STAYFREE AND MENSTRUPEDIA LEAD DIALOGUE FOR A PERIOD-FRIENDLY WORLD

On World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Stayfree® and Menstrupedia convened industry leaders, academics, social workers, and students at Narayana Business School, Ahmedabad, to challenge taboos and foster inclusive conversations around menstruation. The event spotlighted Stayfree’s campaigns and collaborative efforts to normalise period dialogue across Indian households and schools.

This year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day saw Stayfree®, a leading menstrual hygiene brand, and Menstrupedia unite to advance the theme “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld”. At Narayana Business School, Ahmedabad, the event brought together marketing professionals, academicians, industry leaders, social workers, and students for a transformative dialogue on shifting India’s period narrative from stigma to inclusivity.  

The panel, featuring Supriya Srinivasa, Marketing Director, Stayfree India, Dr. Vishal Tiwari, VP-Growth & Strategy, Narayana Business School, and moderated by Aditi Gupta, Co-Founder, Menstrupedia, underscored the importance of collective action. Discussions highlighted how brands, educational institutions, and individuals can dismantle silence around menstruation, with Stayfree’s long-running It’s Just a Period campaign cited as a pioneering effort in normalising conversations within families. From encouraging fathers to talk to daughters, to urging parents to educate sons, and the bold #BetaStayfreeLeAana initiative, the campaign has steadily worked to end generational taboos.  

To inspire young minds, Stayfree launched a Marketing Challenge for NBS students on how boys and men can actively normalise period conversations at home. The top three teams were recognised for their impactful ideas, signalling the potential of youth-led cultural change. Srinivasa emphasised that engaging with students reaffirmed Stayfree’s belief that change is already underway: “Together with Menstrupedia, we are committed to fostering a world where no girl feels fear, shame, or discomfort about her periods.”  

The occasion also celebrated Stayfree’s partnership with Menstrupedia, initiated in 2020. Over five years, the collaboration has trained more than 157,600 teachers, distributed over 1.6 million comic books, conducted workshops in 39,300 schools, and educated over five million children on menstrual health. Gupta noted the cultural impact: “We cannot build a better future when we exclude half the population from the most basic period conversations. Watching young men embrace the challenge with confidence shows the next generation is ready to lead with awareness instead of shame.”  

By combining brand purpose, educational outreach, and youth engagement, Stayfree and Menstrupedia are reshaping India’s cultural landscape—turning menstruation from a hushed subject into a shared conversation that empowers girls and women to thrive.