The fact that menstruation is an unmentionable is what underlines this issue. Almost every culture in the world teaches women not to talk about their periods, or the problems arising thereof. Even in countries like India, where several communities often hold ceremonies to celebrate the girl’s “coming of age”, this celebration is more an announcement of sexual maturity, rather than an opportunity to help the girl adapt to her body’s new needs. The embarrassment of talking about actual menstrual problems – lack of pads, menstrual pain – is all-prevalent.

Groaning with pain inwardly, I gritted my teeth and stood behind my colleague showing him how something was done. I eyed his chair longingly and realized I couldn’t really ask him to get up and give it to me without invoking either pity or disdain. Year after year of dealing with intense pain as my [...]

 
It made me laugh the first time I read of the fear and awe that surrounded menstruation in the ancient and medieval world – to hear that a woman “who could bring forth blood” was considered a magic maker. However, it was when I recently read Germaine Greer’s “The Female Eunuch” that I first began [...]