Bleeding shouldn’t be a barrier — but it is. A middle schooler hesitates at an empty dispenser. An incarcerated person weighs buying food versus pads. A young woman misses school due to severe cramps, unaware her pain may signal a condition like Endometriosis. In each moment, the same quiet fear persists: Did anyone see? Is there a stain?

‍On March 20, Ohio’s House Bill 29 took effect, requiring correctional facilities to provide free menstrual products without discrimination. This is meaningful progress — and a reminder that policy can directly shape dignity and health.

But HB 29 cannot be the endpoint. It is a success to build on.

We are a medical student and a pre-med student at The Ohio State University and, as leaders of PERIOD OSU — a student organization advocating for menstrual equity through policy, education, and service — we have seen both progress and persistent gaps.

What sets HB 29 apart is its specificity. It defines access, accountability, and implementation. That level of detail is what transforms a policy from symbolic to sustainable change. Without clear systems, gaps persist: empty dispensers; inconsistent restocking; and programs that disappear when funding runs out.

At the same time, access alone is not enough. Menstrual health education in public schools remains inconsistent. Students are rarely taught what constitutes abnormal symptoms or when to seek care.

The consequences are real. Endometriosis affects about 1 in 10 reproductive-age women, yet diagnosis is often delayed by 5 to 12 years from symptom onset. When severe pain is seen as “just part of a period,” people are less likely to seek care.

Progress is happening. In March 2026, new clinical guidelines supported diagnosing endometriosis based on symptoms and imaging rather than requiring surgery. Advances in noninvasive imaging and emerging artificial intelligence tools also show promise for earlier detection. Researchers are exploring ways to both diagnose and treat endometriosis more effectively, including minimally invasive procedures that may preserve fertility. These advances are especially significant because menstrual health research has historically been underfunded — and their full potential will only be realized with increased research funding and patient awareness.

Other states have recognized gaps in menstrual health education. New York, for example, now requires public school curricula to include information on menstrual disorders. Ohio has the opportunity to build on its progress by pairing access with education.

If Ohio is serious about menstrual equity, we need policies that ensure consistent access across schools, colleges, shelters, and public spaces — with clear standards for distribution and maintenance. We also need sustained investment, not one-time funding. Equally important, menstrual health education in public schools must be standard, inclusive, and medically accurate. Students should learn how to recognize abnormal symptoms and when to seek care.

We are not just future physicians — we are patients, advocates, and members of the communities we serve. We understand how stigma shapes whether someone seeks care, speaks up, or navigates challenges in silence.

HB 29 is worth celebrating, but it should also prompt a question: Why stop here?

Because bleeding should never be a barrier.

Singh is a third-year medical student at The Ohio State University College of Medicine with a bachelor’s in neuroscience. She is the founder of PERIOD OSU (2018) and Reproductive Justice Chair for Doctors for America. Featured in the MSNBC documentary “Periodical,” she has led campaigns to repeal the tampon tax and helped secure $5 million for free menstrual products in schools in 2023. Duddella is a pre-medical student at The Ohio State University and vice president of PERIOD OSU. She contributed to the coalition behind Ohio House Bill 29 and has coordinated annual donations of menstrual products to schools in rural India since 2019.

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