Thanks to the Know Your Period Act, middle and high school children in California will learn about menstrual cycles in their classrooms. Governor Newsome approved the act in late September 2024, making California one of the first states to mandate menstruation education. The bill, authored by Democrat California Assemblymember Lori Wilson, is modeled after the first menstrual education requirement implemented in Washington, D.C.
This legislation further broadens the state’s sex education curriculum. Public schools in the state are currently required to teach “comprehensive sexual health education and HIV Prevention.” Under this existing legislation, students have learned about sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, and healthy relationships for years. Starting January 2025, lessons must also cover irregular periods, pain management, hygiene, stigmas, and menopause.
The Know Your Period Act was inspired by Sriya Srinivasan, a 16-year-old high school junior from Solano County. Assemblymember Wilson launched an initiative soliciting ideas from constituents for new laws. Srinivasan proposed the menstrual education law and lobbied for it after Wilson introduced the bill.
After going nearly a year without her period in seventh grade, a concerned Srinivasan turned to family and friends for advice; they also did not know the young teen’s period was irregular. Srinivasan searched the internet for answers and recounted, “…there were various pieces of disinformation that said it could be ovarian cancer or other illnesses.” Her parents took her to the doctor, where she was diagnosed with an eating disorder. A nutritionist educated the young athlete on her eating habits. Srinivasan successfully incorporated healthier eating habits, and her period returned. “I should’ve already known that a lack of nutrition would result in me not getting my period,” she said. “But I didn’t get that education.”
Amidst a nationwide rollback of reproductive rights, with several states banning sex education in school curricula, California is strengthening its commitment to empowering youth through comprehensive health education. The Know Your Period Act aims to fill critical knowledge gaps and provide students with the tools they need to manage their menstrual health. Advocates hope California’s efforts will inspire a broader movement toward more inclusive reproductive education nationwide.
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