srjcmsSRJCMSSRJCMS2788-885110.47310/srjcms.2025.v05i01.016Safe Periods or Safe Myths? Exploring Awareness of Menstrual Hygiene and Myths Among Adolescent Girls in KangraBackground: Menstruation is a natural biological process essential to female health, yet it remains enveloped in stigma, secrecy and misinformation, particularly in rural regions like Kangra. Poor menstrual health education, pervasive cultural myths and unhygienic practices contribute to adverse physical, emotional and social outcomes for adolescent girls. This study aimed to assess the awareness of menstrual hygiene practices and the prevalence of menstrual myths among adolescent girls in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional online survey was conducted between January and March 2025, targeting adolescent girls aged 13-19 years who had attained menarche. A structured, pre-validated bilingual questionnaire was disseminated via digital platforms, collecting information on socio-demographics, menstrual hygiene practices, product usage and menstrual myths. A total of 400 participants were included through convenience sampling. Responses were scored and categorized into Very Good (≥80%), Good (60-79%), Fair (40-59%) and Poor (<40%) awareness levels. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with IBM SPSS version 26.0. Results: Of the 400 respondents, 58.5% resided in rural areas and 56.0% were enrolled in secondary education. Knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene was generally high, with 83.5% correctly identifying menstruation as endometrial shedding and 87.8% recognizing the role of hygiene in infection prevention. However, awareness regarding modern menstrual products like menstrual cups (63.8%) and tampons (62.5%) was comparatively lower. Encouragingly, 75.0% of participants rejected the notion of ritual impurity and 82.0% disagreed with activity restrictions during menstruation. Overall, 32.5% demonstrated Very Good awareness, 44.0% had Good awareness, 19.0% had Fair awareness and 4.5% had Poor awareness levels. Conclusion: While adolescent girls in Kangra exhibited commendable awareness regarding basic menstrual hygiene, significant gaps remain concerning the use of modern products and persistent myths. Targeted, culturally sensitive educational initiatives integrated within schools and communities are essential to dismantle menstrual stigma, correct misinformation and empower girls to manage their menstrual health safely and confidently.