Background Menstrual Hygiene Day was initiated by the German non-profit WASH United in 2013. The day is observed on the 28th day of the fifth month of the year because menstrual cycles average 28 days in length and people menstruate an average of five days each month. Menstrual hygiene Each of us has a right to bodily autonomy. The ability to care for your body while menstruating is an essential part of this fundamental freedom. Yet an estimated 500 million people lack access to menstrual products and adequate facilities for menstrual health. Poor menstrual health and hygiene undercuts fundamental rights – including the right to work and go to school – for women, girls and people who menstruate. It worsens social and economic inequalities. Insufficient resources to manage menstruation, as well as patterns of exclusion and shame, undermine human dignity. Gender inequality, extreme poverty, humanitarian crises and harmful traditions can amplify deprivation and stigma. Aim Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is a global campaign. It unites nonprofits, governments, individuals, businesses, and the media. The goal is to promote good menstrual health and hygiene (MHH). MH Day has two key aims. First, it breaks the taboo around menstrual health and hygiene. It raises awareness and shifts negative social norms around MHH. Second, it urges leaders to prioritise and act on MHH at global, national and local levels. Theme for 2025 With that in mind, the theme for Menstrual Hygiene Day this year is “Together for a period friendly World.” Lack of education, ongoing taboos, and stigma cause poor menstrual hygiene. A lack of access to clean menstrual products and bad sanitation also contribute. These problems harm the education, health, and social status of women and girls worldwide. As a result, millions of women and girls face obstacles to their full potential. A period-friendly world is a world in which menstruation is accepted as a normal fact of life and is no longer stigmatised. It is a world in which everyone is educated about menstruation from an early age. In a period-friendly world, everyone has access to quality and affordable period products of their choice. Everyone has access to period-friendly toilets. And in a period-friendly world, menstrual health services are available to everyone. It is a world where no one is held back just because they menstruate. Currently, more than 500 million women and girls lack the resources and support they need to manage their periods safely and with dignity. Menstruation-related challenges affect the educational and income-earning opportunities and the health of women and girls all over the world. They undermine their ability to participate fully and equally in society. The global economic impact is immense. Menstruation-related challenges are estimated to cost societies around the world hundreds of billions of USD in productivity losses, increased health costs, and reduced overall economic growth every year. The 5 areas of a period-friendly world In a period-friendly world, we have made progress across 5 key areas of menstrual health and hygiene (MHH): Period-friendly social environment - A period-friendly social environment is the foundation of a period-friendly world. It paves the way for progress in all other areas. As long as menstruation is stigmatised, the challenges surrounding it remain confined to private conversations. They don’t enter the public discourse. And if they’re not part of the public discourse, they can’t be addressed or solved at a systemic level. A period-friendly world is a world in which menstruation is accepted as normal and is no longer stigmatised. Period education - Period education is essential for menstrual health and hygiene. Lack of period education increases health risks and contributes to girls missing or dropping out of school. This, in turn, can result in reduced professional opportunities and income later in life. When girls and boys learn from a young age that menstruation is normal, societal acceptance grows. In a period-friendly world, everyone is educated about menstruation from an early age. Access to period products - Access to menstrual products is fundamental for women’s and girls’ health and dignity. Without access, women and girls miss out on work and school and risk health problems, both physical and mental. It disrupts normal participation in daily life, resulting in a loss of productivity. Quality products that are effective and safe need to be accessible and affordable for everyone. In a period-friendly world, everyone has access to and can afford period products of their choice. Period-friendly toilets - Period-friendly toilets are essential for managing menstruation hygienically and with dignity. Lack of access can lead to infections and psychological distress. When educational institutions and workplaces don’t have period-friendly toilets, girls and women often miss school or work. In a period-friendly world, everyone has access to period-friendly toilets. Menstrual health services - Timely diagnosis, treatment, and care for disorders and diseases linked to menstruation are crucial for women’s health. Menstrual disorders are serious medical conditions that require professional attention like any other health issue. Chronic, untreated menstrual disorders and diseases can impact all aspects of life. Without access to menstrual health services, women and girls face long-term medical and economic consequences. Menstrual health services include access to trained medical staff and self-care practices such as cycle tracking and pain relief methods. Menstrual literacy is essential for women and girls to know when to seek medical assistance. In a period-friendly world, menstrual health services are available to everyone. Source : Menstrual Hygiene Day website