The Stigma Surrounding Menstruation: Attitudes and Practices Regarding Menstruation and Sexual Activity During Menstruation

This article describes the findings of a mixed-methods study aimed to understand attitudes and practices regarding menstruation and sexual activity during menstruation due to stigma. Findings from the surveys (n = 439), eight in-depth interviews, and four expert interviews show that both men and women hold stigmatizing attitudes toward menstruation and sexual activity during menstruation. Most respondents were not sexually active during menstruation. Stigmatizing attitudes resulted in constant physical and mental menstrual management for women, negatively influencing their lives. Surinamese women displayed significantly more stigmatizing attitudes and practices than Dutch women. Results imply that improving menstrual education could have a destigmatizing effect.