#MENSTRUALHYGIENEDAY

Menstruation – Women’s Health and Hygiene

The most set believed taboo and the never-ending stigma of our surroundings remains “Menstruation” or women bleeding. This never-ending idea of considering menstruation as impure has created numerous challenges from stigma to social exclusion. It even continues to stretch the issues to the extent of creating gender inequality and discrimination. The simplest idea of living and bringing out new and healthy lives has to go through the process of the menstruation cycle.

A girl comes across the word “periods” when she first enters puberty. It is a natural physiological change that a particular feminine body goes through. It stands as the primary and pivotal stage in the growth of a female body.

A period occurs when the uterus sheds blood and tissue from the uterine lining and leaves the body through the vaginal open. It is because the ovaries release female hormones -Estrogen and progesterone. These hormones cause the lining of the uterus (or womb) to build up.

The built-up lining is ready for a fertilized egg to attach to and start developing. If there is no fertilized egg, the lining breaks down and bleeds. This is the very basic and important step of human reproduction.

To date, many communities with less literacy rate, lower income bearers and most importantly the orthodox setup of families still consider menstruation or periods as impure. It is still quite unfortunate that 60%of women in India still do not have access to good menstrual hygiene and better facilities during childbirth. Menstrual hygiene is important for the well-being of the individuals to menstruate. Highlighting the importance of proper menstrual hygiene practices such as using clean and safe menstrual products, maintaining personal hygiene, and managing menstrual discomfort effectively etc. in every school in the primary stage of education is highly recommended.

To eradicate some amount of negative and non-healthy stigma and bring out awareness on this sensitive issue;28 May is observed as  “Menstruation Day”. According to UNICEF, around 1.8 billion people worldwide menstruate every month, including girls, women, transgender men and non-binary persons.

For the Indian scenario, it is very important for people especially men to consider women as an epitome of purity when she bleeds and not a label of shame. Life birth would stop if women stops bleeding and to bring out the best facilities for women during her special days, every hand should come to make it a success. Women should be the first person to love their bodies and maintain their hygiene and health. Food habits, hydration level, and exercise should all be taken into account.

Saving one girl from untimely death due to non-hygiene circumstances causing infections will save the entire community.

Consider women as pure when they bleed!

Save lives!

Save women!

Deboleena Bhattacharjee