Periods: your body's monthly visitor. But no matter how many times that visitor stops by, menstruation remains a taboo topic around the world.

People who menstruate have long been taught to be ashamed of or to keep silent about their periods for many reasons. At a pool party, someone might avoid swimming because they “feel sick,” or they need to go to the bathroom to “reapply their makeup.” These reasons pop up to avoid saying the truth: “I’m on my period.”

Research and article: Swastika Mukherjee
Graphics: Devanshi Mallick