Menstrual Hygiene Day: Why it is Celebrated and More!
May 28, 2020
On May 28th, world menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated to promote good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for all women and girls. Every year this day people and many organizations come together and promote the importance of good menstrual hygiene management. Increased awareness of menstrual hygiene can have a transformative effect on education and economic opportunities for girls and women.
Over 300 million women and girls menstruate every day, yet throughout the globe, they face difficulties in managing their periods. The social stigmas and taboos around menstruation often prevent women and girls from attending work and school. Even when they do attend while menstruating, the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, lack of sanitation infrastructures like private toilets and handwashing facilities, and lack of menstrual hygiene education can prevent women and girls from going out.
Why this day is celebrated?
As stated above, the stigmas and taboos around menstruation make it difficult for girls to attend work or school. Or even when they do lack of sanitation infrastructure and menstrual hygiene education stops them. Due to this reason a German non-profit advocacy and education group with a focus on menstrual hygiene and human rights, launched Menstrual Hygiene Day – a day dedicated to breaking the stigma around periods.So basically it is celebrated to break the silence, raiseawareness, and change negative social norms surrounding MHM around the world.
When is it?
Every year this day takes place on 28 May. The organizers chose this date because the average duration of a menstrual cycle is 28 days and women and girls menstruate for five days per month.
What is this year’s theme?
This year, MH Day recognizes that periods do not stop for pandemics in light of the coronavirus crisis, using the hashtag #PeriodsInPandemics.
The theme highlights how the current pandemic is furtherworsening the menstruation-related challenges many adults and teenagers facearound the world.
The origination also states that the lockdown has intensified the impact of household-level taboos and can make it a little more difficult to manage menstruation without shame and discomfort.
Here are some tips on maintaining menstrual hygiene
• It is advised to keep your vaginal area clean. Use warm water and diluted soap to wash the area.
• If you use sanitary pads then remember to change them often. Changing it every four hours is a good idea.
• It is important to wear comfortable underwear during these days. Tights or inappropriate fabric will not allow the skin to breathe which can lead to infections. Prefer cotton underwear.
• Correctly disposing of your tampons or sanitary napkins is necessary. Wrap them properly before throwing them away, so the bacteria and infection do not spread.
• Choose good sanitary pads - women with sensitive skin may avoid sanitary pads with plastic lining, as they can cause rashes.
• Always pat the vaginal area dry after every wash, else it might lead to irritation.
• Make sure that you wash your hands with warm water and soap after changing your pad/tampon/menstrual cup.
• Wear comfortable, loose clothing, rather than jeans or tight-fitting during periods. This will ensure airflow around the sensitive areas as well as prevent sweating to a large extent.
• Take a shower at least once a day.
