What Is Menstruation Awareness And Why Does It Matter?

Menstruation, or having your period, is a natural and healthy part of life for most women. Nevertheless, it still carries a stigma in many countries. When discussing their periods, some girls and women experience embarrassment or shame. Some people may even shun particular activities as a result, missing out on critical opportunities. Menstruation awareness campaigns and occasions like National Period Day on October 10 are crucial for this reason.

Why Is Menstrual Awareness Important?

On a national level, menstrual awareness is a relatively new phenomenon. While women have long worked to remove stigmas and increase access to intimate care products, it has only recently gained widespread attention. Menstruation awareness focuses on providing feminine hygiene products to individuals who require them, but it also has other aspects.

Dismantling Stigmas-

The first period in a girl's life might be thrilling because it denotes the beginning of womanhood. But it can also be a little daunting and confusing. This is because many girls lack the knowledge necessary to handle their first menstrual period. Periods and menstrual hygiene products are rarely discussed in an open way that would help a girl feel comfortable with this new stage in life.

Periods and women's health, in general, are frequently stigmatized by society as topics best kept private. Increasing menstrual awareness can aid in eradicating period stigma. That doesn't simply apply to ladies who will have their periods. For boys to understand that there is nothing "gross" about a girl having her period, they must also be included in the discourse.

Educating Children-

Educating young people about their periods and menstrual hygiene products is another incredibly crucial topic that menstruation awareness helps with. Some teenage girls might be reluctant to discuss their periods with their parents or guardians due to the stigma we discussed before. They won't have excellent information to follow if they receive the facts from dependable sources, and the mystique surrounding the times will vanish.

Girls will learn more about the many feminine hygiene products accessible to them and how to appropriately use them if open conversations about menstruation become more commonplace. Poor menstrual hygiene has been associated with reproductive and urinary tract infections, according to Unicef, and can be harmful to physical health. One of the best ways to assist in teaching females how to correctly manage their menstrual hygiene is to promote awareness and openness.

Dealing with Period Poverty-

Period poverty is another factor contributing to the importance of menstrual knowledge. Period poverty consists of menstrual hygiene products being subject to taxation in 35 US states, Forbes reports, because they are regarded as "non-essential items." Many women struggle to pay for their monthly necessities due to the rising cost of items like pads, tampons, and menstrual cups. Period poverty is a term used to describe this.

The necessity of the hour is to educate females about menstruation facts, physiological ramifications, relevance, and appropriate menstrual hygiene products and habits. They must also get over their preconceived notions, limitations, and established views. To combat the taboo surrounding menstruation, focus groups, mass media campaigns, and sex education in the classroom can all be beneficial. All moms should be encouraged to talk to their daughters about menstruation and menstrual hygiene in line with society.

The need of maintaining excellent cleanliness during menstruation cannot be overstated, particularly given the increased risk of reproductive tract infections. Recognizing the significance of menstrual hygiene and health in women's health is therefore essential.

Poor menstrual hygiene management techniques, such as limited washing facilities and poor protection, may increase infection susceptibility and raise the risk of stigmatization for females. Hence, it’s really important to have menstrual awareness to avoid such a situation.