A lot of awareness is going about female hygiene and specifically regarding the biological process of menstruation in females. This process follows a monthly cycle results in bleeding at the end of the cycle if fertilization doesn’t occur. There are many myths and misconceptions associated with menstruation, and in many cases, proper hygienic practices are not followed.
A brief delineation of the process of menstruation
Menstruation is a cyclic process which each female person undergoes form menarche till menopause. During this time the level of reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone drop in the female body which leads to the shedding of the endometrial lining causing bleeding from the cervical aperture. This bleeding which occurs once in a month for female beings is known as menstruation. Sanitary napkins or other products are to be used for absorbing or collecting the endometrial blood. However due to lack of proper awareness women often aren’t warned about the dangers of use of ordinary cloth or fabric for soaking up bleeding. In the present generation, information is being provided about menstruation to adolescent girls and awareness is being raised about the significance of hygienic practices during periods.
Gaining information about the sanitary products available for periods
There are different brands of sanitary napkins, tampons and menstrual cups which can be used during the period. The first two are specifically used for absorbing menstrual bleeding, but the last one is used for collecting menstrual blood.
A brief description of all most common types of sanitary products is given below:
- Sanitary napkins: these are worn inside the underwear and usually have an adhesive side so that it snugly fits inside the innerwear. Many brands manufacture sanitary napkins, and the pads are infused with an absorbent gel which locks the moisture from the discharge by turning into a gel form. The antibacterial sanitary napkins are more suitable as these can fight off bacterial growth.
- Tampons: Tampons also absorb the menstrual discharge but are inserted inside the vagina so that one doesn’t have to worry about side staining. The tampons are cylindrical and shape and have to be changed after 3 or 4 hours. The dangers of use that is associated with keeping tampons inside the body for too long are infections which can also lead to Toxic Shock Syndrome or TSS.
- Menstrual cup: As the name suggests these are cup-shaped structures which are made from silicone. These cups have a stem and rims at the rear end so that the cup can be easily gripped while pulling it out of the body. The cup is inserted inside the body by folding so that discharge gets collected directly from the cervix. It is very important to boil the menstrual cup before and after use so that the growth of bacteria or any other germs can be prevented.
Hence, in today’s world, there are many kinds of safe products which can be used for managing menstrual bleeding. A woman can choose any products depending upon her level of comfort.