Menstrual hygiene is a crucial aspect of health and hygiene, especially for adolescent women in the early stages of their reproductive life. Safe menstrual hygiene practices prevent infections and discomfort and empower young women by promoting confidence and enabling them to participate fully in daily activities. In many communities, lack of access to sanitary products, proper sanitation, and education about menstruation creates challenges for adolescent women. Addressing these issues through awareness, education, and provision of affordable menstrual products is essential. Promoting good hygiene practices and breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation helps foster a healthy and supportive environment for adolescent women during this critical phase.
How to Maintain Hygiene During Menstrual Cycle?
Maintaining proper hygiene during the menstrual cycle is important for comfort, preventing infections, and ensuring overall health. There are a few tips to follow menstrual hygiene practices are as follows:
Wash the Genital Area Regularly
Proper hygiene helps eliminate sweat, blood, and bacteria accumulating during menstruation, preventing irritation, odor, and infection. Cleansing with warm water helps balance the skin’s natural moisture, preventing dryness. The natural pH balance of the vagina can be disrupted by harsh soaps or artificially scented products, leading to infections such as bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections.
Proper Disposal of Sanitary Products
Proper disposal improves personal hygiene, prevents infection and irritation, and maintains cleanliness in your vaginal area. Wrapping used items like pads or tampons helps keep blood and bacteria out, reduces odors, and prevents bacteria from spreading. Sanitary products, such as clogged toilets, are often made of non-biodegradable materials and cause contamination problems. When disposed of in the trash, they are clean and environmentally friendly.
Prefer Clean and Comfortable Clothing
Clean, breathable underwear helps prevent moisture buildup, which can lead to infections like vaginal yeast infections and irritations. Cotton is a breathable fabric that allows air to circulate, reducing moisture and preventing an environment where bacteria and fungi can thrive. Synthetic fabrics like nylon or polyester trap moisture, increasing the risk of infections. Fresh, clean underwear ensures that bacteria or blood stains do not cause discomfort or irritation. It also prevents foul odors and helps maintain overall genital hygiene, especially during menstruation.
Stay Hydrated
Menstruation can cause hormonal and physical changes that affect energy and mood. Hydration and nutrition play an essential role in reducing these effects. Drinking plenty of water during your period helps reduce common menstrual symptoms like nausea, headaches, and fatigue. Water also helps flush out toxins and keeps the skin healthy. A balanced diet with adequate nutrients, including iron- and fiber-rich foods, can help reduce symptoms such as nausea, mood swings, and fatigue.
What Are Menstrual Hygiene Products?
Menstrual hygiene products absorb or collect menstrual blood during a woman's period, helping to maintain cleanliness, comfort, and hygiene by practicing menstrual hygiene practices.
Menstrual Cups
A flexible bell-shaped cup made of silicone, rubber, and thermoplastic elastomer, is inserted into the vagina to hold menstrual blood. Menstrual cups can be emptied, cleaned, and reused for years with proper precautions to make them environmentally friendly and cost-effective. They generally come in various sizes depending on the age and flow of the periods.
Tampons
Tampons are small, cylindrical products inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual blood before it leaves the body. Typically made of cotton or rayon, they expand as they absorb fluid. It comes with a plastic or cardboard applicator to aid insertion. Tampons are available in light, regular, and maxi sizes for different menstrual flow levels.
Organic Sanitary Pads
Organic sanitary pads are like regular pads used during the menstrual days. Organic hygienic pads do not contain toxic chemicals like other plastic pads. They are free from artificial fragrances and ensure the users are free from irritation and rashes, and provide comfort by protecting the vaginal health.
Period Panty
Period underwear is specially designed with built-in absorbent layers to absorb menstrual blood, offering a comfortable, leak-proof alternative to pads or tampons. These reusable underwear can be washed after each use, making them an eco-friendly choice. They come in different styles and absorbencies, suitable for light, moderate, or heavy flow days.
