The unpleasant mental images of India

A person rather senior in the organization -- forgive me for being coy about her job title, but you'll understand why the anonymity in a sec -- surprised me this afternoon by striding unannounced into my office and carefully shutting the door.

I stood.
She faced me, looking grave and a little uncomfortable.
I waited.

"Do you have a sanitary pad?" she blurted out.
"Er...sure." I began to fish around in my bag.
"I'd ask for a tampon, but it's actually for diarrhea."