’t know how to tell anyone what was happening.

“Initially silent and anxious, eventually [I opened up] to my sister, who told my aunt,” Pushpa says. “Now, I’m knowledgeable about menstruation, as are my mother and sisters.”

In partnership with a local organization, Plan International recently constructed a restroom at Pushpa’s school, providing the students with clean facilities and free period products. Additionally, we helped establish a new health office at the school where girls can get assistance for cramps and receive free iron tablets.

 

Pushpa credits Plan’s project with helping her gain confidence in speaking up about her menstrual health. © Plan International | Bita Creatives

 

“Nowadays, things have changed,” Pushpa says. “I can openly acknowledge when I’m on my period and address any issues I may encounter using the toilet when I am menstruating,” Pushpa says.

 

 

This post is part of Plan’s blog series, “Periods through the ages,” highlighting girls and the women in their families as they share period stories and break stigma in their communities.

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  In El Salvador, 18-year-old Hazel is participating in another Plan project called The Power of Red Butterflies, which works to break taboos and stigma surrounding menstruation. In a conversation with her family, Hazel’s grandmother, Paz, recounts what she learned from her own mother about menstruation. 

“Well, my mother, she advised me, she told me, ‘No daughter, when you are like this, you have to take care of yourself so that you don’t suffer afterwards.’,” Paz says. “I couldn’t go to the river because the water would enter through the pores in my skin and that was bad.”

 

Hazel (right) stands in front her family’s home with her mother Ana (left) and grandmother Paz (center). © Plan International | Esteban Martinez

 

Hazel’s mother, Ana, also had negative experiences with period education growing up, and says that there is still progress to be made for other girls who aren’t in projects like The Power of Red Butterflies. 

“Mothers didn’t talk about it, because they themselves did not receive this important information,” Ana says. “Sometimes you listen to what little you heard at school and that’s all. Here in this community, there are girls who don’t have enough courage to go to buy pads. Why? Because their mothers don’t talk to them about it, so they’re afraid to buy pads. They’re ashamed.”

 

Hazel shows her grandmother how to use a pad. © Plan International | Esteban Martinez

 

After joining Plan’s project, Hazel says she feels more confident in talking about menstruation with others. She’s even discussed the topic with her grandfather. 

“I was talking to my grandfather about menstruation, which is something that could not be talked about in the past,” Hazel says. “It was a taboo in society, this subject could not be mentioned. The Power of Red Butterflies project was something that had an impact on my life as a girl. I was taught about my body, and they started to explain to me about my first period, about my menstrual cycle, what methods I can use and how to be prepared for that moment.”

 

Hazel shows the menstrual health kit received from joining Plan’s project, which includes items like pads and toilet paper. © Plan International | Esteban Martinez

This post is part of Plan’s blog series, “Periods through the ages,” highlighting girls and the women in their families as they share period stories and break stigma in their communities.

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  The reluctance to talk about menstruation with boys and men affects girls and women around the world. In Nigeria, Grandmother Rahamatu says that parents wouldn’t even talk to each other about their daughter getting her period: 

“In the past, mothers were often afraid to tell fathers when their daughters were menstruating because some fathers wouldn’t understand and might even blame the girls for doing something wrong — like we are following men and boys.”

 

Teenage Rahamatu (right) sits with her mother Sakina (center) and grandmother Rahamatu (left). © Plan International | Andrew Esiebo

 

“Some husbands might even avoid their wives when they’re menstruating,” she says. “Some do not eat their wives’ food, but nowadays, husbands are more understanding. There’s still room for more awareness and acceptance, especially for the younger generation.”

Her 19-year-old granddaughter, also Rahamatu, says she’s much more confident talking about menstruation since she became a peer educator for a menstrual health management project run by Plan International.

 

Teenage Rahamatu, along with her mother and grandmother, share examples of pads they use for their periods. ©Plan International | Andrew Esiebo

 

“My friends are excited too,” Rahamatu says. “Even their parents have thanked me for what I’ve done. When we got sanitary pads, everyone was happy. Having these conversations, especially with my mum, has greatly influenced my comfort level in discussing menstruation. It’s made me realize the importance of open communication and education about this topic.” 

This post is part of Plan’s blog series, “Periods through the ages,” highlighting girls and the women in their families as they share period stories and break stigma in their communities.

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  “My grandmother was the first person I talked to about my period,” 13-year-old Seila says. “She was very supportive and helped me understand what to do. She recommended using a good brand of sanitary pad that was comfortable and affordable.” 

 

Seila (left) sits with her grandmother Bui Non (center) and mother Sokna (right). © Plan International | Bunchhai Chhun

 

Bui Non, Seila’s grandmother, tells us of a very different reality when she was younger. 

“In my generation, we didn’t have sanitary pads,” Bui Non, says. “I cut fabric from a sarong into pieces. I washed them to reuse for only a week. After a week, I buried or burnt those fabrics — unlike now, where you can easily buy and use sanitary pads.”

Bui Non told Plan that even when her daughter Sokna, Seila’s mother, had her period as a young girl, they still didn’t have the types of products that are available now.

“When my daughter had her period, I kept telling her to clean herself and use the fabric as a pad,” Bui Non says. “If she felt sick, I would help do skin coining once per period. For this, we rub balm into the chest, back and shoulders until red is seen. This could relieve the pain.” 

 

Sokna and Bui Non stand together for a photo. © Plan International | Bunchhai Chhun

 

Despite Seila’s confidence and access to period products, one area still needs work: talking about periods with boys and men.

 

Seila picks green beans from her family’s farm. © Plan International | Bunchhai Chhun