MENSTRUAL HYGIENE

1. MENSTRUAL
HYGIENE

2. WHAT IS MENSTRUATION?
Menstruation is a natural, normal biological process experienced by all adolescent
girls and women, yet it is not spoken about openly causing unnecessary
embarrassment and shame. India’s 113 million adolescent girls are particularly
vulnerable at the onset of menarche. At this time they need a safe environment that
offers protection and guidance to ensure their basic health, well-being and
educational opportunity is realised. Lack of a separate and usable girl’s toilet in
schools and a toilet at home leaves adolescent girls and women to face the
indignity of open defecation. However, safe and effective menstrual hygiene
management, or ‘MHM’ is a trigger for better and stronger development for
adolescent girls and women.

3. CURRENT SITUATION
Period poverty refers to the lack of access to over-the-counter products to manage
menstrual bleeding; however, it can also refer to not having privacy in hygiene
management or proper education on menstruation. Globally, more than 500 million
women, girls, and others who experience a menstrual cycle do not have suitable access to
menstrual hygiene management (MHM); this number, however, is most likely even higher
after the COVID-19 pandemic and the current global economic crisisEvery menstruator is
entitled to safe and healthy periods but unfortunately, as per the latest National Family
Health Survey report about 50 percent of women aged 15-24 still use cloth for menstrual
protection. This calls for an urgent and prompt support from each one of us.

4. WHAT IS PERIOD POVERTY?
Period poverty describes the struggle many low-income women and girls face while
trying to afford menstrual products. The term also refers to the increased economic
vulnerability women and girls face due the financial burden posed by menstrual
supplies. These include not only menstrual pads and tampons, but also related
costs such as pain medication and underwear.

5. Who needs information to what, why and how?
Menstruation is still a taboo in India and it is common for people across society to feel
uncomfortable about the subject. To ensure that adolescent girls and women have the
necessary support and facilities, it is important that the wider society, communities and
families must challenge the status quo and break the silence around menstruation. It is
therefore the responsibility of those with influence – including government officials and
teachers, to find appropriate ways to talk about the issue and take necessary action.

6. WHAT CAN BE DONE?
● DONATING MENSTURAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS
● LOWERING THE PRICES OF SANITARY PADS AND MAKING THEM
AFFORDABLE
● CONDUCTING SEMINAR IN SCHOOL COLLEGE TO SPREAD AWARENESS
● DISCUSSING MENSTRUATION IN THE HOUSE OPENLY
● MAKING MALES AWARE ABOUT THE PERIODS
● TEACHING RURAL WOMENS ABOUT HOW TO MANAGE PERIODS AND
MAINTAIN MENSTRUAL HYGIENE
● ARRANGING SOCIAL AWARENESS PROGRAM THROUGH VARIOUS SOCIAL
MEDIA PLATFORMS

7. CONCLUSION
Creating a world where no woman or girl is kept from realizing her full potential
because of her period is achievable. But it’s a complex undertaking that requires a
wide range of stakeholders, expertise and collaboration, and a multi-level strategy.
If everyone comes together it can have a massive change in upcoming years.Many of
menstrual infection will reduce,period poverty would be less and every female will
have happy and healthy periods.