Written by: Hiba Tanveer
Email: hibatanveer27@gmail.com
Introduction
Menstruation is the monthly shedding of the lining of your uterus also known by the terms menses, menstrual cycle, and period. Menstrual blood — which is partly blood and partly tissue from the inside of your uterus — flows from your uterus through your cervix and out of your body through your vagina. It is the normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of a woman's monthly cycle. Every month, your body prepares for pregnancy. If no pregnancy occurs, the uterus, or womb, sheds its lining.
Figure 1. The Menstrual Cycle
Periods usually start between ages 11 and 14 and continue until around the age of 51. They usually last from three to five days. Besides bleeding from the vagina, you may have abdominal or pelvic cramping pain, lower back pain, mood swings, irritability, headaches, and fatigue.
A girl’s first period can be exciting because it is a symbol of entering womanhood. However, it can also be confusing and a bit intimidating. That’s because a lot of girls are not equipped with the right information to manage their first menstrual cycle. Rarely, periods and feminine hygiene are openly talked about in a way that would make a girl feel at ease with this new stage of life.
Myths and Taboos Related to Menstruation
Society often treats periods and women’s health in general as if it’s something that shouldn’t be talked about in public. Menstrual awareness can help erase the stigmas around periods. This doesn’t just apply to girls who experience menstruation firsthand. Boys also need to be in on the conversation too so they know there’s nothing “gross” about a girl being on her period.
Despite it being a vital component of women's reproductive health, encompassing physical, emotional, and social well-being, menstrual health often faces societal taboos, cultural misconceptions, and a lack of comprehensive awareness. This article addresses the need for increased awareness and education surrounding menstrual health and its impact on women's lives. But first, let's talk about some of the myths:
Myth: You cannot exercise while you are on your period.
Fact: There is no scientific evidence that exercising while you are on your period can harm your physical health. Exercise is good for a sound body and mind and can even help to reduce the pain due to menstrual cramps.
Myth: You shouldn’t wash your hair during your period.
Fact: You don’t need to compromise your personal hygiene habits due to your period. No study states one cannot wash their hair or take a shower on their period. A warm bath can help you with painful cramps.
Myth: The pain of a period is ‘just like’ anything you’ve experienced
Fact: The pain we get during periods is real. Doctors have reported that it's as painful as a heart attack. The cramps are quite severe.
Period Poverty
According to the World Bank, as many as 500 million people across the globe lack access to basic menstrual products and hygienic bathroom facilities for use during their menstrual cycles.
Managing periods is a major challenge for women and adolescent girls who lack these basic facilities. Along with that, many girls and women have limited options for affordable menstrual materials. Research has shown that period poverty is a significant concern in lower- and middle–income countries. There is the realization that period poverty is also an important consideration in high-income countries (HICs), particularly affecting those in rural areas. The increased cost of items such as pads, tampons, and menstrual cups means that many women can’t always afford the products they need every month.
People who experience period poverty are unable to purchase the menstrual products they need, and, in many cases, this means that they cannot go to school, work, or otherwise participate in daily life.
Figure 2. Period Poverty Statistics
It can cause physical, mental, and emotional challenges, making people feel shame for menstruating, and the stigma surrounding periods prevents individuals from talking about it.
People unable to access menstrual products reported using rags, toilet paper, and children’s diapers. Some people also use menstrual products for longer than intended, often resulting in serious problems.
Using these alternative products puts individuals at higher risk of urogenital infections, which are infections of the urinary and genital systems. These infections include urinary tract infections and bacterial vaginosis. Using products longer than intended can also be dangerous. Leaving a tampon in for too long can increase a person’s risk of toxic shock syndrome, a rare but dangerous infection.
Infections Caused by Poor Menstrual Hygiene
A lack of menstrual hygiene can potentially contribute to the development of vaginal infections. During menstruation, the genital area is more susceptible to bacterial growth due to the presence of blood and warmth. Poor menstrual hygiene practices, such as not changing sanitary pads or tampons regularly, using unsanitary materials, or neglecting personal cleanliness, can create an environment conducive to bacterial overgrowth.
An infection caused due to unhygienic use of menstrual products is a UTI, or urinary tract infection, an infection that affects any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. Common symptoms include a frequent urge to urinate, pain or burning during urination, and cloudy or strong-smelling urine.
The treatment for a urinary tract infection (UTI) typically involves a course of antibiotics prescribed by a healthcare professional. The specific antibiotic and duration of treatment depend on the type of bacteria causing the infection and the severity of symptoms. It's crucial to complete the full course of antibiotics, even if symptoms improve before the medication is finished.
Figure 3. Symptoms of UTI
To minimize the risk of vaginal infections, it's essential to practice good menstrual hygiene, including regular changing of sanitary products, using clean and appropriate materials, and maintaining overall genital cleanliness. If symptoms of infection arise, seeking medical advice for proper diagnosis and treatment is important.
