Period poverty in South Africa is usually discussed in numbers. How many girls lack access to sanitary products? How many days of school are missed each year? How many packs of pads are donated annually? These statistics are important, but they flatten an experience that is deeply personal, emotional and often traumatic.
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In a conversation hosted by Amanda Rogaly, CEO and founder of BabyYumYum, Dr Mpume Zenda, an obstetrician, gynaecologist, sexologist and mother, unpacked why period poverty in South Africa cannot be solved by products alone.
“We keep treating menstruation like a crisis instead of a normal biological process,” Dr Zenda said. “That approach creates fear instead of understanding.”
That fear shapes how girls experience their bodies from the moment their periods begin.
Period poverty in South Africa is not just about products
Sanitary products are essential, but focusing only on pads creates the illusion of a simple solution.
“When we talk about period poverty, we need to talk about the entire environment a girl exists in,” Dr Zenda explained. “A pad means nothing if she doesn’t have a toilet, water or privacy.”
In many South African schools, toilets are unsafe or unusable. Doors do not lock. Water is inconsistent. Disposal facilities are inadequate or non-existent. Managing menstruation in these conditions becomes a daily source of anxiety.
Amanda noted that these realities are often invisible to those outside the system.
“It’s easy to assume a pad solves everything,” she said. “But it doesn’t address what happens once a girl is at school for eight hours.”
Period poverty in South Africa thrives in spaces where menstruation is not planned for.
The silent impact on education
One of the most visible consequences of period poverty in South Africa is absenteeism. Girls miss school during their periods for reasons that extend far beyond a lack of products.
“Some girls stay home because they are in pain,” Dr Zenda said. “Others because they’re terrified of staining their uniforms or being teased.”
These missed days accumulate over time. Girls fall behind academically and begin to disengage. But the emotional damage is often more profound.
“When a girl feels embarrassed by her body, it affects her confidence everywhere,” Dr Zenda added. “Not just at school.”
Amanda reflected on how early these experiences shape identity.
“We underestimate how deeply those moments of shame stay with girls,” she said.
Pain that is minimised too early
Menstrual pain is one of the most normalised forms of suffering in women’s lives. Girls are frequently told that cramps are something to endure quietly.
“We don’t give girls language for what they’re feeling,” Dr Zenda said. “So they learn to tolerate pain instead of questioning it.”
Without education, girls struggle to distinguish between mild discomfort and symptoms that require medical attention. Severe pain, heavy bleeding and irregular cycles are often ignored for years.
Period poverty in South Africa is therefore also about access to basic health knowledge and early intervention.
Education before the first period
One of the most striking insights from the conversation was the importance of preparation.
“A girl should not be meeting her period for the first time through fear,” Dr Zenda said. “She should know what it is and why it’s happening.”
Many girls experience their first period without any prior explanation. The shock can be overwhelming, particularly in households where menstruation is not openly discussed.
Education before the first period reduces anxiety and builds confidence. It allows girls to see menstruation as a normal part of growing up rather than something to hide.
Amanda acknowledged how uncomfortable these conversations can feel for parents.
“We often avoid them because we don’t know how to start,” she said. “But silence leaves girls unprotected.”
The role of shame in period poverty
Shame is one of the most powerful forces sustaining period poverty in South Africa. Girls are taught to conceal pads, hide stains and avoid speaking about discomfort.
“We’ve taught girls that their bodies are disruptive,” Dr Zenda said. “That message is incredibly damaging.”
This shame encourages secrecy, which can lead to unsafe practices. Some girls use makeshift materials or avoid changing pads for long periods. Others over-wash in an attempt to erase the evidence of menstruation.
Breaking this cycle requires adults to speak differently about periods.
“If we talk about menstruation as normal, girls stop feeling like there’s something wrong with them,” Dr Zenda explained.
Why boys must be included
Period poverty in South Africa is often framed as a girls-only issue, but excluding boys reinforces stigma.
“When boys don’t understand periods, they fill the gap with mockery,” Dr Zenda said. “Education changes that.”
Including boys in menstrual education reduces bullying and creates safer school environments. It also prepares boys to become supportive partners and fathers.
Amanda emphasised that inclusion shifts culture.
“When everyone understands, girls don’t feel isolated,” she said.
Moving beyond donation culture
Dr Zenda cautioned against relying solely on donation-based solutions.
“Charity helps in the moment, but it doesn’t change systems,” she said. “We need sustainable support.”
That support includes functional sanitation, access to pain relief, accurate information and trusted adults within schools. It also requires policy-level commitment.
Period poverty in South Africa cannot be addressed without acknowledging the structural inequalities that place girls at risk month after month.
Reimagining how menstruation is treated
The conversation challenged the idea that periods should be hidden or endured.
“Menstruation is a transition,” Dr Zenda said. “It deserves recognition, not secrecy.”
Normalising menstruation does not mean celebrating it in one specific way. It means creating environments where girls feel safe managing their periods without fear or shame.
Amanda reflected on how small changes can have a big impact.
“When adults model openness, girls learn that there’s nothing to hide,” she said.
Dignity is the real issue
At its core, period poverty in South Africa is about dignity. About whether girls are allowed to exist comfortably in their bodies while participating fully in education and society.
“When a girl feels ashamed of something she cannot control, it limits her,” Dr Zenda said.
Addressing period poverty means listening to girls, investing in education and designing systems that recognise menstruation as a normal part of life.
Pads matter. Toilets matter. Information matters. But dignity matters most.
Until menstruation is treated as a shared responsibility rather than a private burden, period poverty in South Africa will remain a reflection of how little space girls are given to simply be.
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