Menstrual Hygiene Awareness: All you need to know
While talking about important issues like Menstrual hygiene awareness, we often have to deal with a blend of myths and facts. The sorrow is that people sometimes overlook the facts and reality upon some spineless conjectures.
And, sometimes we simply get confuse about what is menstruation, menstrual health, etc.
Well, we should clear these nuances and pave a clear way ahead, isn't it?
Menstruation
Specifically, is known as, periods, ovulation, discharge, monthly cycles. In slang language, this flow of vaginal bleeding lasting for about 2-8 days each month, is also called chums, shark week, that time of the month, etc.
What is Menstrual Hygiene Awareness?
Does it only mean to change a pad every 4-5 hours?
Well NO! menstrual hygiene also means, using hygienic menstrual products, a proper place to change period essentials ensuring privacy. it also means having efficient waste disposal management to dispose of pads, tampons, menstrual cups, etc.
Menstrual hygiene awareness also focuses on using eco-friendly menstrual hygiene products like menstrual cups to minimise environmental degradation. Therefore ensuring Green periods, and using reusable menstrual cups, significantly supports the sustainable development goals leading to a zero-waste lifestyle.
World Menstrual Hygiene Day(28th May 2021)
Why do we celebrate menstrual hygiene awareness day?
We celebrate Menstrual Hygiene awareness Day to promote good menstrual health for all women and girls across the globe.
It aims to spread menstrual hygiene awareness and ensures that no one lags behind due to menstruation.
When was menstrual hygiene awareness day found?
The menstrual hygiene awareness day was found by a Germany based NGO, ‘WASH United’, on 28th May, 2013. 28th May signifies May as the 5th month of the year and most women average to having their period for 5 days, and 28 days cycle.
But only menstrual hygiene awareness is not enough, we also need to address the myths and confront the stereotypical society.
Menstruation is taboo?
From labeling a menstruating women as “impure” to keeping her period dates a secret, there are endless stereotypes around us.
Till date, a lot of people don't allow women to enter temples and kitchen because of the stereotypical thinking. .
Well, till when are we going to keep disrespecting someone just because they are different.
Apparently, do women marginalise men because they have penis and women don't?
Periods aren't something that anyone chooses for themselves. But this fact doesn't disgrace them rather the whole human race is dependent on them for their very own existence.
What are some myths about Menstruation?
1. Myth: Periods should last exactly for one week each month?
Truth: No, sometimes periods last for 2-3 days or even 8-10 days. Everyone is unique and so is their period.
2. Myth: Do only women bleed?
Truth: Around 1.8 billion people menstruate each day. Millions of transgender men and non-binary persons are unable to manage their menstrual cycle in a dignified, and healthy way.
When transgender model and activist Kenny Ethan Jones experienced his first period, he faced both physical and psychological pain.
3. Myth: There is nothing like premenstrual syndrome(PMS)?
Truth: PMS is a scientific medical condition. During PMS individual goes through mood swings, irritation, sometimes even depression!
4. Myth: is period blood clean?
Truth: Menstrual blood is as clean as the venous blood that comes from other parts of the body.
It's harmless unless thee is a blood born disease.
5. Myth: Using a menstrual cup can take away virginity?
Truth: Using a menstrual cup doesn't take away your virginity, it may stretch your hymen but virginity is associated with sexual intercourse.
How can BeKarmic help you in doing your part?
BeKarmic.com offers a wide range of eco-friendly menstrual hygiene products in collaboration with various solicitous brands like -
So don't you think that we, the 21st century, should support the truth and spread the right awareness. We need to keep doing our part dutifully, and build the foundation of a stigma-free society.
If we all come together for this cause, a lot of people would be able to live happily with all those basic facilities they actually have a right to.
References:
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News.trust.org
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www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
