Nobody is more at discomfort than a woman who hasn’t had the chance to find a bathroom during her period days. Being unable to change the pad or tampon is the most concerning situation for any woman. There are times when she is on her period and she gets rashes on top of that because of not changing the pad for long, the coming days then become worse. Cleanliness, thus, holds major ground in a woman’s life. Personal cleansing is the absolute necessity for anyone, ignoring it can cause discomfort and diseases for people. Female hygiene, however, is more important because of the anatomy of women. They have a higher chance of getting an uncleanliness-based infection than men because of two things- first, sensitive skin and second, anatomy of their genitals. Women have higher sensitivity towards bacteria that thrive in a mixture of sweat and dirt. That is what causes them to have more rashes and skin infections than men. The other reason is the opening of a woman’s genitalia, they have a small urethra, which makes their bladder easily accessible to germs. The vaginal opening is constantly at the risk of catching an infection due to dirt and grime, more so during periods. A clean surrounding and cleaner body is a thing of high priority for women. Menstrual hygiene needs to be managed carefully, let’s understand the why and how;
Why is it important to manage menstrual hygiene?
A woman’s health depends on her menstrual cycle and the management of its proper timings and hygiene. Having untimely menstruation and ignoring female specific hygiene during periods can lead to decline of overall health of a woman. There are multiple reasons why it is important to manage menstrual hygiene.
Preventing infection
The vagina has a stable pH level which decides the kind of bacteria it wants to keeps, most of which are bacteria that keep the vagina clean. This pH level has major fluctuation during periods, which makes the vagina prone to infection causing bacteria. Which is why, uncleanliness during periods can increase the chances of infections. A lot of women who still use cloth instead of pads or tampons, expose their period blood to open air when the cotton cloth is full. Also, using unsterilised cloth and other unhygienic sanitary methods can lead to fungal infections and even affect the uterus and fertility.
Reducing reproductive health issues
Infections and diseases caused due to improper female hygiene can directly affect the reproductive health of a woman. Inflammation in the reproductive organs like uterus and ovaries can lead to serious issues like, endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, and pelvic inflammatory disease. These diseases can lead to failed pregnancies and cause mental trauma. To preserve the reproductive health of women, menstrual hygiene management becomes a task that is to be laid upon every shoulder of the society, including men.
Improved confidence and self-esteem
Periods days spent in anxiety has always been the norm for the ladies who contribute to the economic structure of the society. Working while on periods is terribly annoying and affects the self-esteem of many. The sudden odour from the body and the fear of leaking and having visible stains lowers confidence levels. Managing menstrual hygiene keeps you feeling fresh and confident throughout the day. It prevents leakage and keeps you from facing awkward situations.
Increase women’s involvement in education and economy
Women’s involvement in workplaces and education is also lower in the country because of improper menstrual hygiene. Feminine hygiene keeps the mind off of the issue of catching an infection or the worry of having a leak, which might cause embarrassment. The reason why these places are lacking women’s involvement is because women are keeping away from them because of their menstruation. It is a matter of concern and proper education for women is of importance to further develop the society as a whole. Managing menstrual hygiene, thus, takes the lead in changing lives of women left behind just because of three days of bleeding in a month.
How to manage menstrual hygiene?
Basic feminine hygiene combined with basic healthy human habits can be the opening for a path towards menstrual hygiene management. Here’s are some tips which will help in the maintenance of menstrual hygiene and will not cost a big buck-
Use safe sanitary products
There are a thousand companies making sanitary product at different price ranges. There are some that will fit your budget but you must choose the one that is cheap only on the price and not on quality. Some products might have synthetic chemicals and fragrances that might hurt your vagina. Do your research and choose well.
Change sanitary product frequently
Keeping your vagina and vulva clean and fresh during periods is necessary and it requires changing of sanitary pads and tampons regularly. Changing your sanitary pads every 3-4 hours and your tampons every 2 hours is necessary to prevent any bacterial formation. If you use a silicone based menstrual cup, you can empty and clean it every 8-10 hours without worry.
Maintain personal hygiene
First and foremost, wash your hands before and after handling menstrual product and cleaning your private parts. There has to be pristine female hygiene followed during the bleeding phase. Secondly, always wash your intimates properly, wash from the vagina towards the anus and not the other way round. It will prevent germs from your butt from reaching your vulva. Take hot showers and make sure you use only a gentle intimate wash to wash your vulva, period or no period.
Stay hydrated
If your body lacks water, it is harder for the uterus to flush out the period blood. It will also dehydrate the muscles around your pelvis and increase cramps and pain. Drinking at least three litres of water will help you finish your period sooner and painlessly, saving you all the mood swings because of a dehydrated brain.
Eat a nutritious diet
Talking of mood swings and cramps, they also occur when your body is lacking certain vitamins and minerals. Eating according to your cravings will give you that fake comfort for a few minutes but the moods and cramps will return twice as strong. Eat fresh whole foods like veggies, fruits, raisins and millets while avoiding fatty and sugary foods and beverages that hurt your stomach later.
There is no one rule for all when it comes to female hygiene and menstrual health. Some suffer with more bleeding than usual, some have more sensitive skin and get rashes, while there are some who are affected most by cramps. The above information will work on everyone but you must understand your own body and balance the parameters. It means choosing your own menstrual products according to your fit and needs, allocating a balanced diet according to a blood report or doctor’s advice, and avoiding or participating in social situations according to your conditions during periods. Research and re-educate yourself on menstrual cycles and solutions to common problems.