Benefits of Menstrual Hygiene Practices
There are several benefits of menstrual hygiene practices. Every woman should follow these hygiene practices to stay hygienic and healthy.
Prevents Infections and Irritation
Using clean and appropriate menstrual products like sanitary pads, tampons, and menstrual cups and changing them at regular intervals prevent the growth of bacteria that could lead to infections like urinary tract infections(UTI) or vaginal infections like bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections. Keeping the genital area clean and dry minimizes the risk of developing skin rashes or irritations due to prolonged exposure to moisture.
Improves Comfort and Confidence
Proper menstrual hygiene helps individuals feel more comfortable during their period, reducing odor and discomfort caused by unhygienic menstrual products. It enhances self-confidence by allowing people to go to their daily activities without worrying about leaks, odors, or infections.
Maintains Emotional Well-being and Reproductive Health
Regularly maintaining menstrual hygiene can prevent more serious reproductive health issues, such as pelvic inflammatory disease(PID) and infertility, which can sometimes result from untreated infections caused by poor menstrual hygiene.
Feeling fresh and clean during menstruation can positively affect mood and mental health, reducing stress and anxiety related to menstrual discomfort. Adequate hygiene also fosters a positive attitude towards menstruation, removing the period stigma and taboo often associated with it.
Promotes Environment Sustainability
Using eco-friendly, reusable products like menstrual cups, cloth pads, or biodegradable sanitary napkins can reduce environmental waste caused by disposable products. Sustainable menstrual hygiene practices help minimize the negative impact on the environment.
Misconceptions of Menstrual Practices for Adolescent Women
Misconceptions about menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices among teenage women are often the result of cultural taboos, lack of education, and social stigma. A common misconception is that menstruation is unclean or impure, causing young women in some cultures to distance themselves during menstruation. Some believe that menstrual blood is toxic, fueling myths about dietary contamination and unsafe exercise during menstruation.
There is a misconception that using menstrual products such as tampons can affect a woman's virginity, which discourages their use. These myths not only cause unnecessary shame but also affect menstrual regulation and appropriate education, affecting the well-being and confidence of adolescent women. Encouraging open communication and promoting proper information is vital to tackling these myths.
Conclusion
Practicing safe menstrual hygiene practices for adolescent women is crucial for their overall health and well-being. Proper education on menstruation, access to sanitary products, and clean facilities empower young women to manage their periods safely and with dignity. Encouraging clean, absorbent materials, regularly changing hygienic products, and maintaining personal hygiene help prevent infections and discomfort. Schools, communities, and governments must work together to remove the stigma around menstruation and ensure equitable access to resources. By fostering an environment of openness and support, we can improve health outcomes and contribute to the empowerment of adolescent women globally.
FAQ’s
Is It Safe To Use A Tampon Or Menstrual Cups During Periods?
Yes, using a tampon or menstrual cup doesn’t affect virginity. Virginity is a social concept and is not linked to the use of menstrual products. It’s essential to follow the instructions on how to use these products to ensure safety and comfort.
How To Prevent Odor During Periods?
Changing your pad or tampon regularly, maintaining proper hygiene, and wearing clean underwear is key to preventing odors and also menstrual hygiene practices. Avoid scented products as they can cause irritation or allergies.
Can Poor Menstrual Hygiene Cause Infections?
Yes, poor menstrual hygiene, such as not changing pads or tampons frequently or not washing the genital area properly, can lead to infections like bacterial vaginosis, urinary tract infections, or yeast infections.
Is It Good To Shower Or Wash During Periods?
Yes, you should shower or bathe during your period. Maintaining good menstrual hygiene practices by cleaning your body, especially the genital area, helps prevent infections and keeps you feeling fresh.
Which Cloth Pads or Reusable Menstrual Products Are Safe to Use?
Yes, cloth pads, menstrual cups, and other reusable products are safe as long as they are cleaned properly after each use. Cloth pads should be washed with clean water and soap and dried thoroughly in the sun to prevent bacterial growth.
