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In BBC Magazine and the documentary Menstrual Man, we're introduced to the story of self-taught, DIY inventor Arunachalam Muruganantham. It's a classic feel-good story: Muruganantham triumphs over skepticism and other obstacles to create a homemade sanitary pad manufacturing device that's bringing low-cost, locally made menstrual hygiene products to rural India.

This issue is much, much bigger than one man's quirky and inspiring story: strong stigmas around periods may be affecting everything from gender inequality and economic disparity to the prevalence of serious diseases like cervical cancer. Menstrual bleeding is taboo basically everywhere, including the U.S. (sitcoms and commercials with blue water will attest to this). America is a rich enough country that, even if we're not willing to talk about periods in polite company, women have good access to sanitary pads and tampons. But in other parts of the world, stigmas about menstrual hygiene have more serious consequences than some light embarassment at the drug store counter.

In India, say Natasha Khan and Ketaki Gokhale for Bloomberg Businessweek, girls who start their period often have to give up going to school, a source of huge economic inequality down the line. In Nepal and West Bengal, says WaterAid , women who are menstruating are forced out of religious services, school and even social interactions.

A particularly huge problem, though, may be the health problems caused by lack of education, or lack of access to hygiene products like sanitary pads or tampons, says BBC Magazine. "Approximately 70% of all reproductive diseases in India are caused by poor menstrual hygiene."

Poor menstrual hygiene, caused by practices like reusing old cloths or using sand, leaves or sawdust to absorb menstrual blood, seems to be linked to India's dramatically elevated rate of cervical cancer, says Businessweek. This hygiene-cancer link is backed up by a 2003 study, which found that reusing cloths was associated with a 2.5 times greater risk of serious cervical problems compared to clean cloths or menstrual pads.

The exact health consequences of poor menstrual hygiene are hard to suss out, says a 2013 metanalysis. But the negative effects of the social stigma seem a little more obvious, as women are kept isolated and away from educational opportunities because of a natural part of their reproductive cycle. No one man or organization is going to solve the social aspect of these issues. But efforts like Muruganantham's sanitary pad makers, along with projects like Chitenges 4 Change, Project Dignity and others, taken together, could help improve the health of women worldwide.

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How Taboos Around Menstruation Are Hurting Women's Health

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In BBC Magazine and the documentary Menstrual Man , we're introduced to the story of self-taught, DIY inventor Arunachalam Muruganantham. It's a classic feel-good story: Muruganantham triumphs over skepticism and other obstacles to create a homemade sanitary pad manufacturing device that's bringing low-cost, locally made menstrual hygiene products to rural India.

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What are your thoughts on this graphic poster  and articles?

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What are your thoughts on this graphic poster  and articles?

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Taboos and secrecy surrounding their menstrual cycle prevent women from accessing proper equipment and education about their own bodies, which can have serious consequences for their mental and physical health and for the environment.

Infographic from Femme International

First, the general obsession with discretion is really a way to disguise shame. Women have to hide their sanitary equipment, as if only the sight of it could be disturbing for men. Having individually wrapped items allows for an easy way to conceal pads and tampons in a bag.

Disposal issues are particularly significant in countries where the waste management system is not well developed, as used sanitary items often end up in the drain, the rivers or the ocean.

It is important that each one of us finds out what product works best for her, given her flow intensity, her activity intensity, her body needs and convenience requirements. Switching to sustainable period products is not only more respectful of the environment, but also of our bodies since they do not contain nearly as many chemicals as the disposable ones.

The financial burden associated with sanitary equipment would be alleviated by making one investment per person which can last for ten years if well taken care of. Women are also empowered to keep on living their education, work activities and lives in a safe and healthy way, without being paralized by their cycle every month.

Every time I am exposed to a new country, in particular in the developing world, I am reminded how privileged I am to have access to hygienic and sustainable ways to take care of my body.

Luckily, women groups such as Green The Red and Femme International have started to speak out about menstruation, health and hygiene, and sustainable ways to manage the "red week".

During this month of March which has become special for women, let's take some time to inquire about what it is like to fully be a woman in different parts of the world, acknowledge our own privilege and maybe look for ways to break the taboo surrounding menstruations.

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Break the Taboo: Let's Talk About Periods

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Taboos and secrecy surrounding their menstrual cycle prevent women from accessing proper equipment and education about their own bodies, which can have serious consequences for their mental and physical health and for the environment. Infographic from Femme International First, the general obsession with discretion is really a way to disguise shame.