A new survey by FrontPage Africa and New Narratives has revealed that more than nine out of ten women in Liberia take antibiotics every month after menstruation, a practice doctors warn is fuelling a dangerous rise in antimicrobial resistance.
The survey, conducted among 109 women in Montserrado County in January and February, found widespread misuse of antibiotics such as metronidazole and amoxicillin, often without prescription. Many women believe the drugs “cleanse” their bodies after menstruation, while others take them to relieve period pain or headaches. Medical experts say these beliefs are unfounded and harmful.
Dr. Plenseh McClain, chairperson of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Liberia, described the findings as alarming. “Liberia is going to have a serious resistance,” she said. “The medication that should be serving the purpose for that particular bacterial infection, it’s not going to be serving the purpose.”
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites evolve to resist the effects of medicines designed to kill them. In Liberia, this is already making common infections such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections and diarrhoea harder to treat. A 2021 study by Washington University found that antimicrobial resistance caused more than 4,000 premature deaths in Liberia that year, making it the country’s fifth leading cause of death. Experts believe the situation has worsened since then.
The survey also highlighted gaps in reproductive health knowledge. Many women mistakenly believe menstruation is an infection or involves “rotten eggs,” a misconception even taught by some biology teachers. Dr. Su Mon Thaw, a reproductive health expert, said the body has its own natural cleansing system and that antibiotics are unnecessary and potentially damaging. “Your body is a very complicated machine that has its own perfect cleansing system,” she said. “You don’t need to clean it from the outside.”
Doctors warn that repeated antibiotic use can disrupt the gut and vaginal microbiomes, weaken the immune system, and increase the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. It can also reduce fertility and, in pregnant women, increase the risk of miscarriage or pass resistant bacteria to newborns.
The practice is driven by misinformation, limited access to proper healthcare, and the low cost of antibiotics. Many women say they cannot afford to visit a doctor and instead rely on advice from friends, family or even health workers.
Health authorities have yet to respond publicly to the survey. Experts are calling for urgent public education campaigns to correct misconceptions and promote safe, evidence-based menstrual health practices. Without action, Liberia risks a deepening health crisis as effective antibiotics become increasingly scarce.
