Unspoken cycles: A qualitative study exploring the lived experiences of women’s menstruation in the urban informal settlements of Bangladesh

What the report says

PLOS One published a qualitative study examining how women and adolescent girls manage menstruation in the Khulna Railway Slum, an urban informal settlement in Bangladesh. The article, by M. Alam and M. Al-Mamun, says the research focused on menstrual health and hygiene as a public health and gender equity issue, especially in settings where water, sanitation and privacy are limited. PLOS One lists the article as published on July 24, 2026, after receipt in March and acceptance in July 2026.

According to the publisher, the study used a Feminist Political Ecology framework and drew on in-depth interviews with 18 women and girls aged 15 to 45, alongside five interviews with relevant stakeholders. Data collection was reported as taking place between September and October 2025. The authors analyzed the material thematically, combining pre-set conceptual areas with themes that emerged from participants’ accounts.

The study identified three connected factors shaping menstrual experiences: environmental and structural barriers, social stigma, and gendered inequalities in access to resources. Reported challenges included inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, poor disposal options, and the cost or limited availability of menstrual products. The article also describes taboos and shame around menstruation as contributing to silence, exclusion and reduced autonomy, with adolescent girls especially affected.

The authors argue that menstruation in this setting should be understood not only as a biological process but as an experience shaped by infrastructure, poverty, cultural norms and gender relations. They conclude that improving menstrual health in informal settlements requires attention to broader WASH services and gender equity. The article states that the authors received no specific funding and declared no competing interests.