Society thinks that keeping menstruating women from going in public is an oppression. The time when women were told to do so, sanitation and garbage management in the society wasn’t exactly at its peak. Women contracted diseases because of non-availability of sanitary pads or tampons. Women on period lacked hygiene outside of their own homes and contracted diseases from simple shake of the hand. Using a thin cloth to absorb period blood exposed the blood to airborne bacteria and women succumbing to UTIs was common. So, yes changing time do require us to change but it doesn’t mean that old times were absolute hell. Even today a large number of women don’t know how to practice good hygiene. Female hygiene shall be doubled during periods and shouldn’t be ignored even for a day, it very certainly will cause an infection or a body shock due to bacterial presence. So, here are some new age hygiene tips for women going through that tough time of the month.
1. Using the right kind of sanitation
Your level of period hygiene depends hugely on the kind of sanitation methods you use during your bleeding days. Sanitary napkins are a popular choice among teenagers while mature women who are sexually active may have a comfortable relationship with their tampons. Tampons, since they are worn inside the vagina, need to be changed every hour. Pads on the other hand can be used for 2-3 hours depending on your flow, still changing every two hours is necessary as the wet fabric can turn to a breeding ground for bacteria. You can avoid the changing times and risk of infection by simply switching to a silicone menstrual cup. It keeps the period blood sealed away from bacteria in the air. It can also collect period flow 8-10 hours and let you focus on other activities.
2. Clean, replace or change your sanitation frequently
There are multiple choices for period hygiene out there. Cleaning and changing them is one of the most important hygiene tips for women on periods. A sanitary pad can be used safely for two hours and a tampon only for one hour. Beyond their safety timings they begin to collect bacteria and he blood in them gets infected causing internal infection or rashes on the vulva. Similarly, on heavy flow days, you should also keep checking your menstrual cup and clean is in five to six hours even though it can collect eight hours-worth of flow. Doing so reduces your chances of getting any kind of infection or unwanted odours.
3. Wash your intimates properly
Even after taking out the pads or menstrual cups, wiping isn’t enough for the vulva. Bacteria are quite resistant to wiping and stick to the skin. It is better to wash off the vulva and surrounding skin with a mild intimate hygiene wash to prevent rashes. Also, keep your fingers away from other areas while washing your vagina, only focus on cleaning your vulva or inner thighs.
4. Avoid soaps and body wash
Soap and body wash are made to clean the tough skin on your legs, hands or back, it is not made for intimate areas. Your vagina has a specific pH level and can only stay healthy in that condition. Soaps and soapy washes are filled with foamy chemicals that destroy the natural pH and leave the vagina undefended against infections. Always use a mild soap free intimate wash that is free from parabens, SLES and soap compounds.
5. Know how to correctly wash your intimate areas
Sweat or dirt from any other part of the body shall never reach the vagina. A lot of women wash their vagina starting from the back, which means wiping or spraying water from the anus first and then moving towards the vagina. The gap between both the openings is tiny for women, the wrong hole can cause damage while washing too. Always wash from your vagina towards the anus to avoid any germs from the anus travelling to the vagina and giving you a terrible UTI.
6. Wear breathable clothes and undergarments
Period hygiene doesn’t solely depend on the kind of sanitation you use. Your underwear is what’s closest to your vulva all day long and needs to be sanitary as well. The best hygiene tips for women who wear polyester or nylon underwear- i) avoid thin underwear and thongs during periods and ii) wear breathable cotton fabric to let your vulva breathe.
7. Do not douche
It’s not about being a bad person. Douching is when you flush water through the internal vaginal cavity to clean it. Firstly, it destroys the natural microbes of the vagina which keep it clean and secondly, it makes your vagina dry and increases chances of odour.
8. Have regular showers
Showering regularly is good for general life, not just period hygiene. Taking regular showers and cleansing yourself helps with deflecting infection causing bacteria. Showering and staying in fresh clothes also keeps your mentally calm. Hot showers help with the period pains while daytime cold showers are great to set an energetic mood for the day.
9. Dispose of menstrual products safely
Used menstrual products are considered a biohazard. If not disposed properly after use they will increase chances of infection and environmental endemics. Moreover, during periods, your bathroom and surroundings shall be clean and throwing pads and tampons without wrapping them will bring infections along with terrible odours.
10. Never ignore rashes and irritation
Whenever you feel like you’re having constant irritation even after your period ends, check your vulva for signs of infection. Having coloured discharge or constant translucent discharge after your period has ended calls for medical help. The best hygiene tips for women are given by women gynaecologists, visit one and ask for help.
Period hygiene is the both the right and duty of every woman, it is a service that you do upon yourself to be able to live a happier life. Having good food with lots of veggies and fruits along with ample hydration will not only reduce the chances of infections and period issues but also ensure that you have a more comfortable period.
