Over 90% of women skip consultation on menstruation-related issues over lack of women doctors, says report

Research reveals challenges faced by women in managing menstruation, impacting health, education, and work in Mumbai and across India.

91.7% of older women skipped consulting doctors for menstruation-related health issues due to a lack of women doctors, reveals a research report titled ‘Combating The Silence From Menarche To Menopause’ launched by Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation (SSMF) on Friday (January 17, 2025) in Mumbai. 

At the same time, the study found out that girls are scared to use school restrooms during menstruation due unhygienic condition of the bathroom, including no water, soap, and missing doors. Due to a lack of menstrual hygiene management facilities at school girls are forced to stay home while they are menstruating. The report suggested girls miss school for up to 60 days. “We want a holistic approach to managing menstrual hygiene. It is a circle, missing schools lead to dropouts, then forces marriage and further restricts them from participating in the economy,” said Nirja Bhatnagar, a National Director of program and Advocacy, at Sulabh International Social Service Organisation. 

The report highlights challenges faced by women on account of issues surrounding menstruation, such as migration for work and relocation in sugarcane fields, brick kilns, mines, and factories. 

The study was conducted on menstruating women in 14 districts across India, including Maharashtra, where the researcher studied two districts- Beed and Dharashiv. The study focused on sugar cane cutters and migrant women. The study suggests 89.9% of women from Beed did not feel period-related problems were serious and 70.4% of women in Dharashiv feel doctors are out of reach to get issues treated. It also discusses the issue of hysterectomies among migrating women workers.

The study gave a few recommendations, administration needs to form a menstrual hygiene management to address these issues as per the demographics. In the case of the sugar-cane cutter, Jal Jeevan mission should reach out to women in their workplace, making water facilities available. 

On recommendations, Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council Dr Neelam Gorhe said, “For sugar cane cutter a committee is set up to evaluate the issues. We will submit this report, taking these recommendations to various departments. Before that we require consensus on the assessment part; what women require. For example- menstrual cup, we need to understand whether women are comfortable with it.” 

Dr Neelam Gorhe highlighted the study is extremely important, especially when every day there is a new challenge. Giving the example of a menstrual cup, she said, “If I start speaking about menstrual cup, how to explain it is the next question. How to dispose of the pads when the waste is piling up is still a question.”