Why Menstrual Hygiene Education Matters: A Guide For Parents In 2025
Menstrual hygiene education remains surprisingly inadequate in many parts of the world. Two-fifths of Nigerian women (40%) were not taught about the menstrual cycle before having their first period, and those that received guidance from parents, teachers, or friends, were told once their period starts and a man touched them, they would become pregnant. Sounds familiar right? Despite half of the world's population experiencing menstruation, it continues to be a taboo subject in many cultures.
These knowledge gaps have serious consequences. In fact, one in eight girls has had to leave school to deal with her period because she lacked the knowledge or resources to cope. In 2023, national data showed that 47 million Nigerian schoolchildren had no hygiene service at school; conditions mirrored in many rural communities across Nigeria. As a result, we believe that understanding the importance of menstrual hygiene is not just about health, it's about empowerment and education.
As parents in 2025, we have both the responsibility and opportunity to change this narrative. Menstrual hygiene awareness must begin at home, with open conversations and accurate information. In this guide, we'll walk through everything you need to know about menstrual health and hygiene education for your children, regardless of their gender. Above all, we'll provide practical strategies for menstrual hygiene management that can help your child navigate this natural process with confidence and dignity.
Understanding Menstrual Hygiene: What Every Parent Should Know-
For parents and caregivers, understanding menstrual hygiene is the first step toward helping children navigate this natural biological process with confidence and dignity.
What is menstrual hygiene and why it matters
Menstrual hygiene refers to the practices that enable menstruating individuals (girls and women) to manage their periods in a clean, safe, and dignified way. According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program, proper menstrual hygiene management includes "using clean materials to absorb blood, changing these materials as needed, washing with soap and water, and having access to facilities to dispose of used materials".
Menstrual hygiene goes beyond cleanliness. More than 300 million women worldwide menstruate each day, yet 500 million don’t have access to menstrual products and proper facilities. This creates serious problems:
Poor menstrual hygiene can lead to urinary or reproductive tract infections
A quarter of girls across the country have had to miss school during menstruation due to inadequate toilet facilities
In rural areas, only a small percentage of girls have access to clean menstrual kits. When girls are forced to improvise with old cloths or miss class, communities lose out on the long-term benefits of educated women: higher productivity, better family health, and reduced poverty.
Good menstrual hygiene isn’t just about staying healthy; it affects education, dignity, and equal opportunities.
Common myths and misconceptions to avoid
Menstruation is natural, yet myths create stigma and unhealthy practices. Here are important misconceptions you should know:
Myth: Severe pain is normal during periods.
Fact: While mild discomfort is common, severe pain could indicate medical conditions like endometriosis.
Myth: Menstruation makes someone impure or dirty.
Fact: Period blood isn't dirty; it's just blood mixed with tissue from the uterine lining. Research shows 40% of people wrongly think period blood is "dirty".
Myth: You shouldn't bathe or wash your hair during periods.
Fact: Proper hygiene, including regular bathing, is essential during menstruation to prevent infections.
Myth: Physical activities should be avoided during periods.
Fact: Exercise can actually help relieve period pain and improve mood.
Social norms and cultural taboos make girls follow unsafe practices. Addressing these myths and providing accurate information is crucial for improving menstrual health and reducing stigma in Nigeria.
When And How To Start The Conversation
Your child’s trust and openness will grow if you start conversations about periods early instead of waiting for “the perfect moment.” Most experts recommend beginning these discussions well before your child's first period arrives.
Signs your child is ready to learn
Watching for developmental markers helps determine when to initiate menstrual hygiene discussions:
Physical development: Breast buds usually start to grow between ages 8 and 13, about two years before a girl gets her first period. When you notice this change, it's a good time to start more focused conversations about menstruation.
Vaginal discharge: The appearance of discharge 6-12 months before the first period creates another good opportunity to talk.
Age considerations: The average age for first periods stands at around 12 years, though girls might start menstruating at age 9. Therefore, introducing basic concepts around ages 8-10 ensures they're prepared regardless of when their period begins.
Age-appropriate ways to explain periods
A natural ongoing dialog works better than one big "period talk." These moments present good opportunities:
Your child asks about body changes or puberty
They ask where babies come from
While shopping for menstrual products
For younger children (ages 5-7), focus on body basics and simple explanations about growing up. With pre-teens, gradually introduce more specific information about menstrual cycles, products, and practical management tips.
How to talk to boys about menstruation
Boys need menstrual hygiene education too. Including them helps:
Correct misconceptions: Open dialog tackles stigma and promotes accurate knowledge
Build empathy: Understanding, helps boys support female friends and family members
Normalize periods: Teaching boys makes menstruation less taboo
Develop respect: Boys taught about periods learn to be respectful
First and foremost, use clear language and be matter-of-fact. Subsequently, emphasize that periods are natural, normal, and healthy, never something to joke about or use to tease others.
