At MSI, we believe choice begins with knowledge, and that includes understanding your own body. That’s why we talk about menstrual health.
Periods aren’t just a “women’s issue” — they’re a gateway to reproductive autonomy. Yet across many of the countries where MSI works, girls and women are still held back by shame, silence and a lack of access to basic information and supplies. And that has serious consequences.
Menstrual health is reproductive health
When women and girls don’t understand their periods, it’s harder to understand how pregnancy happens, or how to prevent it. In some places, most girls don’t even know what a period is before they get one. Poor awareness also fuels myths about contraception.
When we explain how hormonal methods may change bleeding patterns, we help women make informed choices and continue using contraception with confidence.
It’s an entry point for broader conversations
In some communities, it’s easier to start a conversation about periods than about sex or contraception. That’s why MSI teams use menstrual health education to break down barriers, open dialogue and build trust — especially with adolescents. It’s a way in. And it works.
What this looks like in action:
– In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MSI’s Big Sisters use peer-to-peer chats about periods to start deeper conversations about reproductive health.
– In Mali, teens play the “Nothing but the Truth” card game to bust myths about menstruation together.
– In Ghana, MSI partners with local leaders to challenge harmful taboos, like women being banned from cooking or using contraception during their periods.
– In Nigeria, school and community talks about periods help bridge the gap to more open, stigma-free conversations about contraception.
What more can we do?
We can talk about periods as a health issue, not a hygiene one. We can involve men and boys, so the burden doesn’t fall solely on girls. And we can make sure women understand how contraception might affect their cycle, so they’re not caught off guard.
Because when women and girls understand their periods, they’re one step closer to understanding their reproductive choices.
And that’s what MSI is all about.
