28th May marks World Menstrual Hygiene day. Akshay Kumar starrer Padman (2018), created a huge awareness regarding menstrual hygiene all around the globe.
Menstrual Hygiene is a must for every woman! It is very important to ensure vaginal cleanliness during every period, so as to have healthy bleeding. Even so, India still has a long way to go as several thousand women still use rags, leaves and other unsanitary substances during their periods. These don’t just restrict them to stay at home, they also affect their health.
Here are some tips every woman should follow to maintain menstrual hygiene:
1) Clean reusable pads properly
There are sanitary napkins that can be reused for several menstrual cycles. If you use one of these, ensure that you clean them thoroughly after every use so that there are no germs and there is no scope of infection.
2) Change your pad every four hours
If you use sanitary pads to soak the flow during your periods, remember to change it frequently. Ideally, changing it every four hours is good. If not every day, do this on the first two days when the flow is heavier. On others too, don’t wear the same pad for more than eight hours.
3) Keep your vaginal area clean
It is important to keep your vaginal area clean, especially during periods when there is blood flow from the body. Although the vagina also has a self-cleaning mechanism, so these washes aren’t really necessary for most of the women but make sure to use the washes during your periods to ensure cleanliness. Use warm water and diluted soap to wash the area. You can also use recommended vaginal washes available in the market to keep yourself clean.
4) Wear comfortable and clean underwear
While changing your sanitary pad is essential, it is also important to wear something comfortable during these days. Tight underwear made of fabric that doesn’t allow your skin to breathe will also lead to infections. Stick to clean and comfortable cotton knickers that do not stick to your skin
5) Have a warm water bath twice a day
Bathing with warm water twice a day during periods can help to avoid different types of infections. Warm will not only clean your body but also will give you an ultimate relief from painful cramps.
6) Shave your pubic hair before periods
Some women might be worried to shave or trim their pubic hair but shaving can help a lot. Hair often traps the unwanted particles from entering the vagina. However, it also traps the thick blood tissue that comes out of the vagina. Thus, a shaved vagina will not trap any blood tissue and will ensure the cleanliness of the vaginal area throughout the period.
7) Use good quality Tampons
Tampons are inserted inside the vagina so as to absorb the blood coming out through the uterus. Since it is dealing with the body internally, ensure that the tampons are made out of good quality. Always make sure to change tampons after every 4-5 hours.
8) Use good quality menstrual cups
Menstrual cups are U-shaped cups that are inserted into the vagina to collect the waste blood coming out from the uterus. A good quality menstrual cup ensures good hygiene during menstruation. Always change and wash the cup with a sanitary wash after every 5 hours. Do not use the menstrual cup more than 6-7 cycles.
