Tag: MENSTRUATION

Keeping track of your menstrual cycle can help you predict when your next period will arrive, making it easier to prepare in advance. You can use a period tracking app, keep a calendar, or make a note of the start and end dates of your periods each month…reports Advaitesha Birla

It can be both exhilarating and terrifying to get your first period. You may have many questions about what to anticipate because it can be difficult to understand all of the changes that are taking place in your body. It’s crucial to understand that every girl goes through this process and that it’s a typical aspect of maturing, though. I’ve compiled 5 suggestions that I found useful to try and make this process a little less difficult and unpleasant.

Get Equipped: Make sure you have the right menstrual products such as pads, tampons, or menstrual cups readily available at home or in your bag. Being prepared with the right supplies will give you peace of mind and help you manage your period with confidence. Additionally, keeping a pain reliever on hand can alleviate any discomfort or cramps that may arise during your period.

Track Your Cycle: Keeping track of your menstrual cycle can help you predict when your next period will arrive, making it easier to prepare in advance. You can use a period tracking app, keep a calendar, or make a note of the start and end dates of your periods each month.

Managing Cramps: Menstrual cramps can be very uncomfortable and sometimes debilitating. There are many over-the-counter pain relievers that can help reduce cramps. Additionally, heat therapy such as a heating pad, warm bath, or a shot water bottle can also help relieve cramps.

Take Care of Your Body: Your period can be a draining time, both physically and emotionally. It’s important to take care of your body by eating well, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest. You can also try doing light exercises or yoga to help boost your energy and reduce stress.

Talk to Someone: Talking to someone about your period, whether it be a parent, teacher, or doctor, can help relieve any anxiety or confusion you may be feeling. If you have any concerns or questions about your period, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Additionally, you can also consider reaching out to organizations such as Ujaas which provide education and resources on menstrual health and hygiene to empower girls and women. Having a trusted source of information and support can make all the difference in your journey with your first period.

It can be perplexing and overwhelming to have your first period, but by being ready, keeping track of your cycle, controlling cramps, caring for your body, and talking to someone, you can ease the transition. Keep in mind that receiving your period is a normal biological occurrence, therefore there is no reason to be embarrassed or uncomfortable about it. Never be afraid to talk to someone you trust and feel at ease expressing yourself to if you are frightened or concerned.

A woman’s menstruation is unique to each individual, so what works for one woman may not work for another.

ALSO READ-Let’s talk about menstrual hygiene

Using a dirty or used cloth for periods regularly can cause reproductive system infections such as bacterial vaginosis or urinary tract infections (UTI), which can progress to pelvic infections…writes Dr Shilpa Ghosh
Undoubtedly, period awareness has increased in urban areas, with more women opting for sanitary pads rather than cloth, and not only women; people, in general, have developed a better understanding of menstruation in metro areas. Innovations in products are happening, like menstrual cups, menstrual discs, and much more. Filmmakers like R. Balki (who made ‘Padman’) have also shifted the set paradigm to a great extent. However, there is still a considerable segment of the female population who is subjected to menstrual prejudice.

Unfortunately, society identifies women as the other half, but only for specific, indoor-bound duties, highlighting the biological difference as a mark of inferiority. Menstruation and its debilitating nature, though a reality, are often hushed. To commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day, one must acknowledge that menstruation is a natural part of life and that the taboos around it must be eliminated.

The Prejudices

Thousands of women and girls are stigmatized, alienated, and discriminated against simply because they menstruate. According to a survey, taboos such as not being allowed to touch pickles, not working, exercising, not allowed to enter the kitchen or touch common food items or utensils, not washing hair, not having sex during menstruation, not being allowed to touch plants, and others are still prevalent.

Even now, in the year 2022, women are still instructed to isolate themselves during their periods rather than treat them as a normal thing. Moreover, when most girls get their first periods, they are left hanging out to dry, although they have no idea what their bodies are going through. This is especially true in rural and remote areas. In many parts of India, girls are barred from receiving an education, making a living, and fully and equally participating in everyday life just because they have begun menstruation.

Raising awareness for proper period hygiene is the need

It is critical to raise awareness about menstruation and associated subjects so that it is seen as ‘normal’ rather than something to be ashamed of or hidden. When a girl begins menstruation, she is still quite young. Menstruation is difficult to deal with anywhere, but it is especially difficult in India. The majority of young girls in the country are not taught why they bleed for nearly a week every month or how to handle periods safely and hygienically when they are young.

To overcome these problems, girls should be provided with proper education and awareness to help them become emotionally and physically ready. The current scenario necessitates a more rapid approach to information dissemination and societal evolution.

Using a dirty or used cloth for periods regularly can cause reproductive system infections such as bacterial vaginosis or urinary tract infections (UTI), which can progress to pelvic infections.

Because these infections can spread to the pelvis, they might make it difficult to conceive or cause pregnancy issues such as preterm labour (leading to an early birth).

Poor local hygiene is one of the risk factors for cervical cancer, poor hygiene can increase cervical cancer risks in the long run.

It is critical that the usage of sanitary pads over cloth begins in elementary school. Girls in rural places should be given sanitary pads to encourage them to use them instead of cloth.

Girls should be educated in maintaining the highest level of hygiene during periods. It is because the pad absorbs more blood, sweat, and sebum as the menstrual flow is stronger during the day while you’re active.

This creates an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive, which is why wearing one pad for more than four hours every day is not suggested.

Because blood offers a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive during your monthly cycle, washing the vaginal area at least twice a day is recommended.

The vaginal organ is self-cleaning. It’s crucial to protect the environment’s natural flora, and using conventional soap or even specific cosmetic items for intimate hygiene can harm it. Ideally, the vaginal area should be washed with warm water and no soap.

Lack of access to high-quality hygiene products is a major impediment to reaching 100 per cent menstrual hygiene coverage in India.

In India, a major impediment to achieving 100 percent menstrual hygiene coverage is a lack of access to high-quality hygiene products. According to research, the majority of girls lack consistent access to high-quality menstrual hygiene products, with 88 percent of women and girls in India relying on improvised alternatives such as old clothes, rags, hay, sand, or ash.Furthermore, women and girls do not have access to adequate sanitation facilities.

According to research, approximately 40 per cent of girls miss school during their periods. The type of absorbent used, lack of privacy at school, restrictions imposed on girls during menstruation, the mother’s education, and the source of menstrual information were all found to be important factors in school absenteeism. Nearly 65 percent said it had an impact on their daily activities at school and that they had to skip class tests and lessons as a consequence of discomfort, anxiety, shame, and concerns about leakage and uniform discoloration. While access to menstrual products is critical, equal attention should be paid to the mental trauma that girls experience during their periods. Girls should receive comprehensive counselling on menstruation and other associated issues. Efforts should be made to eradicate period-related myths and shame.

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