Periods & Progress

“Sankoch nahi, samvaad zaruri hai.”
(No hesitation, conversation is necessary.)

May 2025 was a turning point for menstrual health both in India and across the world. From new education programs to funding shifts in femtech, and even global crises affecting menstrual hygiene—this month uncovered how far we’ve come and how far we still need to go.

Here’s a breakdown of the most important and trending menstrual health updates from May 2025, in easy, visual points.

🏫 1. Delhi Schools Bring Period Talk to Boys’ Classrooms

For the first time ever, boys in Delhi government schools are being taught about menstruation as part of their formal education. This inclusive curriculum is part of a broader effort to:

• Reduce period stigma

• Encourage empathy between genders

• Normalize conversations about menstrual health from an early age

Girls in the same schools receive free sanitary pads and educational workshops on hygiene and nutrition.

💬 “This initiative teaches boys that periods are not ‘girls’ problems’ but a human issue.” – Delhi Education Board

👧 2. Uttar Pradesh Launches the ‘Swachh Garima’ Campaign

The state of Uttar Pradesh rolled out Swachh Garima, a campaign targeting girls in rural areas, especially from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas.

• Focus areas: Menstrual hygiene, nutrition, gender rights

• Special visual modules used for easier understanding

• Parents, teachers, and boys also engaged

This campaign, supported by UNICEF, pushes a simple yet powerful idea: conversation over shame.

💡 Slogan: “Sankoch Nahi, Samvad Zaruri”

🚫 3. Rajasthan’s Udaan Scheme Left in Pause

A major blow came from Rajasthan where the Udaan Scheme, designed to provide free sanitary pads to girls and women aged 11–45, was halted for 9 months.

• 📉 Only 47.9% of women in Rajasthan use hygienic menstrual methods (NFHS-4)

• Lack of budget and logistical issues cited

• Women leaders demand quick revival

This gap risks pushing thousands of girls back to using unsafe alternatives like cloth or ash, raising serious health concerns.

🌍 4. Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025 – #PeriodFriendlyWorld

Celebrated on May 28, this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day focused on building a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.

• Over 100 countries joined the campaign

• Emphasized breaking shame, silence, and stigma

• Social media saw a surge in creative posts, art, and testimonials from girls worldwide

🎯 Why May 28?

• 28-day cycle

• 5-day average period
  → 28/5 = May 28th!

📉 5. Femtech Sees a Funding Fall but Focus Rise

India’s femtech startups, which create tech-based menstrual and reproductive health solutions, are seeing a sharp funding decline:

But there’s a shift: fewer apps, more full-stack digital clinics. For example:

• Proactive for Her was recently acquired by IVF Access

• Startups are now focusing on treatment outcomes, not just awareness

🛑 6. Delhi’s Urban Poor Struggle for Pads

A study in Delhi slums revealed a menstrual hygiene crisis:

• 59% of women said they couldn’t afford pads

• Many compromise on food or water to manage periods

• Women still face humiliation while drying cloth pads in public

NGOs like CHETNA are stepping in with donation drives and awareness sessions.

⚖️ 7. Menstrual Leave May Soon Be Law

On Menstrual Hygiene Day, the Supreme Court of India urged the Central Government to consider a national menstrual leave policy.

Currently, only a few states or companies offer it voluntarily. This push could:

• Make menstrual leave a legal right (like maternity leave)

• Reduce stress and absenteeism for women in labor-intensive jobs

🚨 8. Gaza’s Menstrual Crisis Sparks Global Concern

War-hit Gaza is facing a severe menstrual hygiene crisis:

• Nearly 700,000 women and girls have no access to pads, toilets, or clean water

• Lack of privacy, safety, and dignity for menstruating women

• The UNFPA called it “a silent emergency”

💬 “Periods don’t stop for war. Dignity shouldn’t either.”

📊 Quick Visual Recap

🧠 Final Thoughts

May 2025 proves that the conversation around menstruation is louder than ever—in courts, classrooms, campaigns, and crisis zones. But to build a truly period-friendly world, we need consistent policy, open minds, and empathy-driven action.

At Satvik Ritu, we stand committed to unraveling taboos, promoting scientific awareness, and building a future where menstruation is respected, understood, and never hidden.

🔗 References & Sources:

• Times of India, Hindustan Times (May 2025)

• UNICEF India

• NFHS-4 (Govt. of India)

• UNFPA Menstrual Hygiene Day Reports

• Inc42 Femtech Report 2025