These advocates are addressing the gap in your sex education

Hannah Chiu might only be a medical student at Tulane University, but she is using her platform to make sure young menstruators know everything from how to use a tampon to birth control options. With only 29 states mandating any form of sex education, Chiu joins the many people around the country looking to teach about menstrual periods, a topic that is not federally required to be taught in sex education curricula and often goes overlooked. From Trish Hutchinson taking up-and-coming doctors into the classroom, to Andrew Lupo, a pediatric gynecologist, teaching his patients firsthand, discover the ways menstruation education is reaching young people when they need it most. UPDATE FROM OCTOBER 2025 TAPING: Period Prepared is a menstruation education program co-founded by Hannah Chiu and Olivia French, both medical students in New Orleans, and their mentor, Dr. Stephanie Shea. The interview features Hannah Chiu and reflects the work of the organization as a whole. As of February 2026, Chiu is still working within the menstrual education space, but is not using Period Prepared branding. MUSIC: Delmendra by Blue Dot Sessions Roundpipe by Blue Dot Sessions Borders - Marimba Happy Song by DanielHComposer Scienceline theme by Jahzzar at the Free Music Archive