Most of us go through our periods in secrecy and don't take the time to consider whether or not our routines are hygienic. We may use the same napkin for the entire day at times. Women in countryside and smaller towns still utilize reusable unclean cloth during their periods. In some households, they are not even permitted to use detergent to wash the stained cloth because periods are considered dirty.
Here are some hygiene guidelines for your periods, some of which you may not be aware of:
1. Choose on your sanitation method:
To stay clean today, there are a variety of options, including sanitary napkins, tampons, and menstrual cups. Most unmarried girls in India prefer to use sanitary napkins. If you do decide to use a tampon, keep in mind that the one with the lowest absorbency rate for your flow is vital. While some women like to use multiple types of sanitary napkins or different means of protection (such as a tampon and a sanitary napkin) on different days of their periods, others prefer to adhere to one type and brand. The best advice is to try using one brand for one type of protection for a while to see if it meets your needs. Switching brands frequently can make you feel uneasy because brands are as unique as you are, and they suit everyone differently.
2. Change on a regular basis:
Menstrual blood becomes polluted with the body's innate organisms after it leaves the body. Even if you don't have much bleeding, this guideline applies because your pad is still damp and will contain organisms from your vagina, sweat from your genitals, and so on. When these organisms remain in a warm and moist place for an extended period of time, they multiply and can cause urinary tract infections, and skin rashes, and vaginal infections.
A sanitary pad should be changed every six hours, while a tampon should be changed every two hours. So, you must tailor the change timetable to your own requirements. While some women may have a high flow and require more frequent changes, others may require fewer frequent changes. There are a few occasions when your sanitary tampon or napkin may not be completely used, usually on days when your have a lesser flow, but you must change at regular intervals.
3. Wash your hands frequently:
Blood tends to enter microscopic spaces like the skin between your labia or the crust surrounding the opening of the vagina when you menstruate, and you should constantly wash this extra blood away. This method also helps to eliminate odors from the vaginal area. Before changing into a new pad, cleanse your vagina and labia (the protruding part of female genitals) thoroughly. If you don't have time to wash before changing, make sure to wipe the areas with toilet paper or tissue.
4. Avoid soaps and other vaginal hygiene products.
The vaginal cleansing mechanism is controlled by a delicate balance of good and bad bacteria. Washing it with soap might kill the good bacteria, allowing infections to flourish. While it is necessary to wash yourself on a daily basis during this period, all you need is some warm water to do so. You can use soap on the outside of your vaginal or vulva, but not within.
5. Use the proper washing method:
Always clean or wash the area in a circular motion from the vaginal to the anus. Washing in the other direction is never a good idea. Washing in the other direction can induce an infection by allowing bacteria from the anus to lodge in the vaginal and urethral openings.
6. Discard your used sanitary product properly
It is critical to properly dispose of used tampons or napkins because they can spread infections and smell terrible. Before discarding it, wrap it tightly to keep the odor and infection at bay. It is not recommended to flush the tampon or pad down the toilet since they can cause a blockage and cause the toilet to back up. More importantly, after discarding your used napkin, wash your hands well because you are likely to touch the used part of the tampon or pad when discarding it.
7. Beware of a pad rash
You can get a pad rash if you're going through a period of excessive flow. It usually happens after the pad has been moist for an extended period of time and scrapes against the thighs, causing it to chaff. To avoid this, try to avoid getting wet during your period. If you do get a rash, make sure to replace your pads on a regular basis and stay dry. Apply an antibiotic ointment after a bath and before bed to heal the rash and prevent further chaffing. If the problem persists, see your doctor, who may be able to prescribe a medicinal powder to keep the region dry.
8. Only use one sanitation method at a time.
Some women with heavy periods use either (i) 2 sanitary pads, (ii) a sanitary pad and a tampon (iii) a sanitary pad along with a piece of cloth. This may appear to be a good idea, but it is not; instead, changing your clothes on a regular basis is a better solution. Using 2 pads or a tampon and a sanitary pad is harmful because the two pads absorb blood and if you don't see that they're totally used up, you're less inclined to change them at normal, healthy intervals. This can cause infections, rashes, and even TSS in the case of tampons. Another factor to consider is that if one uses a piece of cloth as extra protection that the cloth may not be the cleanest thing to put near to your private parts. Finally, the whole two-pad structure is quite uncomfortable and can cause a nasty rash and even a bad temper
9. Have a bath regularly
Some cultures believe that a woman should not bathe during her periods, which may seem like the most ridiculous advice to some. This myth arose from the fact that women had to bathe in the open or in public water bodies such as a river or lake in the past. However, now that we have indoor plumbing, taking a bath during your period is the finest thing you can do for your health. Bathing not only cleanses your body but also provides an opportunity to thoroughly clean your private regions. It also aids in the relief of period cramps and backaches, as well as improving your mood and making you feel less bloated. Simply stand under a shower of warm water directed towards your back or abdomen to relieve backaches and menstrual cramps. At the end of it, you'll feel a lot better.
10. Be ready with on-the-go stuff during your periods
Be prepared when your period arrives. It is essential to have extra sanitary pads or tampons properly kept in a paper bag or a clean pouch, , a soft towel, some towels or paper tissues, hand sanitizer, a healthy food, a bottle of drinking water, and a tube of antiseptic medication.
You'll need extra pads/tampons because changing your pads/tampons on a frequently is necessary. More importantly, properly keeping them so that they do not become contaminated is just as vital as changing them. Infections such as UTIs (urinary tract infections) and vaginal infections can occur if pads or tampons are left in your luggage without a clean pouch to preserve them. The soft towel can be used to wipe your hand or face if you wash them. After you've washed your private parts, you'll need paper towels to wipe away the excess water. It's best to avoid using toilet paper for this because it tends to shred and tear when it comes into contact with water. Your hand sanitizer is essential in this situation. You'll need it to wipe your hands, but you can also use it to clean the flush knob and faucet. The snack is a back-up in case you get tired or run down during the day, while the bottle of water will keep you hydrated.