Introduction

Menstruation, commonly known as ‘period’ is a natural process in a woman's reproductive cycle.

It occurs when the uterus sheds blood and tissue from its lining, which then exits the body through the vagina. 

Maintaining good menstrual hygiene is vital for preventing infections, promoting overall health, and ensuring comfort and dignity during menstruation.

It is a common occurrence for girls to miss classes and altogether drop out of school when they start menstruating.

The lack of hygiene products and facilities coupled with shame and fear make it extremely difficult for menstruating folks.

This article delves into what menstrual hygiene entails, why it's crucial for overall health and well-being, and practical tips for maintaining proper menstrual hygiene. 

Let’s lighten this important aspect of women's health and empowerment.

What is Menstrual Hygiene?

Menstrual hygiene refers to the practices and measures taken to manage menstruation safely, hygienically, and comfortably. 

This includes using hygienic products such as sanitary pads, tampons, or menstrual cups, and most importantly it includes maintaining genital hygiene the right way to prevent infections. 

Menstrual hygiene also includes proper disposal of used materials and knowledge of maintaining hygiene.

Effective menstrual hygiene is crucial for preventing infections, promoting overall health, and ensuring dignity and comfort during menstruation.

Types of Menstrual Hygiene Products

There are several types of menstrual hygiene products available for women and girls.

• Sanitary Pads: Disposable absorbent pads worn in underwear.
• Tampons: Absorbent plugs inserted into the vagina.
• Menstrual Cups: Reusable cups inserted into the vagina to collect flow.
• Period Underwear: Absorbent underwear worn during menstruation.

Each type offers unique benefits and considerations, allowing individuals to choose the option that best suits their needs and preferences.

6 Ways to Maintain Menstrual Hygiene

Many menstruating people have their ways of taking care of their monthly cycles.

Yet most often, what may seem like care can be extremely harmful and hazardous due to a lack of education and knowledge on menstrual hygiene practices.

Culture and religion have negative consequences on menstrual hygiene practices by imposing certain unscientific orthodox rules such as untouchability, avoiding baths, and discouraging one from openly discussing menstruation.

Here are some safe and hygienic practices to follow during menstruation.

1. Maintaining Cleanliness

Thoroughly cleanse and wash your genital areas with clean water to prevent infections.

It's important to only use water to clean the vagina as it naturally cleanses.

Avoid using chemicals or soap, as they can disrupt its natural pH balance, leading to potential bacterial or yeast infections.

2. Using Sanitary Products

• Hand Hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after using sanitary products.
• Storage: Store pads, tampons, and menstrual cups in a clean place.
• Menstrual Cups: Sterilize cups by boiling them or using unscented, oil-free soap.
• Changing Products: Change pads every 3-4 hours, tampons every 4 hours (never leave them in for more than 8 hours), and empty menstrual cups every 12 hours to prevent bacterial growth and toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

Leaving anything inside your vagina for long durations always carries the risk of bacterial growth leading to TSS.

Therefore, never use them for more than the time recommended.

3. Disposal of Used Materials

There are hygienic ways to dispose of used material based on the products used. 

Some dos and don’ts  while disposing of used materials for menstrual hygiene management are as follows:

Dos:

• Wrap used pads and tampons in paper and dispose of them in a dustbin.
• Dispose of used materials away from water sources and in a manner that prevents animals from scattering them.
• Wash your hands before and after changing pads or tampons.

Don'ts:

• Do not flush pads or tampons down the toilet to avoid clogs.
• Do not wash used pads or tampons before discarding them, as this can harm the environment.
• Dispose of old menstrual cups in a dustbin, by burning them safely, or by cutting them into small pieces.

4. Taking Care of Reusable Items

• Sterilize reusable absorbents, panties, and menstrual cups before each use.
• Wash with unscented, mild soaps and clean water.
• Dry them in sunlight, which is a natural sterilizer.
• Boil menstrual cups or use a menstrual cup cleaner for sterilization.

5. Educating Ourselves on Menstrual Hygiene

Educating ourselves on menstrual hygiene is crucial for personal and societal well-being. 

It involves understanding proper sanitary practices, accessing appropriate menstrual products, and promoting awareness to combat stigma and misinformation surrounding menstruation.

6. Ensuring Access to Hygiene Facilities

Access to hygiene facilities is essential for maintaining menstrual hygiene. 

Without available and accessible facilities, it is challenging to practice proper hygiene.

Taboos and Myths Around Menstruation

Taboos and myths around menstruation that exist in many cultures are mostly associated with being impure, evil, dirty, shameful, and embarrassing.

Women are not allowed to enter temples during their periods as they are considered impure and will pollute such godly places with their presence. Women are also not allowed to cook for the same reason.

