Beyond blood: The emotional toll of menstruation

For decades, conversations around menstruation in India have centered on rural taboos and hygiene access. But a new report by Mahina, a period care brand, is turning the lens inward—to urban India’s menstruators, who, despite education and resources, continue to navigate a monthly cycle laden with emotional, physical, and logistical burden.

 

Released on May 28 to mark World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Mahina’s report titled “Beyond Blood: The Unseen Burden of Every Cycle” captures insights from over 1,000 women aged 18-45 across eight major cities. The findings unearth what has long remained unsaid: menstruation is not just a biological function—it’s a recurring negotiation in ones everyday life with one's circumstances.

 

“For too long, the mental load of menstruation has been normalized and ignored,” says Natasha Jamal, Founder of Mahina. “This report is Mahina’s way of saying: we see it, we measure it, and we’re done accepting silence as the standard.”

 

As per the report, nearly 3 in 4 women say they experience a week of routine disruption every month. From physical discomfort to emotional upheaval, 73 per cent report being impacted by hormonal changes but feel pressure to downplay them—especially in professional and social spaces. Only 3 per cent said they make no changes to their routine during their periods.

 

A striking 62 per ent mask their symptoms to appear ‘normal’ at work or in public. The pressure to “push through” silently underscores a cultural discomfort with acknowledging menstruation’s emotional toll.

 

Despite greater openness in recent years, the onset of menstruation still begins in silence for many. 76 per cent felt the emotional weight of their first period between ages 8 and 14. While 73 per cent were introduced to it by their mothers, 4 in 5 said they felt unprepared for the experience.

 

The emotional imprint of this initiation is long-lasting. Half of all respondents said they felt excluded by family during their period, and two-thirds reported that men expect them to manage it discreetly and without complaint.

 

Findings further highlighted that leak anxiety remains pervasive—67 per ccent still experience leaks despite using multiple products or layering. 38 per cent wake up at night to check or change products, and 1 in 4 say they would skip their period entirely if given the choice.

 

“The mental load shapes how menstruators speak, sit, sleep, and move,” says the report. From walking carefully in public to monitoring emotional outbursts at work, the strain of menstruation is not just physical—it’s performative.

 

Where formal institutional support is missing, menstruators have built quiet systems of care. 74 per cent carry period products not only for themselves but also for colleagues, friends, and even strangers. This silent solidarity is powerful.

 

Digital tools are also helping: 1 in 3 use period trackers or mental wellness apps to manage their cycles better.

 

Yet even amidst progress, contradictions persist. Over half of the respondents view period blood as impure. 71 per cent believe delaying periods through medication is harmful, and 55 per cent assume menstruation should last exactly five days—reflecting how myths coexist with awareness.

 

Mahina’s report underscores that there is no single narrative of menstruation. Stigma co-exists alongside self-care, and awareness coexists with deep-rooted myths.

 

Experts say that the focus must be on shifting the conversation from pads and periods to the mental and emotional scaffolding required to get through every cycle.

Health