Menstruation is a normal, natural and essential part of being a woman – but in South Africa, it is a reality that is still surrounded by stigma, shame and silence. Signs of progress are emerging, but the journey toward meaningful change is far from over.
With the release of the results of the second annual P-Word Survey – a study by Kotex – the conversation around menstrual health takes a powerful, next step forward.
Kotex launched the P-Word Survey in honour of Menstrual Hygiene Day last year as a study designed to shed light on women’s lived experiences of menstruation. The research revealed a striking disconnect: despite rising positive sentiment around the experience itself, stigmas and taboos continue to erode dignity and open dialogue at community level.
This year’s expanded survey spoke to over 6 044 students at 10 university campuses across South Africa — an almost 280% increase in participation from last year. For the first time, men were included to gauge how societal attitudes are evolving.
What the data tells us – and why it matters
Speaking to the results of this year’s P-Word Survey is Kutlwano Tshetlhane, Head of Marketing at Kotex, who says that research of this nature is critical in uncovering the realities involved with menstruation.
Key insights included:
- Over 1 in 3 women say their period disrupts daily life — impacting how they study, exercise, and socialise.
- Half of young women report mood swings, and many experience isolation and mental health impacts.
- 35% still feel stigmatised due to menstruation — only a marginal improvement from 2024.
“This data provides us with practical insights into what women are really going through every month, for at least half their lives. Using these findings as a reference point, we can help steer the right kinds of conversations, continue advocating for better education and create safe spaces for active engagement on this important topic. We need to do better as a society, and this kind of research can provide us with a clear roadmap to progress,” says Tshetlhane.
The struggle is real. So is the pain.
While 42% of respondents to this year’s P-Word Survey said they felt “neutral” about their period, only 28% felt positive — down 10% from last year. Yet the percentage of women who felt actively negative dropped slightly to 14%, suggesting that the stigma is slowly starting to shift.
Delving deeper into the symptoms of menstruation that many women find disruptive, the survey found that:
- 80% of women suffer from cramps — a 20% year-on-year increase.
- 50% experience mood swings, and nearly a third feel socially withdrawn.
- 35% feel shame or stigmatised, often driven by harmful cultural taboos.
These struggles are compounded by outdated beliefs within communities, namely:
- 30% say they’re discouraged from sharing clothes while menstruating.
- 29% aren’t allowed to have contact with men.
- 18% say they’re considered “dirty” during their period.
“Periods are still a struggle —and not just physically, or mentally. Women experience more than just discomfort,” says Tshetlhane. “When women are made to feel ashamed for something so natural, we’re holding back their confidence, their potential, and their right to live fully and with dignity.”
Men join the conversation – and the movement
By bringing male respondents into this year’s survey, Kotex was able to gain a broader perspective on how menstruation is perceived and, most importantly, what men can do to become active participants in challenging stigma, supporting menstrual equity, and dismantling the gendered silence that too often surrounds periods.
Encouragingly, male respondents showed readiness to be part of the solution:
- 89% of young men want more menstrual education.
- 85% of young men agree that stigma is still a problem.
- 77% of young men surveyed believe they should be more involved in supporting women during their cycle.
- 66% of young men believe schools are the best place to learn.
These findings are meaningful, especially considering that 46% of women believe that educating boys and men is key to ending menstrual stigma.
At Kotex’s university activations, many men stepped up — collecting menstrual health hampers for friends, family, or partners. “This shift, though just beginning, is one of the most powerful outcomes we’ve seen from this year’s work,” says Tshetlhane.
The bottom line: It’s time to talk. It’s time to change.
As Kotex continues to invest in platforms like the P-Word Survey, the message is clear: menstrual health isn’t just a women’s issue. It’s a human rights issue, a mental health issue, and a community issue.
“Menstruation should never be a barrier to opportunity, dignity or progress,” concludes Tshetlhane. “Every conversation we spark, every misconception we challenge, and every voice we amplify brings us closer to a world where no woman feels ashamed of her period.”
Image credit: Pexels
