May 28 marks Menstrual Hygiene Day, observed annually on the 28th day of the fifth month of the year as menstrual cycles average 28 days in length and people menstruate an average of five days each month.

Globally, 1.8 billion people menstruate every month. Yet, open conversations about menstruation remain stigmatized in many societies. During their periods, women and girls need peace, care, support, and access to essential hygiene products, which are vital for their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. 

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) — the UN agency for sexual and reproductive health — advocates for improved menstrual health and hygiene worldwide. 

Menstrual health is a matter of human rights, public health, gender equality, and sustainable development. It is essential that individuals can manage menstruation with dignity in schools, workplaces, and public spaces, supported by appropriate sanitary facilities and practices.

However, millions of women and girls continue to face limited access to basic menstrual hygiene products, preventing them from attending school, participating in the workforce, or fully engaging in daily life. This exacerbates social and economic inequalities, causes physical discomfort, and poses risks to their mental and reproductive health — reinforcing cycles of discrimination, stigma, and gender inequality.

Protecting menstrual health requires a comprehensive approach: raising public awareness, improving infrastructure, ensuring access to necessary hygiene supplies, and joint efforts to overcome stigma. This is precisely the mission of Menstrual Hygiene Day. 

Today, we want to remind society once again that menstruation is normal and that speaking about it openly brings significant relief to many women and girls in every corner of the world.