Menstrual Health and Hygiene: Drawbacks, Impact and Necessary Steps to Make a Change

This blog acts as a guiding light to know about a topic that has always been thickly veiled under stigma and silence – yes, menstrual health! More than half of the global women population gets menstruation naturally, however; it is sad that many cultures and communities still consider it as a taboo thing.

This silence only leads to misinformation, shame, and insufficient access to menstrual products and awareness. It, in turn, affects the well-being, dignity and productive opportunities for millions of women across the world. Read until the end to learn about the challenges faced by them and know how to break the silence for creating a more inclusive and equitable society.

Understanding Menstrual Health and Hygiene

Menstrual health denotes the physical, mental and social wellness of females during their monthly cycle. It encompasses complete access to menstrual hygiene products, optimal sanitation facilities and most importantly, awareness about periods.

Menstrual hygiene primarily highlights upon the various practices and products needed for effective management of menstruation comfortably and safely. These two are the most essential components determining overall health and well-being.

However, despite being such an important topic, menstrual health is often ignored. Due to a significant taboo attached to it, hardly any public discussions are held. Such neglect can have far-reaching effects, especially in low-income and marginalised communities.

Therefore, it is essential to educate the masses by addressing menstrual health and hygiene properly. It is not just a simple matter of health, but something that encompasses basic human rights, gender equality, and social justice as well.

What Are The Challenges of Menstrual Health and Hygiene?

Stigma and Shame

This is one of the most prominent barriers to menstrual health. In several cultures, still a lot of stigma and shame surrounds menstruation. It is considered impure, dirty and something that must be kept secret. Such stigma results in silence, preventing open and honest discussions. This over time leads to increased myths and misconceptions.

Take an example. In some cultures, menstruating women are not allowed to participate in religious practise, and social programmes; the worst being – they are excluded from their own rooms! This reinforces the concept that menstruation is something to feel ashamed of, in turn, marginalising girl and women.

No Access to Menstrual Hygiene Products

Access to affordable and safe menstrual products still remains an unresolved challenge for many girls and women. This mainly happens in underdeveloped countries, where menstrual products are either not available or too costly; forcing individuals to resort to unsafe substitutes such as old and torn rags, leaves, etc. These practices can cause infections in the reproductive tract and lead to severe health complications in future.

Even in high-income nations, menstrual products are often tagged as luxury products, with heavy taxes being charged upon. Such lack of access to menstrual products is termed as ‘period poverty’, affecting around millions of women globally.  

Insufficient Sanitation Facilities

Optimal sanitation is essential to manage menstruation safely and comfortably. But, unfortunately, many education institutions, public spaces lack proper   toilets, clean water, and efficient disposal methods for menstrual health. Such poor infrastructure does more harm to female health, with greater embarrassment, and discomfort.

Many school-going girls miss their classes during their periods as they do not have proper access to clean washrooms and water. This not only drastically affects their education, but it also promotes gender inequality through personal and professional limitation.  

Lack of Proper Education and Awareness

Education about periods in the world is often insufficient and absent, especially in low-income cultures and conservative communities. Many girls get their first menses without any existent knowledge or understanding of what the physiological process is. This leads them to develop fear, confusion and shame. Lack of proper education even extends to boys and men who already hold misconceptions related to the topic, thus contributing to the stigma.   

How Does Poor Menstrual Health Impact Hygiene?

The consequences of poor menstrual health can significantly affect various spheres of life; including health, education, and profession. Here’s how they are affected.

Health Implications

Insufficient menstrual hygiene can lead to multiple health issues, including urinary tract and reproductive system infections. Using unclean materials and insufficient washing facilities raises the likelihood of these conditions, potentially leading to long-lasting effects on reproductive and general health.

Obstacles to Education

Girls often miss school due to the unavailability of menstrual products and sanitation facilities. Skipping school due to menstruation can lead to falling behind in classes, reduced academic achievement, and potentially dropping out of school entirely. This educational gap continues to sustain gender inequality and restricts future prospects for women and girls.

Professional and Financial Drawbacks

Menstrual health carries economic consequences as well. Women and girls who are absent from work or school because of menstruation-related problems might experience lower income and fewer career prospects. The cost of menstrual supplies can create financial pressure for low-income households, exacerbating existing economic disparities.

How to Break the Silence? Taking the First step towards Betterment  

Addressing menstrual health and hygiene needs a multidisciplinary approach involving education, community cooperation, and policy changes. Here’s how you can transform your silence into a bold statement towards change.   

Educate on Menstruation

Proper education is essential to normalise the concept of menstruation. This must be inclusive, reaching out to everyone (especially men), instead of only involving girls. By implementing this approach, the harmful taboos can be expelled out, leading to a more inclusive and supportive environment for women.

Improve Access to Menstrual Products and Sanitation Facilities

All-round efforts should be made to ensure that menstrual products are affordable, accessible and most importantly safe for use. This includes exempting taxes on them, distributing free pads in educational and public institutions, installing clean toilets with proper water and disposal facilities for menstrual products, etc.

Advocate for Policy Changes

Governments and policymakers play a major role in addressing about menstrual health. Their efforts must focus on adding menstrual health into public health policies; ensuring optimal access to hygienic menstrual products and sanitary facilities. Also, promotion of menstrual education in schools must be prioritised.

Conclusion

Menstrual health and hygiene are the basic things for a woman’s well-being, dignity and empowerment. However, still there is a silence and stigma attached, hindering their progress. For obtaining a more personalised guidance, contact with a private gynaecologist in London.