PERSONAL HYGIENE DURING MENSTRUATION.
Simply put, You need to take care of yourself and your vaginal when the monthly visitor arrives!
What is Menstruation?
Menstruation is the monthly flow of blood from the uterus( commonly known as the womb). Some people might call it menses, period, or menstruation. It occurs in every female's life from the end of childhood to the beginning of adulthood, this flow is normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of a woman’s cycle in each month, every month your body prepares for pregnancy when you’re most fertile during the ovulation period, if pregnancy didn’t occur the uterus shed it lining. The menstrual blood is partly blood and tissues from inside the uterus, which flows from your uterus through your cervix and out of your body through your vaginal, that’s why during the flow there will be tissues and blood.
Taking care of yourself during menstruation..
For most women, they menstruate each month for about two to seven days and yet it can disrupt their daily lives and cause discomfort in carrying out their daily activities such as muscle cramps, soreness, general tiredness, ache and mood swings. These are irregular parts of the menstruation cycle, It can take a dangerous turn if proper hygienic practice is not adhered to.
Here are some healthy tips that may be followed in order to stay safe from infections and ailments during menstruation.;
1. Frequent changing of menstrual products. Whether one is using a sanitary pad, clothes, or toilet roll. Changing them often is one of the most important aspects of menstrual hygiene, it is advisable that the pad should be changed after every 4-6 hours during the daytime because we are most active in day time due to the activities involved and the blood flows in higher rate hence this is the widely prescribed time of period, during the night period flows at a lower rate due to low activities hence one can be worn overnight. Sanitary pads should be changed every 4 hours to maintain proper hygiene, if not changed prolonged usage can cause rashes and the culmination of harmful bacteria which might lead to infections.
2. Sanitary disposal of pad. This is one of the most crucial aspects of menstrual hygiene which must be strictly followed. The product must be properly wrapped( if you can wash it before wrapping it) before disposal so that the bacteria and infections don’t spread and they must be disposed of sanitarily under no condition should be flushed in the toilet because it might lead to blockage of pipe, causing the water to back up and spreading the bacteria all over the toilet. Personal hygiene is another important aspect of disposal and one must wash hands thoroughly after the process to ensure there are no remains of bacteria and blood on your hands, any lapses in the disposal can cause infections not just to you but people living with you.
3. Keep The Vaginal Clean:
Just like any other part of the body, although we all know that vagina is a natural cleansing organ, the way you keep it clean determines how it will be free from infection. For example, are you aware that washing your private area from the back to front can lead to the transmission of the bacteria from the anus into the vagina or urethra opening and this can make you susceptible to infections? Then the right way is to wash from front to back and try to wear clean cotton pants while on your period.
4. Take Your Bath Regularly:
Don’t forget to take your bath, especially during your period at least twice a day, it will keep you clean, relieve your mood, stay fresh, get rid of unpleasant odor down there, and prevent infections
5. Try To Avoid pad Rash:
A heavy flow can cause pad rash, this happens when the pad has been wet and full for a long time. Try to change the pad by staying dry and using ointment to rub the affected area according to expert instructions this will heal the rash, pad lining may cause irritation to sensitive skin.
6. Use Good Sanitary Methods:
In order to enhance blood absorption, many women tend to combine products such as two pads or a tampon and a pad or wear two pants, this might work in improving blood absorption but you might fail to notice that they are used up. This is a major menstrual hygiene hazard that can lead to rashes and infections, instead, Find a good sanitary brand that works for you and stick to it, women with sensitive skin may avoid sanitary pads with plastic lining as this can cause rashes, itchiness, and boils when rubbing against the skin
7. Avoid Using Soap Or Vagina Hygiene Products: the vagina has its own natural cleaning mechanism that works in a fine balance of good and bad bacteria, washing the vagina with soap can kill the good balance making way for infections. However, it is important to wash your vagina regularly during your period, all you need to use is some warm water without any chemical products or soap. These vagina products can cause irritation in the genital area resulting in itching and heavier vagina discharge, you can use soap on the external parts but don’t use it inside your vagina or vulva.
8. Avoid Tight Fitting Clothing:
During your menstruation wear comfortable and loose clothing rather than wearing jeans or tight clothing, wearing comfortable and loose clothing will ensure airflow around the sensitive areas as well as reduce sweat to some extent and maintain good menstrual hygiene. One must ensure that the clothing is light on the body and has a relaxed fitting providing maximum ease of movement, tight clothing can cause undue stress on the body resulting in sweat and it may become a breeding place for infections and bacteria. It’s advisable to wear cotton clothes and underwear during your menstrual cycle.
Final note
You need to take care of yourself and your vaginal when the monthly visitor arrives. Menstruation is one of the important and essential processes of a woman’s body that deserves the utmost care and proper personal hygiene during that period. A good menstrual hygiene practice plays a fundamental role in enabling women, girls, and other menstruators to reach their full potential, not giving attention to hygiene practice can lead to a breeding site for germs and bacteria and can make one prone to infections and ailments.
