Here Is How You Should Maintain Menstrual Hygiene

One elementary take away from the pandemic is that good hygiene practices can be a lifesaver. But look outside your window and you will see millions of those for whom hygiene is too expensive even if it a question of life and death. Deep Bajaj, Founder, Sirona says that in the marginalised sections of the society, it is women and girls, who are the most critically affected.

Menstrual hygiene needs

Other than being the caregivers in the family, they have their own menstrual hygiene needs to look after. Yet, with a stop on their earnings and savings dry, these concerns silently crawl to the back seat. Even as they and their families receive food support, their right to intimate and menstrual hygiene largely goes unseen, unheard and unattended. Realising this, civil groups, companies and the government are distributing hygiene kits including menstrual products and toiletries. Intimate and menstrual hygiene companies are launching fundraiser programs and donating pads.

Apart from monetary help there is also need for conducting menstrual hygiene awareness and mental wellness sessions. This is important as in such distressing times one tends to feel blue and ignore menstrual care.

Don't Miss: Move Over Pads! Use Menstrual Cups, Tampons, More To Handle That Heavy Flow!

Maintaining menstrual hygiene

 

 

 

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Pamper yourself with the best. Imbued with natural oils, SIRONA’s Refreshing Intimate Wash maintains the required pH balance (3.5) of your intimate area & restores the skin’s acidic mantle with its unique EcoCert skin purifier. . . . #YourComfortFirst #IntimateHygiene #infection #sironahygiene #intimatewash #MenstrualHygiene #menstruationmatters #skinexpert #womanhood #beautiful

A post shared by Sirona Hygiene (@sironahygiene) onDec 4, 2019 at 1:24am PST

Remember, hygiene can be a lifesaver. Let’s revisit some of the basic, yet crucial menstrual hygiene tips that can help menstruating women survive and thrive.

1. Change your pad every 4-8 hours depending on the flow.
2. Clean and dry reusable pads properly.
3. Keep the vaginal area clean but don’t use douches and harsh soaps on the inside as this can disrupt the pH and vaginal flora and end up causing infections.
4. Wear clean, cotton underwear that fits perfectly.
5. Always wash your hands with soap before and after changing a pad.

While this is in context using mainstream period solution- a pad, going forward, a more sustainable and hygienic option- menstrual cup- should be considered. The main catch lies in helping women make the switch. But once their apprehensions are addressed, it is not as difficult.

Menstrual Cups- hygienic, hassle-free and economical

Switching to a menstrual cup can help make periods hygienic, hassle-free, economical and ecologically viable. Made of medical-grade silicone, a cup has ultra-soft touch and flexible feel. It collects blood, instead of absorbing it, thus avoiding constant contact with blood, unlike sanitary napkins. It avoids rashes, skin infections, and discomfort, allowing the unrestrained physical activity.

Being reusable it can be used up to a decade (though it’s recommended to replace one every 3-5 years) after washing with soap and water, and sterilization (between cycles).

Many companies are using their CSR programs to spread menstrual hygiene awareness among vulnerable women by allaying their fears with the right knowledge. For instance, numerous rural women in remote villages of Rajasthan, West Bengal and Nepal switched to cups due to one such program by

Importance of sustainability

One doesn’t know how long the pandemic is going to last, thus to maintain a continuous flow of support for people of economically weaker sections, it is important to stop throwaway culture and embrace reusable solutions wherever possible. It will neither harm the ecology nor burn a hole in the people’s and companies pockets. Thus while hygiene is important, the way of achieving it needs to be sustainable so that everyone, male or female, young or old can survive the present to thrive in the future.

For more information on Menstrual hygiene and women's health, stay tuned to HerZindagi and if you have any questions, do ask us on out Facebook Page.