Period: a Simple Biological Truth, yet Still Burdened by Shame and Silence

Period is a natural process in the bodies of girls and women. It is a sign of hormonal health and fertility. This cycle usually occurs every 28 days, and can last from 3 to 7 days. More than half of the women in the world experience severe pain during their period. This pain includes body aches, headache, back pain, and even nausea. Some conditions such as endometriosis or abnormal bleeding also makes life more difficult for women. 

Menstruation is still surrounded by restrictive traditions, silence, shame, and ignorance, However, it is a very natural part of a woman’s life. In many societies, this issue is rarely discussed and even it is  often considered shameful. This prevents women and girls from talking openly about their problems or using proper health facilities. Many girls even think they are sick when they experience their first period. But for us, menstruation is a sign of being healthy, not weakness or illness. 

A clear example is my own country, Afghanistan. There, menstruation is still seen as a hidden and shameful subject. In most families, girls are not informed about this cycle before they experience their first period. So it brings them fear, anxiety, and even depression. Talking about menstruation is not a normal thing in families or schools. Some families even think that period is something dirty and should not be talked about. I remember a  true example from one of my friends in Afghanistan during Ramadan month. According to Islamic teachings, women and girls cannot fast or pray while they are on their period. But my friend told me that even if her fast would not be accepted, she still did not eat anything in the whole day, so no man in her family would know she was menstruating. It really disappointed me because when period is something discussed even in Quran Kareem and it is a natural part of our body, why should we be ashamed of it? Why is this still seen as something to be hidden?  This silence also brings more difficulties. For example, for many girls buying  sanitary napkins looks like a shame because they have been raised by hearing such things, or some of them cannot afford them which forces them to use unsafe alternatives, causing serious health problems. 

When that time of the month comes for girls, a few days before and during their  period days , the hormones also change in their body. These changes not only affect their bodies but also their emotions and feelings. The pain we experience while being periods can make us appear sad, tired or irritable. This is natural but in our society just few people understand it. Most families do not realize that these changes are very natural for the female, because of this, girls face unfair judgements or inattention. This unawareness causes them to have more mental pressure. 

Research in the Journal of Pain Research was published that showed period pain in some women can be even more severe than the heart attack. According to the study, 70 percent of women and girls complain of difficult menstrual pain, but because menstruation is still treated as a taboo and a shame, this difficult pain is not taken seriously by societies.  

But the main problem is that these beliefs  are not limited just to my country Afghanistan; they exist in other countries as well. As an example, in many villages and rural areas in India, women are still facing restrictions because of old beliefs. In such  areas, when a girl gets her period, she is considered as unclear so they do not have the permission of entering any temple or worship place. Some families do not allow them to cook or touch the dishes during their period.  Even in some places it is also a belief that girls should stay in one separate room until they become clean. These practices and beliefs  make women feel more ashamed and become more isolated.

Menstruation is a simple biological truth but it is still seen as a shame if someone wants to talk about it. The examples from Afghanistan, India and other countries show us that this problem is not only related to one country or culture but it is a regional problem. Girls in these societies not only face physical pain and hormonal changes, but also experience the mental pressures caused by lack of awareness, health facilities, and social misunderstanding.

To solve these problems, some steps are needed. For example, parents should teach their daughters about menstruation before it begins. So they will be aware of what they will be facing. Boys should also be aware that menstruation is something natural and normal, not shameful or funny. Girls must have access to sanitary napkins. The governments and health organizations must provide free or affordable pads to ensure no one is left out. Media, teachers, and community leaders should clearly talk about it, so the shame and silence will be broken down. And the most important thing  is that families should support their daughters with kindness rather than wrongly judging them. I believe that change is possible. But for  this change, only girls and women are not enough. Men must also play a role. Brothers, husbands, and fathers should understand that menstruation is not an illness or disgrace, that is a natural part of a woman’s life.  When a father shows kindness to her daughter during her period, when a brother buys her the necessary things, or when a husband supports and understands his wife with care and patience, women will no longer feel ashamed or alone. If men do not remain silent and instead act with respect, then the whole society will realize that period is nothing to be ashamed of. That is why I believe that real change is only possible when men are with us because respect and understanding from men can break the silence and shame about periods. 

I  hope and I dream of a day when no girl, in any corner of this world feels shame or loneliness because of period, but lives with dignity, care, and support.