Executive Summary
Menstrual health is now seen as an important part of adolescent health, gender equality, and school participation. In India, even though more young people have improved access to menstrual hygiene products, many still face stigma, misunderstandings, and few chances to talk openly about menstruation. To help address these issues, the Social Policy Research Foundation (SPRF India) developed Project Periodica. This project uses a life-sized snakes-and-ladders game to get students talking, challenge myths, and encourage open conversations about menstruation for both girls and boys.
The first phase of the pilot ran from August to December 2025 in three government schools in Patna city, Bihar. Researchers used pre- and post-programme surveys with the same group of students to measure changes in their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding menstrual health. In total, 102 students took part in the evaluation.
The results showed that Project Periodica helped students learn more about menstrual health and encouraged more open and inclusive attitudes. Students became more willing to talk about menstruation, more accepting of boys participating in menstrual health education, and more knowledgeable about different menstrual hygiene products. Their knowledge about how to properly dispose of menstrual products stayed high throughout the programme.
The programme also helped reduce some common myths and stereotypes about menstruation. Many students no longer believed that menstruating girls and women are impure, and that menstruation means physical weakness, or that it signals readiness for marriage. There were also more positive attitudes about restrictions during menstruation and more support for girls going to school while on their periods. However, some beliefs, like dietary rules and certain religious or household restrictions, continued to be observed in some students.
Boys became more open to talking about menstruation, but they still had more misconceptions than girls in several areas. This highlights the need for programmes that include everyone and challenge stigma together, instead of treating menstruation as only a girls issue. The study also found that many girls still miss school during their periods, mainly due to physical discomfort rather than inadequate school facilities. This means that menstrual health programmes should go beyond just raising awareness or improving infrastructure.
Schools should have more supportive policies, and easy access to health services for young girls. These steps are important for reducing school absences related to menstruation. The results also suggest that participatory learning methods like Project Periodica can help students, especially boys learn more about menstrual health, make classrooms safer for discussion, and support fairer gender norms. The pilot also shows that when students learn through talking, working together, and playing, conversations about menstruation become more open, informed, and welcoming.
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