Menstruation in Colombia: Inequality Starts in School

Written by
Maria Fernanda Fitzgerald

Students attend class at Institucion Educativa Mayor de Mosquera, Mosquera, Colombia.

Biological Reality Becomes Systemic Inequality

“I remember we had just finished performing a school play,” says Dulce. Her voice, as gentle as her name, softens as she recalls the first time she got her period at school. She was in ninth grade back then, now she’s in tenth, but that day remains etched in her memory.

“When I took off my costume after the play, it was completely stained. I didn’t really know what to do because nobody at school had ever talked to me about this, and I felt so embarrassed. It was only later that one of my classmates helped me after noticing how uncomfortable I was. I’ll always be grateful to her,” she says.

“That day I was called and had to bring her a full change of clothes, because the school didn’t have anything available for her,” recalls Katherine, Dulce’s mother. She also remembers how, in order for her daughter to remain in school that day, the school required her to wear the official uniform: They wouldn’t let her attend class without her uniform, but if she went home, she’d be marked down.”

Every month, Dulce’s period feels like a test. It’s not only the intense cramps, it’s also the lack of proper facilities in her school’s bathrooms: often locked, without soap or toilet paper. And in many public spaces; the limited access to hygiene products; the emotional burden this all creates; and, of course, the silence, misinformation, and fear of being bullied over something that, due to a lack of education, has been turned into a taboo.

A student sits in the school’s stairwell. Photo: Violeta Zambrano

An empty classroom with backpacks on desks. Photo: Violeta Zambrano

For Mariana, a 15 years old teenager from the outskirts of Bogotá, the experience feels familiar: “At our school we have to justify to our teachers why we’re going to the bathroom. Sometimes I feel too ashamed, so I prefer to wait until break time,” she says, recalling the day she had such strong cramps that she fainted in class, even after that, I still don’t feel like I can talk to my teachers.

”Girls and women across Colombia face the same problem every month: having their period becomes an obstacle. For school-age girls this reality is particularly harsh. It leads to absenteeism, which in turn increases the risk of dropping out, widening the gender gap that will continue to shape their futures.

According to DANE, one in seven women in Colombia experiences menstrual poverty, which means that the lack of education, products and facilities surrounding menstruation leads to disadvantages in health, economic or social contexts. For women with the lowest incomes, this rises alarmingly, reaching over 90%, mainly in remote regions of the country.

A small trail of blood runs down a thigh. Photo: Violeta Zambrano

Left Alone in Pain

Menstrual cramps are far more than a discomfort: for many teenage girls, they are a barrier to attending school. In Colombia, a UNICEF study conducted in 2016 with girls from different regions found that 86% of participants identified cramps as the main reason for missing school. The same study revealed that during their periods, 40% said their ability to concentrate decreased, and 38.8% avoided participating in class due to fear of staining or discomfort.

“Many teachers don’t even let us go to the bathroom. If I go to the nurse’s office to ask for a simple herbal tea to deal with the pain, they tell me they don’t have any. That’s why I often prefer to stay home,” Dulce says.

A study by Fundación PLAN in schools in Colombia’s Pacific region collected testimonies from girls describing how pain forced them to leave school early or remain in class unable to focus. The study documented a clear pattern: apart from the pain, the cramps become a silent form of exclusion. Girls are physically present but mentally absent, disconnected from lessons, paralyzed by pain, and lacking support.. This testimony confirms what statistics already suggest: menstrual pain is not only a private matter but a public health issue that limits educational opportunities.

A student rests her head on a desk. Photo: Violeta Zambrano

A girl sits with their arms wrapped around their knees. Photo: Violeta Zambrano

The Cost of Menstruation

The lack of adequate menstrual products is a severe problem. In Colombia, according to UNICEF surveys between 2023 and 2025, 11.4% of women reported economic difficulties in purchasing essentials like sanitary pads, tampons, or menstrual cups in 2023.

This difficulty is even more acute in lower-income households. A study cited by Infobae reports that more than 90% of women from Colombia’s lowest socioeconomic strata lack access to basic menstrual hygiene products. Data from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) also shows that between May 2021 and May 2022, 566,000 women in the country experienced economic difficulties obtaining menstrual products, and at least 45,000 had to rely on rags, socks, old cloths, or used clothing to manage their menstruation.

“This shows that when menstruation occurs in contexts of socioeconomic vulnerability, purchasing menstrual products represents an additional expense”, it says in the PLAN-report.

Absence due to Menstruation

52%: Of girls in Colombia have missed school due to menstruation.

(Buitrago, 2024)

Affordability of Menstrual Products

15%: Of girls and women in Colombia who menstruate cannot afford period products.

(DANE, 2022)

“At Dulce’s school, we once tried to raise some extra funds to install a machine that dispensed sanitary pads,” recalls Dulce’s mother, “but when we began to implement it, the school refused to continue, saying it was unnecessary and that the money would be better spent elsewhere.”

In Colombia, 32% of the population survive on just 25 USD per week or less (DANE), while access to menstrual products remains both limited and costly. Tampons in Colombia typically cost 4.40 USD, while sanitary pads on average cost 3.50 per pack – a recurring monthly expense that quickly adds up for many women.

While reusable menstrual cups are more affordable than single-use products, they are not intuitive, invasive, and require privacy and frequent maintenance — which can be a challenge for students. Reusable pads, though simpler to use, can shift out of place and need regular washing and drying, which isn’t always practical in a school setting. Menstrual underwear, while slightly more expensive upfront, is easier to use, more comfortable, and can last for years, making it the most practical and cost-effective option over time.

