Menstrual Hygiene

Menstruation is a pivotal event in any girl's life, marking the beginning of her reproductive life. Apart from all the mental repercussions associated with this rite of passage imposed by nature that manifest with time, immediately more important is the hygiene associated with it. Maintaining hygiene during period days is vital and crucial for every female. Now, in our modern twentieth century, people are more open minded and discuss issues like menstruation, which were considered taboo previously. But even today, many girls and women still lack the basic ideas and knowledge of menstruation and how to maintain hygiene during their period days. These are the fundamental knowledge that every female should know about their cycle to ensure a healthy reproductive life.

Some very basic steps to maintain hygiene during menstruation include:

Change napkins regularly- Menstrual blood – once it has left the body – gets contaminated with the body's innate organisms. This rule applies for even those days when you don't have much bleeding, since your pad is still damp and will have organisms from your vagina, sweat from your genitals, etc. When these organisms remain in a warm and moist place for a long time, they tend to multiply and can lead to conditions like urinary tract infection, vaginal infections and skin rashes. The standard time to change sanitary pads is every four hours. This may vary from woman to woman. Those having heavier flows will need to change more frequently than others.

Wash yourself regularly- When you menstruate, the blood tends to enter tiny spaces like the skin between your labia or crust around the opening of the vagina and you should always wash this excess blood away. This practice also tends to beat the bad odour that could emit otherwise. So, it is important to wash your vagina well before you change into a new pad. If you cannot wash yourself before you change, make sure to wipe off the areas using a toilet paper or tissue.

Beware of a pad rash- A pad rash is something that you might experience during a period of heavy flow. It usually occurs when the pad has been wet for a long time and rubs along the thighs causing it to chaff. To prevent this from occurring, try to stay dry during your periods. If you do have a rash, change your pads regularly and stay dry. Apply an antiseptic ointment, after a bath and before bed – this will heal the rash and prevent further chaffing. If it gets worse, do visit your doctor who will be able to prescribe you a medicated powder that can keep the area dry.

Never use two pads simultaneously- Some women who experience heavy flow, tend to use two sanitary pads at one go to control the flow and prevent staining of clothes. This, however, is a bad idea as it can cause infections in the vaginal region. Stick to one and keep changing it often if the flow is more.

Wear comfortable and clean underwear- While changing your sanitary pad is essential, it is also important to wear something comfortable during these days. Tight thongs or underwear made of fabric that doesn't allow your skin to breathe will also lead to infections. Stick to clean and comfortable cotton knickers that do not stick to your skin.

Another problem faced by women is irregular periods. While menstruation usually gets regular with age, there are certain food items one can take to increase regularity.

Turmeric- It is helpful in regulating menstruation and balancing hormones. The antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties relieve menstrual pain. Consume one-quarter teaspoon of turmeric with milk, honey or jaggery. Take it daily for several weeks or until you see improvement.

Ginger- Boil 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger for 5 minutes. Add a little sugar and drink the mixture three times a day after your meals. Ginger is highly recommended for regulating menstrual cycles and getting rid of irregular periods

Cumin- Soaked cumin can be used in the treatment of irregular periods. Take 2 teaspoons of cumin seeds and soak in water over night and drink it in the morning. You need to drink this water every day to get your periods regularised.

Recently, vaginal washes are hitting the markets. Different brands offer different benefits, and are encouraging women of all ages to use these washes. But experts believe that these washes are just a new glib business policy acquired by companies to deceive women into helping them earn easy money. Gynecologists say that there is absolutely no need to wash the vagina with any special washes; it is a self-cleaning device with regular cell turnover and a highly-tuned pH and micro biome. Altering any of these factors can lead to irritation and even infection. Too much use of these washes may cause complications in pregnancy and may also lead to ectopic pregnancies.

Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual awareness day on 28  May to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM). It was initiated by the German-based NGO WASH United in 2014 and aims to benefit women and girls worldwide. The 28th was selected to acknowledge that 28 days is the average length of the menstrual cycle.