Menstrual Hygiene Day: 10 Google Queries Answered By The Gynaecologist

May 28 is celebrated as Menstrual Hygiene Day. Initiated by WASH United, a Germany-based NGO, the global event is aimed at spreading awareness about the importance of good menstrual hygiene for menstruators.

Much like any other query, people often search about menstrual hygiene on Google. We picked 10 questions and spoke to Dr Pratibha Singhal, Director and Senior Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Noida, to get all the queries answered.

Did you know that around 49.6% of women aged 15-21 use only cloth as an alternative to sanitary products in India? The National Family Health Survey-5 mentions the true state of menstruators in the country.

50% of women in India aged between 15-24 years still use cloth for menstrual protection. pic.twitter.com/pxGP5k5hZD

— Stats of India (@Stats_of_India) October 7, 2022

What Is Good Menstrual Hygiene Management?

Access to menstrual hygiene products to collect/absorb blood during periods, privacy to change the sanitary wear, and access to facilities to dispose the used products. All these are necessary at home, schools, and workplaces to maintain good menstrual hygiene.

Why Is Menstrual Hygiene Important?

Menstrual hygiene can help prevent infections, reduce intimate areas’ odour, and help stay comfortable while menstruating.

What Should A Girl Do To Maintain Good Menstrual Hygiene?

To maintain good menstrual hygiene, a menstruator must use sanitary products that can absorb /collect blood without leaking or causing any infection.

Sanitary wear must be changed timely, for example, pads must be changed every 4-6 hours, and tampons must be changed every 4-8 hours. Similarly, a menstrual cup must be washed at least twice a day or even more, if required.

The third step is to wash the intimate area with clean water to get rid of stains and odour. Lastly, dispose the used products in a separate bin wrapped in paper so that sanitary workers do not come in direct contact with the menstrual waste.

What Is The Importance Of Menstrual Hygiene Management In Schools?

In 2019, NGO Dasra published a report stating that 23 million Indian girls drop out of school every year due to a lack of proper menstrual hygiene management facilities. Dr Singhal said girls are afraid to go to school because of their unawareness of menstrual hygiene and lack of knowledge on how to manage sanitary wear. Similarly, in many workplaces, where adequate menstrual hygiene facilities are unavailable, women would leave their jobs, she added

The gynaecologist believes that with the increasing discourse around women's empowerment, liberalisation, and gender equality, schools and workplaces are compelled to install sanitary pads vending machines to distribute sanitary pads at low rates and build toilets with the supply of clean water.

The Government of India has also taken many initiatives to provide menstruators with qualitysanitary productsat a low cost. States like Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Assam, and Sikkim among others have been allocating budgets to make sanitary products accessible.

What Is The Importance Of Menstrual Hygiene in India?

With millions of girls dropping out of school due to poor menstrual hygiene management, it is the need of the hour. We need to put more emphasis on it.

What Are Three Hygiene Practices During Menstruation?

The hygiene practices during menstruationinclude using sanitary products, changing them time-to-time, and safe disposal of used products. You should also clean the intimate area with clean water at least twice a day.

What Are The Menstrual Hygiene Products?

To maintain good menstrual hygiene, menstruators can use sanitary napkins, tampons, menstrual cups, menstrual discs, and period panties. Pads and tampons can be made of plant-based biodegradable materials too. One can even use reusable cloth pads and panty liners to prevent staining around the last days of periods.

According to theNational Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019-21, 77.3% of women in India use hygienic sanitary products that include sanitary napkins, locally prepared napkins, menstrual cups and tampons.

Is Cloth Safe During Periods?

Dr Singhal said clothes, papers, and makeshift sanitary products made up of other things can be harmful to health and it can lead to serious health issues. However, cloth pads must be washed with clean water and should be changed time-to-time.

What Are The Effects Of Poor Menstrual Hygiene In Schools?

Millions of girls drop out of school if there are no proper means to maintain good menstrual hygiene. Poor menstrual hygiene can lead to long-term health problems, including chronic infections, chronic pelvic inflammation, and fertility issues. It can affect women of any age.

Don't Miss: 10 Indian States That Are Making Menstrual Products Accessible To Girls

What Is The Importance Of Menstrual Hygiene In Adolescence?

Whether young or adult, menstrual hygiene plays a pivotal role in maintaining the overall well-being of a menstruator. As Dr Singhal mentioned, poor menstrual hygiene can have long-term effects on the body and lead to various infections.