Sakshi on Periods, Plastic & Progress: Why Stigma Holds Us All Back

Good Period Team
Jul 1
3 min read

Updated: Jul 9

Sakshi turned her experience with reusable period products into a mission to fight period stigma in Hong Kong

Interviewed by Candice Lopez-Quimpo for Good Period Alliance

From Shame to Empowerment: A Personal Period Journey

“If you were to tell me when I was 15 that I’d be talking about periods in public, I’d be like, ‘No, that’s shameful! Why would one talk about periods?’” says Sakshi Vasudev.

However today, Sakshi is a proud advocate for menstrual health education and sustainable period care. At Good Period Alliance, Sakshi's working with us to end period poverty in Hong Kong through our distribution of reusable period products and education for underserved communities across the city - programs powered by the period-friendly companies we work with.

Learning About Periods — and Unlearning the Shame

Sakshi got her first period at age 12. “All I knew was that we bleed,” she recalls. Like many, she wasn’t taught much in school. Most of her early understanding came from her mom — who, having grown up in India where menstruation is still taboo, didn’t have the tools or language to pass on more detailed knowledge.

“At around 16, I learned the word ‘tampon,’” Sakshi says. “My mom was super against it. It’s something you insert in your vagina and might not handle a lot of bleeding — that’s what she believed.”

The Reusable Period Care Revolution Begins at Home

Her journey into sustainable period care began through research and experimentation. “I got period cups for me and my mom to try,” she says. “She was so skeptical! But it was a life-changing event. It has changed how my mom views periods forever.”

Later, when her dad brought home reusable pads from China, Sakshi’s mom was unexpectedly enthusiastic. “She loved the idea and encouraged me to educate the market about them,” Sakshi says, even though they both expected criticism — especially around the idea that washing or touching period blood is “dirty.”

“It Wasn’t My Body. It Was the Product.”

For years, Sakshi dealt with monthly discomfort. “I used to get yeast infections almost every month with disposable pads and didn’t know why. It was horrible: uncomfortable and itchy.” After switching to reusable pads, her symptoms disappeared.

“It didn’t stink anymore. I thought, what’s going on here? I had been blaming my body when it was the product I was using that was the problem.” This experience was a turning point — one that made her passionate about helping others find healthier, more sustainable options.

Founding BamPads!: Sustainability Meets Affordability

“I set up BamPads! because period products should be affordable for everyone to have sustainable, healthy periods,” Sakshi explains. Her mission goes beyond products. Through workshops and outreach, BamPads! educates young girls, migrant workers, and other women about their bodies and their menstrual cycles.

“Periods Are Our Superpower”

To Sakshi, periods are more than just a monthly event. They are a built-in health tracker — a source of wisdom.

“Periods are part of womanhood and should not be considered a burden. Periods teach us about our bodies every month. From the color of the blood, the way it flows, if the periods are coming in late… if there's something wrong, our periods will tell us. Periods are our superpower.”

Your Workplace Can Help End Period Poverty in Hong Kong

Sakshi’s journey and message aligns deeply with the mission of the Good Period Alliance: to break stigma, support education, and make sustainable period care accessible in every space — from schools to workplaces.

Book a call with our team today to discover how your workplace can lead the charge to end period poverty, while setting a new standard for equity and wellbeing.