From shame to story: Menstrupedia uses comics to demystify periods in india

New Delhi: In many Indian homes, menstruation still means silence. Girls are told to stay out of kitchens and temples, sanitary pads are wrapped in black bags, and periods are discussed only in whispers — if at all. The result: millions of adolescents grow up confused, misinformed, and ashamed of a basic biological process.

Aditi Gupta set out to change that. Co-founded by Gupta, Menstrupedia is a comic-led menstrual education platform that replaces stigma with storytelling.

Instead of lectures, Menstrupedia uses relatable characters, simple language, and culturally sensitive visuals to explain menstruation. Its comic books and digital resources are now used in schools, NGOs, and homes across India, making period education accessible and shame-free.

“We didn’t want to preach. We wanted to tell a story that girls could see themselves in,” Gupta has said of the initiative.

By framing periods through narrative instead of taboo, Menstrupedia is shifting how a new generation understands menstrual health — from something to hide to something to understand.