Do you know only 20% women in Pakistan use sanitary pads and 50% to 60% are suffering from urinary tract infection. As most of us go through our periods very secretively and don’t really bother to figure out if our practices are hygienic or not. At times, we may wear the same napkin for a whole day which is not at all good as it causes various bacterial and other infections. Women is villages and smaller towns still use reusable unhygienic cloth during their periods. And since periods are considered unclean, they are not even allowed to use detergent for washing the soiled cloth well in some households.
Today, promise yourself to keep yourself healthy and happy during periods with following hygiene tips.
change your sanitary pads or napkin every 6 to 8 hours as when blood releases from your body and gets contaminated with the body’s innate organisms. When these organisms remain in a warm and moist place for a long time they tend to multiply and can lead to conditions like urinary tract infection, vaginal infection and skin rashes.
When you menstruate, the blood tends to enter tiny spaces like genital's borders and you should always wash this excess blood away. This practice also tends to beat bad odour from the vaginal region. So, it is important to wash your vagina and well before you change into a new pad.
It is essential to discard your used napkins or tampons properly because they are capable of spreading infections, will smell very foul. Wrapping it well before discarding it ensures that the smell and infection is contained. Also wash your hands carefully after doing so to avoid any kind of infections.
The vagina has its own cleaning mechanism that works in a very fine balance of good and bad bacteria. Washing it with soap can kill the good bacteria making way for infections. So, wash yourself regularly during this time, all you need to use is some warm water. You can use soap on the external parts but do not use it inside your vagina or vulva.
Women tend to use tampons and sanitary napkins, or two sanitary napkins simultaneously during heavy flow which is an efficient technique. While it may keep you dry and prevent stained clothes, it can cause infections too. So, it is advisable to use one sanitary napkin and change it as frequently as you can during heavy flow.
Hygiene for a female should be an everyday affair and must never be restricted to periods. However, extra care needs to be taken during menstruation because of the increased vulnerability to infections. Also, staying clean and fresh helps offset the foul mood that often results during periods. So take into consideration the given tips and maintain hygiene. Stay hygienic, Stay healthy.
Shagufta Faheem
Author