Tools and Resources for Teaching Menstrual Health
Equipping yourself with the right resources makes teaching menstrual hygiene significantly more effective. Modern tools have transformed how we can educate children about this natural process.
Using books, videos, and apps like Oky
Educational materials designed specifically for menstrual health can make complex concepts accessible and age-appropriate:
Digital resources: UNICEF's Oky app stands out as the first open-source digital solution for menstruation education and period tracking. This girl-centered app works on low-end devices, functions offline, and allows multiple users on one phone. Currently available in 12 countries and 17 languages, Oky has reached over 800,000 users.
Books: "The Period Book" helps guide children through physical and emotional changes while answering practical questions about periods. For younger children, "It's So Amazing" introduces menstruation as part of general sexuality education.
Videos: Educational platforms like TED-Ed offer engaging animations that explain menstruation basics and make the topic more approachable.
Creating a safe space for questions
For children to learn effectively, they need environments where they feel safe asking questions about menstruation:
If you're uncomfortable leading these conversations, consider alternatives. Ask doctors, school counselors, or trusted family members to help. Moreover, tracking periods together using calendars or apps can create great opportunities for discussion.
Involving schools and healthcare providers
External support systems play vital roles in comprehensive menstrual education:
Worldwide, only 39% of schools provide menstrual health education. Parents can improve this by engaging with their child's school about menstrual hygiene support. Ask specific questions about available products, toilet facilities, and curriculum content.
Healthcare providers serve as valuable resources because they're trusted community figures with medical expertise. Family physicians should initiate discussions about menstruation during regular check-ups. Additionally, they can organize workshops and train teachers to address menstrual health in classrooms.
When parents, schools, healthcare providers, and NGOs collaborate, children receive consistent, accurate information about menstrual hygiene from multiple trusted sources.
Helping Your Child Build Healthy Habits
Building good menstrual hygiene habits forms the foundation for your child's lifelong health practices. Once you've established open communication, the next step is equipping them with practical skills.
Teaching menstrual hygiene management at home
Good menstrual hygiene prevents infections, reduces odors, and helps your child stay comfortable. I recommend teaching these essential practices:
Regular washing: Encourage daily washing of the external genital area with plain water. The vagina is self-cleaning, so only external washing is necessary.
Frequent changes: Menstrual products should be changed regularly—pads every 3-4 hours, tampons every 4-8 hours, and never leave a tampon in for more than 8 hours to prevent toxic shock syndrome.
Proper hand hygiene: Stress the importance of washing hands with soap before and after changing products.
Correct disposal: Wrap used disposable products in toilet paper and place them in waste bins—never flush them down toilets.
Initially, creating a simple period tracking system together helps your child understand their cycle while building confidence. Likewise, explaining that lightweight, breathable clothing (especially cotton underwear) helps prevent infections can make a significant difference.
Choosing the right menstrual products together
The choice of menstrual products is deeply personal. First, introduce your child to various options:
Disposable pads: Often the easiest starting point for beginners. They come in different absorbencies for varying flows.
Reusable options: Cloth pads or period underwear can be more cost-effective long-term and environmentally friendly.
Tampons: Some children may be ready to try these, particularly for activities like swimming.
Menstrual cups/disks: These collect rather than absorb menstrual blood and can be worn for up to 12 hours.
Making an emergency period kit together can be fun and practical. Pack basic supplies (pads/tampons, pain relief, hand sanitizer, spare underwear) for their backpack or locker.
Your child needs to find what works best for their body and lifestyle. This builds independence and confidence. The product choice matters less than making sure they feel comfortable, supported, and ready throughout their menstrual experience.
Conclusion
Menstrual hygiene education stands as a fundamental right for all children, regardless of gender. Throughout this guide, we've explored how open conversations and accurate information can transform a child's experience with menstruation. Above all, breaking the silence around periods helps eliminate harmful taboos that have persisted for generations.
While cultural stigmas remain prevalent, we as parents have the power to change the narrative. Consequently, by starting age-appropriate discussions early, providing diverse resources, and teaching practical hygiene management, we equip our children with knowledge that protects both their health and dignity.
The statistics clearly demonstrate that menstrual education gaps lead to real consequences—from missed school days to health risks. Therefore, our commitment to comprehensive menstrual education isn't just about periods; it extends to building confident, informed individuals who understand their bodies.
Remember that teaching menstrual hygiene isn't a single conversation but rather an ongoing dialog. Undoubtedly, your willingness to discuss this natural process openly creates a foundation of trust that benefits your child's overall development. Additionally, involving schools and healthcare providers strengthens this educational network, ensuring children receive consistent, accurate information from multiple trusted sources.
The journey toward menstrual literacy begins at home. Though these conversations might feel challenging at first, the benefits—healthier habits, increased confidence, and reduced stigma, which will last a lifetime. Together, we can raise a generation that views menstruation not as something shameful but as a natural, normal part of human experience.
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September 19, 2025
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