Without menstrual products, girls in Colombian schools feel exposed and constantly worried about stains; many avoid school altogether during those days or leave early Menstrual poverty is not an abstract barrier but a tangible obstacle for girls’ participation in education.

No Infrastructure, No Dignity

Many schools and other public spaces in Colombia lack safe, private, and sanitary bathrooms.. To manage their periods with dignity, menstruating students need clean toilets with running water, soap, and trash bins for disposal. Yet UNICEF reports that many schools in Colombia do not meet these standards, forcing girls to skip school on days when they have no place to manage their needs.

“At my school, I can’t find some of the basic things I need when I get my period. I usually try to use pads, even though they often irritate me. I have to, because when I tried using a menstrual cup, I realized there were no individual bathrooms (only shared ones) so I had nowhere to wash it before using it again”, says Mariana about her experience.

UNICEF data shows that in rural and remote areas, more than one in four girls have missed school at least once due to not being able to manage their periods at school. Additionally, DANE reports that over 300,000 women in Colombia lack access to private bathrooms, clean water, or basic hygiene items.

Despite a government initiative to a school sanitation facilities, there is still a long way to go before every school can offer girls the infrastructure they need.

A stain of blood in a sink as water flows. Photo: Violeta Zambrano

Silence Turns Into Stigma

The silence surrounding menstruation weighs heavily. In Colombia, the lack of open and honest conversation on the subject is tied to the fact that many girls aren’t properly educated about their bodies.

According to Fundación PLAN, 90% of girls in vulnerable communities lack basic knowledge about menstruation before their first period. The same study revealed that more than 30% of school-age girls feel uncomfortable or ashamed talking about it.

Beyond economic hardship, studies show that many girls experience shame or ignorance at their first period. In rural or remote areas, a UNICEF survey found that one in three girls did not know what menstruation was before experiencing it for the first time.

Awareness of Menstruation

34.8%: Of Colombian girls didn’t know about menstruation before their first period.

(UNFPA/UNICEF, 2016)

Stigma Around Menstruation

30%: Of Colombian girls feel ashamed to talk about menstruation.

(Fundación Plan, 2019)

Students huddle closely, red chairs line the background. Photo: Violeta Zambrano

Students look out from a barred window. Photo: Violeta Zambrano

This lack of knowledge is compounded by Colombia’s deep-rooted conservative-Catholic attitudes toward women, sexuality, and the body. In many communities, discussions about menstrual cycles are considered inappropriate or overly private, linked to ideals of modesty and purity that limit openness. These cultural codes rooted in religious teachings and patriarchal norms—reinforce the taboo: menstruation is not just biological, it becomes ensnared in a moral silence. As a result, many girls internalize shame before they even start their periods, with no vocabulary or safe space to ask questions.

This silence and absence of education generate stigma, self-isolation, and fear and prevent many girls from understanding that menstruation is natural.

“I’ve never felt comfortable enough to ask a teacher for help during my period,” says Dulce. “I’d rather turn to my classmates, but I only do it if I have no other option.””

From Isolation to Absence

The stigma surrounding menstruation can motivate teasing or ridicule from classmates, which further damages girls’ emotional well-being. In Colombia, 23% of female students reported being victims of bullying on a regular basis. While there are no exact figures showing what proportion of this bullying relates to menstruation, such a high overall rate creates an environment in which highlighting something as natural as a period can become a source of shame or ridicule.

Missing several classes has a cumulative effect: difficulty keeping up with lessons, falling grades, widening gaps with peers or even dropping out altogether. In Colombia, a 2023 UNICEF study found that one in four girls in the rural Pacific region had missed school at least once for reasons related to their period.

Child-Marriages Based on Education

61%: Of Colombian women with only primary education were married as minors.
20%: Of Colombian women with secondary education were married as minors.

(UNICEF, 2023)

Income Based on Education

3.3k COP: Average hourly wage for Colombian women with only primary education.
4.5k COP: Average hourly wage for Colombian women with secondary education.

(DANE, 2022)

Inequality That Lasts a Lifetime

Menstruating in adverse conditions becomes yet another factor limiting the potential for girls in Colombia among other hardships of being female.

In Colombia, economic inequality between women and men is clear and affects women’s opportunities. In 2024, 11.5% of people living in private households were in multidimensional poverty, a rate that rises to 24.3% in small towns and dispersed rural areas.

A student leans against a pillar, other students visible behind her. Photo: Violeta Zambrano

Students wait by the noticeboard as a girl walks past. Photo: Violeta Zambrano

From Conversation to Policy

A first step to improve the situation would be to recognize menstrual education as a right. School and family programs that address the issue biologically, emotionally, and socially enable girls to understand their bodies as natural and healthy. At the same time, awareness and empowerment campaigns can open conversations, reducing stigma and normalizing what has remained shrouded in silence.

Infrastructure is also crucial: schools with properly equipped private bathrooms make the difference between attending class and staying home. But these changes will not be enough without policies that guarantee universal access to menstrual products, fund school improvements, and incorporate menstrual health into broader agendas. Recognizing menstruation as a matter of dignity and equity is the only path to ensuring no girl loses opportunities over a natural process of her body.

For Dulce, it all comes down to willpower: “I think if people talked about it more calmly, everything would be easier. If teachers didn’t ask why we’re going to the bathroom, if the doors were left unlocked, if toilet paper was available. I know these are basic things, and they can be put in place so easily.”

An Initiative So Periods Don’t Stop School.

Any Colombian school is invited to join the initiative and make period underwear part of their uniform, so their students feel confident and comfortable to attend every day. Reach out below for more information.

Join now