Traditional practices also impose on women and girls to not wash their genitals and to not take baths while menstruating.

This results in many adverse effects on the health of women and girls.

Many women and girls most of the time readily accept such taboos and stigmas and follow them as a cultural practice with many of them justifying such practices.

This makes it all the more difficult to reach out to them about menstrual hygiene management.

Another myth is that menstruating women are emotionally unstable or irrational, which is not true.

Hormonal fluctuations during menstruation may affect mood in some individuals, but it doesn't make them irrational.

In some cultures, menstruating women are discouraged from participating in physical activities like swimming or exercising due to the belief that it could worsen menstrual flow or cause harm, which is far from true.

Health Risks from Poor Menstrual Hygiene

Many illnesses related to reproductive systems are often the result of poor menstrual hygiene management.

Vaginal Infections: Improper hygiene practices, such as infrequent changing of sanitary products or using unclean materials, can increase the risk of bacterial or fungal infections in the vaginal area.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Bacteria from menstrual blood or unclean hands can enter the urinary tract, leading to UTIs, which can cause discomfort and potentially serious complications if left untreated.

Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs): Inadequate hygiene during menstruation can also increase the risk of infections in the reproductive tract, including the uterus and fallopian tubes, which may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) if left untreated.

Skin Irritations: Prolonged use of unclean sanitary products or poor genital hygiene can cause skin irritations, rashes, or even dermatitis in the genital area.

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS): Though rare, TSS is a severe condition associated with certain types of bacteria, typically caused by leaving tampons inserted for too long. It can lead to sudden high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, and in severe cases, organ failure and death.

Menstrual Disorders and When to See a Doctor?

Menstrual disorders refer to issues with the menstrual cycle, including irregular periods, heavy bleeding (menorrhagia), painful periods (dysmenorrhea), and absence of menstruation (amenorrhea). 

They can even be related to conditions like PCOS or endometriosis.

These disorders can impact a person's physical and emotional well-being and may require medical intervention for diagnosis and treatment.

The right treatment depends on the type of menstrual disorder you have and could include things like changing your lifestyle, taking medicine, or even surgery.

If you're having menstrual problems, talk to your doctor so they can figure out what's going on and help you get it under control.

Conclusion

Proper menstrual hygiene management is crucial for women's well-being, involving the use of safe menstrual products, good personal hygiene, and addressing any related discomfort or health issues. 

It is essential to educate and inform about menstruation, break down misconceptions, and make affordable and sustainable menstrual products accessible to all who menstruate.

Ensuring good menstrual hygiene empowers women, promotes gender equality, and contributes to reproductive health and dignity.

FAQs

Can I swim or exercise while on my period?

Yes, you can! Using appropriate menstrual products, like tampons or menstrual cups, can help you stay active during your period. Just remember to change your product as needed to maintain hygiene and comfort.

How often should I change my menstrual product?

It depends on the type of product and your flow. Generally, sanitary pads should be changed every 3-4 hours, tampons every 4-8 hours, and menstrual cups every 8-12 hours.

Do women and girls become irrational during menstruation?

It is a myth. Though women and girls experience hormonal fluctuations, it doesn't affect their rationality.

What is menstrual leave? Do menstruating folks need it?

Some companies and workplaces give menstrual leave to menstruating people. It is a paid leave where you are given a day or two off so that you can take a rest during your period. 

Yes, it is important to provide such leaves as periods for many can be difficult with extreme cramps, vomiting, and sickness involved. It is also an important step toward gender equality.

How to dispel fears and embarrassment in young menstruating girls?

Educating them about menstruation and menstrual hygiene management is the first step to helping them be comfortable with menstruation when they start menstruating. 

It is important to help them understand that the taboos and stigmas surrounding menstruation are rooted in superstitions and have no scientific basis.

If they still find it difficult, taking them to a professional for counseling would help them cope with the fears and stigmas associated with menstruation.

References

• Saathi (2017). Why Some Women Wash Their Sanitary Pads (and Other Findings from our #OneMillionPads Baseline Survey) https://saathipads.com/blogs/menstrual-musings/why-some-women-wash-their-sanitary-pads (Accessed on 26/03/2024)
  
• Whisper. How to Dispose of Sanitary Pads. https://whisper.co.in/en-in/girls-and-parents/female-menstrual-cycle/how-to-dispose-sanitary-pads (Accessed on 26/03/2024)
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration: The Facts on Tampons and How to Use Them Safely. 
• Hirsch Larissa, MD. Can I Wear the Same Pad All Day? NEMOURS TeensHealth https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/changing-pads.html (Accessed on 26/03/2024)
• UNICEF: Menstrual hygiene Gender inequality, cultural taboos and poverty can cause menstrual health needs to go unmet. https://www.unicef.org/wash/menstrual-hygiene