Mexico Launches Strategy to Support Menstrual Health in Schools

Mexico’s Education and Health ministries introduced a national strategy to address menstrual health needs across secondary and high school systems, aiming to reduce absenteeism and improve conditions for students who menstruate.

The National Strategy for a Dignified Menstruation, announced by the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) and the Ministry of Health (SSA), targets more than 6.2 million secondary students in 42,975 schools and over 5.4 million high school students in 21,175 institutions. The initiative is part of the federal administration’s effort to integrate menstrual health into public policy and to position it as a human right linked to student retention.

The strategy was developed by the Deputy Ministries of Basic and Upper Secondary Education and the Deputy Ministry for Health Policy and Population Well-Being, through the National Center for Gender Equity and Sexual and Reproductive Health (CNEGSSR). It aims to ensure that students can manage menstruation under the appropriate conditions, particularly in educational settings where lack of access can influence attendance and participation.

Under the program, the SEP and SSA will distribute educational materials, deliver menstrual health kits and coordinate school activities, and communication campaigns in public and private institutions. The approach centers on creating an environment that reduces stigma and supports students’ ability to remain in class.

The strategy responds to the need to remove discomfort and shame as barriers to attendance, said Tania Rodríguez, Deputy Minister of Upper Secondary Education, during an event in Xochimilco. The government has prioritized sexual and reproductive health and menstrual health forms part of this agenda, said Teresa Ramos, Head, CNEGSSR. Authorities add that the strategy aligns with national principles of human rights, gender perspective, and progressivity.

Authorities expect the initiative to strengthen public health, foster school attendance, and support equal conditions for adolescents and young adults. Through this coordinated effort, the government seeks to ensure that menstrual management does not lead to discrimination, absenteeism, or limited participation in education.

Globally, 500 million women and girls still lack the resources to manage their periods safely, hygienically, and with dignity, according to WASH United. This crisis is driven by a combination of inadequate education, limited access to menstrual products, insufficient sanitation infrastructure, and persistent cultural stigma that keeps menstruation a taboo subject.

The consequences are profound. Misinformation and stigma often lead to school absenteeism, social exclusion, and reduced participation in everyday life, deepening existing gender inequalities. Consulting firm Kearney estimates that missed educational and employment opportunities due to menstruation result in hundreds of billions of dollars in annual economic losses worldwide.

In Mexico, over 9 million girls, adolescents, and women face barriers to menstrual hygiene resources and education. According to UNICEF, four in 10 female students avoid attending school during their periods, and 20% miss school at least once due to menstruation.

The challenges are exacerbated by a lack of infrastructure. As reported by MBN, 6,000 schools lack bathrooms, 56,109 have no water supply, 43,558 lack sinks, and 26,463 operate without electricity, creating an environment that hinders safe and dignified menstrual management.

It is estimated that 42% of menstruating women live in poverty, facing significant barriers to accessing menstrual health products, with wide-ranging impacts on their education, health, and well-being.

These systemic shortcomings contribute directly to gender gaps in education. As Educación Futura points out, the absence of menstrual health-friendly environments denies girls their fundamental right to complete their education.

Improving menstrual health is not only a matter of rights, but also a smart policy. Sahil Tesfu, CSO, Essity, highlights that investing in menstrual health in the workplace can reduce absenteeism by 62% and workforce turnover by 23%. Tesfu underscores the importance of collaboration between schools, workplaces, and healthcare systems to support women’s health and well-being.