Better Menstrual Hygiene and the Fight Against Fistula

I want to speak to you about something that affects millions of girls and women—but is often hidden in silence: menstrual hygiene and a condition called obstetric fistula. You might be wondering, what do periods have to do with childbirth injuries? The answer is: everything.

When girls don’t have access to clean, safe menstrual products, they may use rags, leaves, or even sand. These unhygienic materials can cause infections in the reproductive system. And when those infections go untreated, they can weaken the body—especially during childbirth. That’s when fistula can happen: a tear between the birth canal and bladder or rectum, leaving a woman leaking urine or feces. It’s painful, isolating, and preventable.

But here’s the good news: proper menstrual hygiene saves lives.

When girls manage their periods with dignity, they stay in school. They learn about their bodies. They grow up informed, confident, and ready to seek care when pregnant. That’s how a pad today can prevent a fistula tomorrow.

So what can we do?

• Support access to reusable pads like Rozy Reusable Sanitary Pads—they’re safe, sustainable, and affordable.

• Talk openly about periods. End the shame. Start the education.

• Empower each other. Share knowledge. Protect our sisters.

Menstrual hygiene is not just about comfort. It’s about health, dignity, and future motherhood. Let’s be the generation that ends fistula—and it starts with how we treat menstruation.

Compiled by

Rosette Kyakyo

Fistula-Free Girls and Young Women project