Menstrual Health Education for Female Athletes

Menstrual health in sport is a global movement, and we are proud to be leading the charge in India. This map shows how our 'Play Without Pause' pilot, which impacted over 1,145 athletes, positions India alongside global leaders in advancing research and education for female athletes.

In grassroots sports, simple solutions are often the most effective. We chose a paper diary over a digital app for our 'Meri Khel Yatra' program because it's offline, inclusive, and scalable, requiring no phone. This approach successfully built self-awareness and tracking habits, with 80% of girls continuing to use it post-program.

This is the 'Meri Khel Yatra' diary, a period tracking tool we designed specifically for young athletes in Uttar Pradesh. It's more than a tracker; it's a guide for reflection and self-awareness that helps girls connect their cycle to their energy, mood, and training.

Inside the 'Meri Khel Yatra' diary, athletes find sections to track not just period symptoms but also hydration, sleep, nutrition, and energy levels. It also includes exercises for injury prevention and period pain, making it a holistic wellness tool.

The results of our 'Play Without Pause' pilot speak for themselves. We saw a significant boost in menstrual health literacy, with average test scores rising from 5.96 to 8.0 out of 10. Athletes also adopted smarter habits for pain management and nutrition, demonstrating the power of targeted education.

At the Khelo India Youth Games, a simple sanitary pad provided at our kiosk was just the start of a deeper conversation. This article highlights how our 'Simply Periods' initiative in Bihar is creating an ambitious movement, turning moments of need into opportunities for empowerment and education.

Here, the Director General of the Bihar State Sports Authority speaks about our collaborative 'Simply Periods' kiosk at the Khelo India Youth Games. This first-of-its-kind initiative provided free kits and crucial awareness sessions, helping to analyze and address the real-world challenges female athletes face.

An international-level athlete shares her experience at our 'Simply Periods' kiosk in Rajgir. She unboxes the free period care kit, which includes essentials like intimate wipes, a cramp relief roll-on, and sanitary pads, highlighting how such useful tools support athletes during competitions.

Our 'Simply Periods' kiosk at the Khelo India Youth Games in Patna was a hub of activity and learning. This video captures the interactions, from educational charts to athletes proudly holding their free period care kits, showcasing our mission to spread awareness and break stigmas.