Menstruation is a monthly process a female goes through, and it starts in preadolescence and concludes as menopause approaches. This natural process discards blood and tissues from the uterus and is mainly a biological process, but also has social implications. 

Many girls avoid participating in activities during their menstruation, and some even miss work and school. 

While menstruation is a familiar concept, menstruation hygiene is not that common and is often overlooked. Inability  to follow proper hygiene leads to severe complications and issues in females.

 Read on below to learn about menstrual hygiene, its importance, and how to keep up with it.

• Menstrual blood’s pH can alter your vaginal flora, making hygiene critical for balance.
• Poor menstrual hygiene may contribute to long-term fertility issues.
• Menstrual cups can last up to 10 years with proper care, reducing waste significantly.
• Cultural taboos around menstruation still restrict education in many parts of the world.
• Menstrual hygiene practices can directly impact self-esteem and mental health.
• Using unscented products minimizes the risk of irritation and allergic reactions.

Menstrual hygiene is defined as Menstrual Health Management by UNICEF. It encompasses education, gender equality, health, rights, and women’s empowerment. These factors are further summarized by UNESCO as having access to health services, menstrual education, period products, hygienic disposal, and period policy. 

World menstrual hygiene day is celebrated on the 28th of May yearly to spread awareness of menstrual hygiene. Most women are unaware of the hygiene practices, which is worrisome. As a girl, knowing and learning menstrual hygiene management is essential. 

Women should safely dispose of their period products and take care of their hygiene in the proper way. 

In the worst-case scenario, improper menstrual hygiene can lead to future reproductive health issues, which can become a cause of concern for those unaware of the severe repercussions. 

When a girl gets her period for the first time, it is considered a step into adulthood. As an adult, you must keep yourself clean at all times. 

Below are some tips that can help you stay hygienic throughout your periods. 

The first tip is to pick the suitable sanitation method to use. Now there are different methods you can opt for. These methods include napkins, menstrual cups, and tampons. The Eastern community opts for napkins for unmarried girls. 

In contrast, Western society relies mainly on tampons and also menstrual cups. Each of these products has a unique method of usage, and depending on your comfort level, you can choose the one most suitable for you.

However, if you are opting for a tampon, try to pick one with the lowest absorbency rate for your period flow. You can also opt for different methods at different times and change brands depending on your comfort and personal likes and dislikes. 

The best tip for figuring out which sanitary product is for you is to stick with one brand and one method for a while to determine if it suits your needs.  

Another crucial tip to remember is to change your sanitary product regularly. This is because when menstrual blood leaves your body, it gets contaminated with natural organisms and can lead to rashes, itching, and even UTIs. 

You must discard your pad or tampon every day, even if you do not bleed too much. 

However, if you have a heavy flow, you can change it twice daily to avoid bacterial growth. A moist and warm environment allows organisms to multiply, leading to vaginal infections. The standard time to change a pad is six hours, whereas a tampon should be changed every two hours. 

Suppose you do not change your pad regularly. In that case, it can lead to rashes being developed, which can be very uncomfortable and itchy. 

You may even have a problem walking due to these rashes, which is why changing your pads and tampons is an essential step. 

When you menstruate, blood can get on your skin and dry up over time, and if you do not wash regularly, it can become unclean. The dried-up blood can leave an odor behind, crust around your vaginal entrance, and lead to bacterial infection. 

You must wash your vagina thoroughly when changing your pad and try to use water while doing so. This way, rashes will not develop, and you will feel clean.

However, toilet paper is a good alternative if you cannot wash it with water.

Most people don’t know that your vagina has its own cleaning mechanism, which helps balance the harmful and good bacteria. Many girls make the mistake of using soap and other vaginal hygiene products to cleanse themselves. 

In doing so, they kill the good bacteria, allowing infections to grow. Using soap will only make your menstrual hygiene poor. 

Since it is essential to change your sanitary napkins, you can wash them with warm water but avoid using soap; if you want to use soap, only use it on the exterior.

Another essential tip to remember is that you must wash in the right way, whether you are using water or toilet paper. The correct method to clean yourself is from the front to back, and you must never wash in the opposite direction. 

Washing in the opposite direction can cause bacteria from the anus to get into the frontal area and lead to severe infections. Also, if you are using tissue paper, try to grab a clean tissue each time you wipe yourself.

For example, you wipe yourself once from the front to back and then take a new tissue paper and repeat the process two to three times.

The last thing you need to do for proper menstrual hygiene management is to properly discard your used menstrual products. You must throw your used tampons or pads in the right way to stop the development of infections and avoid the foul smell. 

Under no circumstance flush your menstrual product into the toilet because this can form a blockage. 

You must also wash your hands properly after discarding your used pad or tampon so that no bacteria is left behind. 

Having sanitary products with you at all times is essential when it comes to menstruation. It is brilliant for girls to carry an extra tampon or pad in case they need it. You must also keep a sanitizer with you. This way, even if water is unavailable, you can change your pad, clean yourself with toilet paper and sanitize your hands to curb the spread of bacteria. 

Follow the tips above to stay updated with menstrual hygiene and keep all diseases and infections at bay.