Menstrual Hygiene



Periods are natural and vital part of a woman's life.

Globally, the stigma of menstruation is perpetrated by cultural taboos, discrimination, lack of education, silence and period poverty (the inability to access/afford feminine hygiene products).

At least 500 million women and girls lack adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management (MHM) globally (World Bank May, 2018).

Inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, especially in schools, workplaces and even health centres, can pose a major obstacle to women and girls (World Bank May, 2018).

Lack of separate toilets with doors for privacy, unavailability of means to dispose used sanitary pads and water to wash hands, means that girls and women face challenges in maintaining their menstrual hygiene in a private, safe and dignified manner (World Bank May, 2018).

Inability to manage menstrual hygiene in schools, results in absenteeism from school, which has severe economic costs on their lives and on the country (World Bank May, 2018).

Moreover, the stigmas and taboos that are attached to menstruation lead to an overall culture of silence, which results in limited information on menstrual hygiene and menstruation. Such misinformation can cause harm to the health and dignity of women and girls (World Bank May, 2018).

Menstruation or menses is a natural bodily process which blood and associated matter is released from the uterus through the vagina as part of the menstrual cycle (UNICEF Guidance menstrual health hygiene, 2019).


Mernache is the time when a girl has her first menstrual period. It is the onset of menstruation (UNICEF Guidaince menstrual health hygiene, 2019).

Menstrual Hygiene Materials are those products which are used to catch menstrual flow such pads, cloths, cups and tampons.

WHO and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for drinking water, hygiene and sanitation defines Menstrual Health Management as: Women and adolescent using a clean menstrual management material to collect or absorb blood , that can be changed in privacy as often as necessary for the duration of the menstrual period, using soap and water for washing the body as required and having access to safe and convenient facilities to dispose the used menstrual materials.

Some materials used during menstrual period.
1. Menstrual cloth
2. Disposable pad
3. Menstrual cup
4. Reusable pad
5.Tampon.

Feminine Hygiene issues all over the World.
1. Lack of access to feminine hygiene products.
2. Lack of knowledge about menstrual hygiene.
3. Lack of access to toilets, hand washing facilities or waste management. 
4. Cultural shame attached to menstruation. 
5. Women and young girls who menstrual are ostracized from basic daily activities such as:
-Going to work or school.
-Eating certain foods.
-And socializing.

How we can help.
1. Providing access to clean and proper sanitary facilities.
2. Educating women and young girls on menstrual hygiene. 
3. Providing access to proper sanitary products.

https://howulivingwithprincesspeeee.wordpress.com/

https://howulivingwithprincesspeeee.wordpress.com/

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/05/25/menstrual-hygiene-management

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