When Superstition Replaces Menstrual Healthcare

Pinkishe Foundation

2/7/25

When a Girl’s Period Disappears — and No One Asks Why

In every village we visit, every school we sit in, and every menstrual health session we host — we hear stories.

Some are filled with shyness.
Some are steeped in silence.
And some are wrapped in age-old myths we’ve come to know all too well.

“Don’t touch the pickle.”
“Stay out of the kitchen.”
“Don’t enter the temple.”

These aren’t just customs — they’re control disguised as culture.
But every now and then, a story stops us cold.

The Girl Who Stopped Bleeding — and No One Asked Why

Hurrera, one of our dedicated menstrual educators, recently had such a moment.

She was leading a session in a rural community — the kind we’ve done hundreds of times. After the talk, the usual Q&A began. And then, a girl raised her hand.

She said she got her first period years ago… but it never came again.

We’ve heard that before.
Irregular cycles can be common in the early years.
She looked about 13 or 14 — nothing unusual.

But then she added, quietly:
“I’m 21 now.”

When Myths Replace Medical Care

Her period had been absent for nearly a decade. But what truly shocked us wasn’t just her condition — it was what followed.

Her family had never taken her to a doctor.
Not once.

Instead, they went to a local baba, who told them:

“A devi has entered her. That’s why she doesn’t menstruate.”

What should have been seen as a medical red flag was treated as divine intervention.

Devotion That Becomes Denial

Hurrera explained — this wasn’t sacred. It was serious.
This girl needed a medical evaluation, not a ritual.

But sometimes, belief shouts louder than biology.
The family didn’t budge.
Their devotion had turned into denial.

We left that day with heavy hearts.
Not because we failed — but because we saw how deep the roots of misinformation still run.

Breaking Myths with Compassion, Not Conflict

This story isn’t rare. In fact, it’s painfully familiar.
Across India, superstition still silences science.
Girls are taught to fear their own bodies. Families place blind faith over basic health.

But here’s what gives us hope:
That girl raised her hand.
She asked.
She wanted to know.

And when a girl dares to question what she’s always been told, change has already begun.

This Is Why We Keep Showing Up

At Pinkishe Foundation, we’re not just distributing pads or giving talks.
We’re challenging systems, confronting stigma, and gently, patiently, shifting belief — with facts, empathy, and trust.

Because every girl deserves:

The truth about her body
Access to a doctor, not a deity
Answers rooted in care, not customs

We may not change every mind in a day. But we’ll keep returning.
Session after session. Village after village.
Until no girl is left with just stories — but is equipped with knowledge, care, and confidence.

Want to read more real stories from the field? Visit our LinkedIn profile to see how change is unfolding across India.