Menstruation: Experience of Girls and Women in Germany and Throughout the World - Survey Results and Recommendations

Aug 22, 2026

Survey examining menstruation as a public-interest topic, focusing on how girls and women experience their periods in Germany and globally. Highlights include period-related uncertainty at first menstruation, ongoing shame and social stigma, pain and accompanying effects, and gaps in medical support. The findings also address period poverty, limited access to hygiene products and safe sanitation, and the resulting impact on school and work attendance. The report concludes with change demands and calls to action for stakeholders, including Plan International Germany and WASH United.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages32

Reading Time1 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Menstruation as a topic of public interest

Period poverty and lack of knowledge

Methodology

Summary of the most important results

Results of the survey in detail

Girls feel uncertain when they get the first period

Between rejection and acceptance

The period is still fraught with shame

Accompanying effects and pain are part of it

Medical support? No such luck!

Period poverty – when there is not enough money

How the period makes daily life difficult

Men and menstruation – their understanding should be improved

What girls and women would like to change – and what men think about it

Time to act: Something needs to happen

Demands of Plan International and WASH United for Germany

Demands in development cooperation and humanitarian aid

Global commitment of Plan International and WASH United

Examples from project countries of Plan International

Uganda

Indonesia

Colombia

Examples from the global work of WASH United

Education about menstruation throughout the world

Menstrual Hygiene Day

FOCUS TOPIC: MENSTRUATION EXPERIENCE OF GIRLS AND WOMEN IN GERMANY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IMPRINT This survey has been published by Plan International Germany and WASH United. It has been developed by Alexandra Tschacher and Claudia Ulferts of Plan International Germany as well as the company transpekte Markt forschung, with technical support of Ina Jurga and Thorsten Kiefer of WASH United. We also would like to thank Danielle Keiser of the Menstrual Health Hub in Berlin who supported us with her expertise. The authors of this survey are Claudia Ulferts, Katharina Hofmann, Alissa Ferry and Antje Schröder. Barbara Wessel is responsible for the design. Our thanks also go to our “Young Voices”, Mika Jartwig and Anna Mühlenbruch, of Plan International’s Youth Advisory Board for their support. Photos and cover: Eva Häberle and Plan International Published by: Plan International Deutschland e.V. Bramfelder Straße 70 22305 Hamburg Germany Tel.: + 49 (0) 60 77 16 0 E Mail: [info@plan.de](info@plan.de) [www.plan.de](www.plan.de)[ ](www.plan.de)[www.instagram.com/planinternationaldeutschland](www.instagram.com/planinternationaldeutschland)[ ](www.instagram.com/planinternationaldeutschland)[www.facebook.com/PlanDeutschland](www.facebook.com/PlanDeutschland)[ ](www.facebook.com/PlanDeutschland)[www.twitter.com/PlanGermany](www.twitter.com/PlanGermany) Chairman of the Board: Dr. Axel Berger Responsibility: Kathrin Hartkopf, National Director Design, editing and coordination: Alexandra Tschacher, Claudia Ulferts Survey: transpekte Marktforschung, Respondi Authors: Alexandra Tschacher, Claudia Ulferts, Katharina Hofmann, Alissa Ferry, Antje Schröder, Sascha Balasko English translation: Anja Schürmann Layout: hausgemacht. Grafik & Design, Hamburg © 2022 Plan International Deutschland e. V. This publication is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Pictures and texts, including excerpts, shall not be used or reproduced without prior written consent of the publisher. 2 CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 4 1.1. Menstruation as a topic of public interest: there is a change 1.2. Period poverty and a lack of knowledge do not only concern the global South 2. METHODOLOGY 6 3. SUMMARY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RESULTS 7 4. RESULTS OF THE SURVEY IN DETAIL 8 4.1. Girls feel uncertain when they get the first period 4.2. Between rejection and acceptance: how women experience the period 4.3. The period is still fraught with shame 4.4. Accompanying effects and pain are part of it 4.5. Medical support? No such luck! 4.6. Period poverty – when there is not enough money 4.7. How the period makes daily life difficult 4.8. Men and menstruation – their understanding should be improved 5. WHAT GIRLS AND WOMEN WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE – AND WHAT MEN THINK ABOUT IT 6. TIME TO ACT: SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN 6.1. Demands of Plan International and WASH United for Germany 6.2. Demands of Plan International and WASH United in the field of development cooperation and humanitarian aid 7. GLOBAL COMMITMENT OF PLAN INTERNATIONAL AND WASH UNITED IN THE FIELD OF MENSTRUATION 8. EXAMPLES FROM THE PROJECT COUNTRIES OF PLAN INTERNATIONAL 8.1. Uganda: “A bloody Serious Matter” 8.2. Indonesia: New ways with menstruation underwear 8.3. Colombia: Pilot project “COPA” for refugee women and girls 9. EXAMPLES FROM THE GLOBAL WORK OF WASH UNITED 9.1. Promoting education about menstruation throughout the world 9.2. Menstrual Hygiene Day: removing the taboos from the period 10. CLOSING WORDS 20 23 24 26 30 31 1. INTRODUCTION In 2022, the topic of menstruation is still surrounded by taboos and stigmas. And yet, menstruation is the biological prerequisite for people’s existence and reproduction. Half of the world’s population have to do with it every month for a period of several decades – approx. 450 times on average during a lifetime. An estimated more than 300 million girls and women wo

FAQs

What does the survey focus on regarding menstruation experiences?

It examines how girls and women experience menstruation in Germany and worldwide, including uncertainty at first period, stigma and shame, pain and accompanying effects, and barriers to support and products.

What problems related to period poverty are highlighted?

The survey describes limited access to affordable hygiene products and hygiene solutions, worsening during events like the corona pandemic, which can lead to health concerns and increased stigma.

What change and action does the report call for?

It calls for improved access to period-friendly infrastructure such as safe, private and equipped toilets, better availability of hygiene products, and coordinated demands from Plan International and WASH United for Germany and internationally.

Aug 22, 2026

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