Dr. Caroline Campbell PT, DPT, PRPC
Did you know that today, May 28, is International Menstrual Hygiene Day? This global awareness day started in 2014 and this year is their 10 year anniversary. The organization that started Menstrual Hygiene Day, WASH United, has the goal of challenging social norms about menstrual health and hygiene, and encouraging political decision makers to acknowledge and implement policies to improve menstrual health and hygiene. Last year, Menstrual Hygiene Day resulted in 17,828 pieces of media coverage, 222,000 social media posts, and reached 705+ million people internationally.
So what is menstrual health and hygiene? According to the CDC, “good menstrual health and hygiene practices can prevent infections, reduce odors, and help you stay comfortable during your period.” Now you may be wondering what product is best for you during your menstrual cycle, as there are a lot of options-- sanitary pads, tampons, menstrual cups & discs, and period underwear. In the next portion of this blog, I will break down each option and you can decide what is best for you (after all, you know your body best!).
| Sanitary Pads | -Made of cotton combined with superabsorbent polymers -Attach to underwear to absorb flow after it leaves the body -No insertion into vagina -Can be worn immediately postpartum -Not biodegradable -Change every few hours, more frequently if flow is heavy |
| Tampons | -Made of absorbent cotton, polyester, or polypropylene attached to a string -Insert into vagina to absorb flow before it leaves the body -CANNOT be worn immediately postpartum -Easier to use during activity/sports -Change every 4-8 hours, and use the lowest absorbency tampon feasible for you |
| Menstrual Cups & Discs | -Small, flexible silicone cup placed internally -Insert into vagina to contain flow before it leaves the body -CANNOT be worn immediately postpartum -There is a learning curve on how to insert/remove -More environmentally friendly than pads or tampons -Cups should be cleaned or changed every 12 hours or less -Clean cups every day after use, and sanitize them after your period is over by boiling them for 1-2 minutes |
| Period Underwear | -Have an absorbent core and waterproof backing -Wear to absorb flow after it leaves the body -No insertion into vagina -Can be worn immediately postpartum -More environmentally friendly than pads or tampons -Most are machine washable, however follow product directions for the best way to clean them |
General menstrual health and hygiene tips include:
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Washing your hands before and after using the restroom and a menstrual product
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Discarding menstrual products properly (wrapped in toilet paper and NOT down the toilet)
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Wearing lightweight, breathable clothing to reduce germs
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Changing products regularly to reduce germs and risk of rash/infection
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Keeping the genital area clean- wash the outside of your vulva with ONLY WATER every day (the vagina is a self-cleaning organ with a delicate pH), wipe front to back- these tips help keep yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis at bay
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Using unscented toilet paper, tampons, or pads
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Drinking enough liquids
Resources:
https://menstrualhygieneday.org/
https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/personal-hygiene/menstrual.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10026971/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-choose-period-products-202210052828
https://youngwomenshealth.org/guides/period-products/
https://www.getrael.com/blogs/r-blog/types-of-period-products
