Things you need to know about menstrual hygiene

World Menstrual Hygiene Day on 28 May is a day that advocates for good menstrual hygiene management and where women and girls are empowered to manage their menstruation safely.

For the past two years, Kotex has promoted this day by educating women and young girls on the importance of menstrual management and menstrual hygiene. To continue this, Kotex will have a live Facebook chat on 28 May with doctor and Kotex health expert, Dr Nokukhanya Khanyile.

She said that poor menstrual hygiene management can have a greater effect than you may think. “While the obvious effects may include having a bad-smelling vaginal discharge, there are many other effects that some may overlook.”

Khanyile provided the following guidelines to maintain a healthy, hygienic menstrual cycle whether you are on your period or not:

• Use clean and hygienic menstrual management products that will absorb or collect menstrual blood such as pads, tampons, etc.
• Ensure privacy to change them as often as necessary for the duration of a menstrual period.
• Soap and water for washing the body are necessary. This does not include vaginal douching, which is cleaning the vagina with a chemical mixture from a plastic bag or nozzle.
• Ensure access to safe and convenient facilities to dispose of used pads or tampons.

On average it is recommended that a woman changes her pad at least three times a day during her period. “That’s a lot of pads and tampons being used and disposed of for a period cycle which can normally vary between three to 10 days,” Khanyile added.

“Without the proper means to wash or throw away these items, you may feel that you need to use those items for as long as possible which is not a good idea.”

Khanyile added that this can cause the following:

• Overgrowth of bacteria or fungi, causing bad smelling discharges known as bacterial vaginosis or vaginal thrush which can continue even after your period stops
• Discomfort due to full or moist pads
• Soiled clothing (leakage) because of waiting too long to change them.

It is important to remember that menstrual health isn’t something to only consider during your period – bad-smelling discharge, itching or lower abdominal pain can be signs that you may need to see your local health provider to get a check-up.

The use of panty liners to protect your underwear from the normal, acidic vaginal discharge can help keep you feeling fresh and changing your tampons or pads regularly during a period can keep you confident enough to do anything you want to because of #PeriodOrNotSheCan.

“So, on the 28th of May 2019 let’s promote World Menstrual Hygiene Day by starting the conversation and using this day as a platform to ask the questions that need to be asked,” Khanyile concluded.

For more information on Menstrual Hygiene visit www.kotex.co.za or follow Kotex on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/KotexSouthAfrica/) or Instagram @Kotex_SA

Related articles:

https://sandtonchronicle.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/224065/sanitary-pads-now-zero-vat-rated/

https://sandtonchronicle.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/203443/break-silence-around-periods-menstrual-hygiene-day/