PMS
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has a wide variety of signs and symptoms, including mood swings, tender breasts, bloating, food cravings, fatigue, irritability, and depression. It's estimated that as many as 3 out of every 4 menstruating women have experienced some form of premenstrual syndrome. Some symptoms include tension, anxiety, depression, mood swings, headache, muscle or joint pain, and weight gain.
Figure 4. Menstrual Cramps
The signs and symptoms generally disappear within four days after the start of the period for most women. If the symptoms affect your daily life it's best to consult a doctor.
Period Pain
Women also experience severe cramps or abdominal pain during their period. The pain is most often menstrual cramps, which are a throbbing, cramping pain in your lower abdomen. This pain is caused by natural chemicals called prostaglandins that are made in the lining of the uterus. Prostaglandins cause the muscles and blood vessels of the uterus to contract. The pain can start a day or two before your period. It normally lasts for a few days, though for some women it can last longer. You may also have other symptoms, such as lower back pain, nausea, diarrhea, breast tenderness, mood swings, bloating, and headaches.
Ways to Overcome Pain
Regular exercise
Healthy, balanced diet – you may find that eating frequent smaller meals (every 2-3 hours) suits you better than eating 3 larger meals a day
Adequate sleep – 7 to 8 hours is recommended
Relieve stress by doing yoga or meditation
Take painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to ease the pain
Heat therapy: Apply a heating pad to the lower abdomen or take a warm bath to help relax muscles and alleviate cramps
Stay adequately hydrated to help reduce bloating and overall discomfort
Keep track of your menstrual cycle and symptoms to help identify patterns and enable better management of menstrual pain
Ways to Combat Period Poverty
National Advocacy: Menstruators need the support of their governments to provide adequate infrastructure and access to affordable menstrual products.
Increased Education and Knowledge Sharing: Knowledge sharing between organizations, communities, and schools can include menstruators in the conversation and provide education without stigma.
The Private Sector: Businesses can provide information and access to facilities and products, contribute to destigmatizing menstruation, and integrate menstruation management into their policies.
Evidence-Informed Charitable Programs: Programs can educate menstruators, provide necessary products, and support people and their communities.
Further Research: More research is necessary on the effects of period poverty and how to combat it.
Legislation: Protective legislation can ensure affordable access to proper facilities and menstrual hygiene products. Governments can also reduce taxes on menstrual products, making them more affordable.
Importance of Menstrual Health Awareness
Improved Health and Well-being
Increased Confidence: Feeling clean and well-groomed can help girls feel better about themselves.
Prevention of Diseases
Reduced Absenteeism
Empowerment: Teaching personal hygiene empowers girls by giving them the knowledge and skills to take control of their health. This empowerment can extend beyond hygiene and have a positive impact on other aspects of their lives.
Community Health: Girls can also become agents of change within their families and communities by sharing what they've learned about personal hygiene.
Breaking Stigmas: Addressing personal hygiene openly and positively can help break down cultural or societal stigmas associated with hygiene-related topics.
Gender Equality: Promoting personal hygiene for girls helps in breaking gender stereotypes and promoting gender equality by ensuring that girls have the same opportunities to maintain their health and well-being as boys.
Figure 5. Breaking Stigmas
Steps to Raise Menstrual Health Awareness
Engaging in Conversations: Ending the stigma around menstrual health is the first step in normalizing periods and supporting health and rights.
Training healthcare providers to ask patients about their menses and provide screening, referral, or treatment for medical causes of dysmenorrhea.
Accommodating time off for employees experiencing severe pain from menstruation.
Providing menstrual health supplies through schools, workplaces, community centers, correctional facilities, and other places to ensure they are accessible for those who need them.
Ensuring that washrooms in schools, health centers, workplaces, and other venues provide privacy and access to clean water to help ease the challenges of menstrual health management.
Developing policies centering access to menstrual products and care. Whether at a local or national level, policies and procedures must prioritize menstrual health management to ensure the right to menstrual and reproductive health. Policies might range from not taxing menstrual products to providing menstrual leave for people who experience severe menstrual pain.
Supporting community organizations that promote menstrual health in their communities. Institutional and individual donors can amplify their impact by funding groups providing education, supplies, and advocacy for menstrual health
Conclusion
In conclusion, promoting menstrual health awareness is not merely a matter of breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation, but an essential step towards fostering a society that prioritizes the well-being of all individuals. By embracing open conversations, providing accurate information, and advocating for accessible menstrual hygiene products, we can empower individuals to manage their menstrual health with dignity and confidence. The journey towards menstrual health awareness is a collective responsibility that transcends cultural taboos and societal norms, striving for a future where menstruation is celebrated as a natural and integral aspect of human life. Through continued education and advocacy, we pave the way for a more inclusive, understanding, and supportive world where everyone can navigate their menstrual health journey with ease.
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