Pinkishe Foundation
31/10/2026
Dr. Shehla Jamal
Menstruation, or a period, is when the lining of the womb (uterus) leaves the body through the vagina, as a mix of blood and tissue. It happens about once a month, from puberty until menopause, except during pregnancy. Other words for it are menses or the menstrual period.
A period usually lasts two to seven days. For adults, a cycle of 21 to 35 days is normal, counting from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. In the first few years after periods start, longer and less regular cycles are common.
Period blood is not dirty or impure. A regular period is a sign that the body is working as it should.
Many girls and women notice some symptoms in the days before a period and in the first, heavier days. They vary from person to person and from month to month. Most are mild enough to carry on with daily life. If yours stop you from doing that, please see a doctor.
Cramps happen because the uterus tightens to push out its lining. Some people also feel sick, have loose stools or get headaches. Mild cramps are common. Severe cramps are not something you have to put up with.
A hot water bottle on your lower tummy or back, a warm bath, rest and gentle movement can help. For painkillers, ask a doctor or pharmacist which one suits you. A doctor can find the cause of severe cramps and help treat them.
Pimples are common in the week before a period, because hormone levels change through the cycle. Wash your face gently twice a day and try not to squeeze spots. If acne is painful or leaves marks, ask a doctor or pharmacist.
Feeling a little low on energy around your period is common. But if your periods are heavy and you feel tired, breathless or dizzy, see a doctor. You may be low on iron (anaemia), and a simple blood test can check. Foods rich in iron, such as green leafy vegetables, dal, chana and rajma, help, but they do not replace a check if you have these signs.
Many people feel bloated in the days before a period. The tummy can feel full or swollen. Less salty food, enough water and gentle movement can help. It usually settles once the period starts.
Rising hormone levels in the second half of the cycle can make breasts feel sore or swollen. This usually eases once your period starts. A well fitting, supportive bra can help. If you find a lump, or pain in one spot does not go away after your period, see a doctor.
Some people get a dull ache in the lower back or thighs. Heat helps the muscles relax. Try a hot water bottle, a warm bath or a gentle stretch.
Across India, 79.2% of women aged 15 to 24 use a hygienic method during their period (NFHS-6, 2023-24). That means many still do not. The gap is wide: about 9 in 10 use one in cities, but about 3 in 4 in villages.
School toilets matter too. 97.3% of India's schools have a girls' toilet (UDISE+ 2024-25). But when surveyors visited rural government schools, 28% had no usable girls' toilet (ASER 2024). Without a clean toilet, water and a place to throw a used pad, a period at school is hard to manage. A review of Indian studies found that 1 in 4 girls stay home from school during their periods (BMJ Open, 2016).
In many homes, girls are still kept out of the kitchen or places of worship during their periods, or told not to touch certain foods. These rules come from old beliefs, not from health. A period does not make anyone impure, and it does not spoil food.
Many families find periods hard to talk about, often because nobody explained them to the parents either. So girls learn late. In a review of Indian studies, 1 in 2 girls knew nothing about periods before their first (BMJ Open, 2016).
Clear, kind information changes this. When a girl knows what to expect, her first period is less frightening, and she knows when to ask for help. Test what you know with our menstrual quiz, or read our period myths and facts.
Have a question about your period? Call our menstrual helpline on 85888 70999. It answers at any hour.
A simple printable sheet that marks your period days, your fertile window and your ovulation day. We will email it to you now.
We will send the tracker and a few gentle menstrual health emails from Khyati at Pinkishe. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
Prefer to work out your dates now? Open the free ovulation calculatorIt is the monthly shedding of the lining of the womb, which leaves the body through the vagina as blood and tissue. It is a normal, healthy process.
A period usually lasts two to seven days. For adults, a cycle of 21 to 35 days is normal. In the first few years, longer and less regular cycles are common.
The uterus tightens to push out its lining. Heat, rest and gentle movement help. For painkillers, ask a doctor or pharmacist. If cramps are severe, see a doctor.
Yes. Bloating, mood changes and sore breasts are common before a period because of hormone changes. They usually ease once the period starts.
If you soak through a pad every hour or two, pass large clots, or bleed for more than seven days, see a doctor.
Yes. Cloth pads are a safe choice when they are washed with soap and water and dried fully in sunlight.
A period is a normal, healthy part of life, not something dirty or shameful. Most symptoms can be eased at home, but severe pain, very heavy bleeding or feeling faint and tired are reasons to see a doctor.
Pinkishe Foundation is a specialist implementation organisation for menstrual health. We deliver, reliably, in schools and communities across India. Support our work with a donation.
₹1,100 gives one girl a year. Donations are eligible for deduction under Section 80G.
