India, May 28: Remember that viral video from December 2025 where a desperate father pleaded for sanitary pads for his menstruating daughter at an airport, which sparked nationwide conversations around need for essential menstrual hygiene support in public spaces? Women have come out with an overwhelming public support for making sanitary pads a bathroom essential in public washrooms across India.
The 11th annual everteen Menstrual Hygiene Survey reveals that 92.1% women believe including sanitary pads in public washrooms as bathroom essentials would make public spaces more inclusive and equitable. Ahead of International Menstrual Hygiene Day 2026, the nationwide everteen survey received participation from more than 2,100 women across India including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. Among respondents, 88.6% women were in the 19-35 years age group.
Earlier this year, a landmark Supreme Court judgment recognized menstrual health as a fundamental right and directed the Union and state governments to provide free sanitary pads to girl students, preferably within toilet premises through vending machines.
Connecting menstrual hygiene infrastructure with broader societal attitudes, 94.4% women questioned that if washrooms can provide facilities like urinals and hand dryers, why is menstrual hygiene not given the same priority! 86.4% respondents felt that the absence of sanitary pads in public washrooms reflects a larger discomfort around menstruation.
Based on importance, women ranked sanitary pads (34%) ahead of toilet paper (11%), tissue paper (3%) and hand dryers (3%), second only to handwash (50%). 85.9% women said the absence of sanitary pads affects women’s dignity in public spaces. 75.1% women reported facing a situation where their periods began unexpectedly in a public place without access to a sanitary pad. Nearly half of the respondents associated such situations with feelings of panic or helplessness, while others reported anxiety or embarrassment.
87.9% women said sanitary pads should be made available across all public places on priority, with schools emerging as the top priority for enabling menstrual hygiene access. 81.3% women said keeping sanitary pads in public washrooms should be made mandatory through law or policy.
Mr. Chirag Pan, CEO of PAN Healthcare, says, “Our everteen survey findings clearly show that women increasingly view menstrual hygiene access as an essential support linked to menstrual dignity, inclusion and equal participation in public life. From schools and colleges to airports and railway stations, access to sanitary pads can help women manage unexpected situations with greater comfort and confidence.”
Mr. Hariom Tyagi, CEO of Wet and Dry Personal Care, the makers of everteen and a PAN Health initiative, says, “As a leader and pioneer in feminine and menstrual hygiene, everteen has been conducting live awareness workshops in schools and colleges, educating thousands of girl students. We have also been installing sanitary pad vending machines at several educational institutions to help make menstrual hygiene accessible. We are committed to making conversations around menstrual health become more informed, practical and inclusive.”
Among other trends highlighted in the survey, disposable period panties emerged as the second most preferred menstrual hygiene option after sanitary pads, leaving behind menstrual cups and tampons.
The study further found that 35.2% women had little or no knowledge about menstruation before experiencing their first period, while only 2.3% discussed their first period with a teacher, highlighting continuing gaps in menstrual education. Additionally, 71.2% women continue to worry about spotting at night, while menstrual cramps and fear of stains remain the biggest concerns for women while stepping out during periods. Nearly 20% women reported irregular periods, yet many had never consulted a doctor about the issue.
As a leader and pioneer in menstrual hygiene products in India, everteen has been conducting live awareness workshops across schools and colleges and has installed sanitary pad vending machines at several educational institutions to improve menstrual hygiene awareness and accessibility among young women.
Every year, everteen conducts menstrual hygiene surveys to generate insights that help develop innovative solutions and strategies empowering women to manage periods more comfortably and confidently. The feminine hygiene brand also promotes awareness through campaigns such as #FixYourPeriods, #SheNeedsPad, #PadHerLife and #BloodyHypocrisy. everteen offers a range of feminine hygiene and intimate care products including sanitary pads, disposable period panties, overnight pads, menstrual cups, panty liners, menstrual cramps roll-ons, intimate washes and more.