The menstrual cycle is often hated by girls for reasons, even when it is a natural process. One such reason is the problems like infection and discomfort during the periods. Females often face infection after or during periods, but they mistake the cause and blame their periods for it.
However, the real reason for this is not following a menstrual hygiene routine. Yes, many girls are unaware of how to maintain menstrual hygiene, which is why they have to face such problems. But it will not be going to happen anymore as we are here with our best menstrual hygiene tips for women of all ages. So let’s get started.
Importance of Menstrual Hygiene
Before we look at the steps to take care of your menstrual hygiene, let’s first explore the reasons why it is important. Here are some of the reasons that state the importance of menstrual hygiene:
1) Prevents Infection
The process of menstruation primarily includes bleeding out of menstrual waste, which no doubt can cause infections if not cleaned properly from your skin. Not only the outer skin but the inner layering of the vagina can also catch infections like UTIs, yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis. However, you can prevent these infections from happening by simply taking care of your menstrual hygiene.
2) Reduces Odour
By maintaining menstrual hygiene, you can also get rid of odours that usually come during periods. It mostly happens when you don’t clean the leftover blood after the menstrual flow. Hence, it leads to producing unwanted odour.
3) Promotes Comfort
Following menstrual hygiene tips also boosts your comfort, as periods can be really uncomfortable. The reason why they feel uncomfortable is due to the itching and irritation it can cause on your skin, so you should properly clean the leftover blood to prevent itching and irritation.
Good to Read:- Menstrual Disorders: Types, Causes, and Prevention
How to Maintain Hygiene During Periods?
Let’s now talk about the menstrual hygiene tips. With this, you can take care of your menstrual hygiene in every period.
1) Choose the Right Menstrual Products
Choosing the right products is very important for your menstrual hygiene, as not every product can be used for cleaning your vaginal section. It is because the internal section of your vagina can be exposed while cleaning it, and the chemicals used in making the product can affect your sexual health. Hence, you should carefully choose the wipes for cleaning.
Not only the wipes but also primary menstrual products like pads, tampons, and menstrual cups should be chosen carefully. Moreover, you should first asses your requirements and then choose the product for absorbing the menstrual waste. For instance, a pad or tampon is good for an adult female. But if you are seeking a menstrual hygiene product for a girl like your daughter, then period panties are better from the convenience and comfort point of view.
Additionally, it is recommended not to dry cloth for cleaning like cotton cloth, as it can be rough for cleaning purposes.
2) Change Regularly
Menstrual products are not worn for a long duration as they ultimately hold the menstrual waste, which can lead to bacterial growth in your pubic region. That’s why it is one of the most important hygiene tips to keep changing the pad or whatever product you are using every 6-8 hours. However, if your flow is heavier than normal w q, then you should do it more frequently.
3) Maintain Cleanliness
Cleaning only the pubic region is not enough for menstrual hygiene. You need to be more cautious. Once you are done changing the pad, make sure to clean your hands properly. It is important so that you can prevent transferring bacteria to others or even to yourself.
4) Proper Disposal
As we just learned, maintaining menstrual care also involves other cleanliness tasks. So, the disposal of the pads or other menstrual products is crucial. You should make sure that you are disposing of their property by wrapping them properly. Moreover, they should be kept separate from other waste so that they can be disposed of entirely at the other end after garbage collection.
5) Wear Clean Underwear
Apart from menstrual waste, contact with a wet cloth for a long time can also be a reason for vaginal infection. It mostly happens when girls use untidy underwear or underwear made with unbreathable materials like polyester. It leads to excessive sweating, which ultimately can cause itching and irritation. So, you should wear underwear made from breathable fabrics that are only clean and washed.
6) Use Mild Soap
A very common mistake that girls make when learning how to maintain hygiene during periods is not to learn about the type of soap to use for vaginal care. Yes, many soaps are made from raw materials that are acidic in nature, making the overall nature of the soap acidic. It is not good for your skin, especially for the vaginal region. You should only use basic soap or mild soap, as being gentle is important. Moreover, make sure to properly dry the vaginal region after bathing to prevent infection.
Good to Read:- 8 Types of Abnormal Menstruation | Irregular Menstruation Symptoms
Common Myths and Misconceptions About Menstrual Hygiene
While menstrual hygiene is important for women, there are many myths that restrict women from maintaining their personal hygiene. So, let’s debunk four such myths about menstrual hygiene.
1) Menstruation is Dirty and Shameful
Reality – A few early periods of many young girls cause them the most problems just because of this myth that menstruation is Dirty and Shameful. The truth is that it’s a natural process, which means it has to happen no matter what. So, it makes it important to educate your child about it in advance so that they let you know about it at the right time and you can teach them menstrual hygiene.
2) You Shouldn’t Bath During Periods
Reality – It can be very uncomfortable and cause infections if you avoid taking baths During periods. So it’s not recommended that you do so; otherwise, it will be a terrible experience for you.
3) Using Pads Causes Infections
No, sanitary pads never cause any infection unless not changed at the right time. Since they absorb the blood and hold it, not changing the pads for a long time can indeed cause infections, but it doesn’t mean that pads are the reason for it.
4) Using Tampons Cause Loss of Virginity
Reality: Using tampons does not affect virginity. Virginity is a cultural concept related to sexual activity, not the use of menstrual products. Tampons are designed to be safely used by women of all ages, including those who have not been sexually active.
Conclusion
Maintaining good menstrual hygiene is essential for every woman’s health and well-being. By following these simple yet effective tips, you can ensure that you stay clean, comfortable, and confident during your periods. Remember, taking care of your menstrual hygiene is a crucial part of your overall health, and it’s important to make it a priority. If you have any concerns or need personalized advice, consult with Dr Swati Attam Noida’s top gynecologist to ensure your menstrual health is on the right track.