Does period talk make you uncomfortable? If so, you’re not alone. There’s a whole day dedicated to tackling period stigma and misconceptions, and it’s called Menstrual Hygiene Day!
28 May is Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024—a day to break harmful taboos about periods and raise awareness about current gaps in menstrual products, education and facilities. This year’s theme is #PeriodFriendlyWorld, and we at Stonesoup are calling for more action and investment in menstrual health. It is a world where everyone can access the products, period education and period-friendly infrastructure they need for hygiene during the menstrual cycle.
Understanding Menstrual Hygiene Day
Menstrual Hygiene Day serves as a reminder to promote awareness, education, and action to ensure better menstrual hygiene management for all. It also seeks to address the cultural, social, and economic barriers that hinder menstrual hygiene practices and access to necessary resources.
Menstrual hygiene encompasses a range of practices and conditions necessary for people to manage their menstruation safely, hygienically, and with dignity. It involves access to clean and safe menstrual products, privacy to change materials, proper and safe sanitation facilities, and adequate knowledge and education to make informed decisions.
- Breaking the Taboos
One of the major obstacles to achieving menstrual hygiene is the persistent stigma and taboos associated with menstruation. Myths and misconceptions about periods are still prevalent today, leading to shame, secrecy, and discrimination against menstruating individuals.
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Education and Awareness
Menstrual Hygiene Day serves as an excellent opportunity to educate communities, schools, and individuals about menstruation and debunk common myths. By providing accurate information about menstrual health, we can dispel misconceptions and empower women and girls to take charge of their menstrual well-being. Comprehensive education on menstrual hygiene not only helps to break the stigmas but also ensures that menstruating girls are equipped with the knowledge to make informed choices about their bodies.
- Access to Menstrual Products and Sanitation Facilities
Another critical aspect of menstrual hygiene is ensuring access to safe and affordable menstrual products, as well as proper sanitation facilities. Unfortunately, a larger fraction of the population still lacks access to these basic necessities. This is not just an inconvenience for menstruating individuals. Insufficient resources to manage menstruation exacerbate gender, social and economic inequalities, as menstruating individuals may face societal pressure to skip school or work during their periods.
Call to Action
Menstrual Hygiene Day is not just a one-day observance but a catalyst for sustained change. We can all contribute to improving menstrual hygiene by:- Supporting organizations and initiatives that provide menstrual products and hygiene education to marginalized communities.
- Advocating for policies that make menstrual products easily accessible and at lower costs.
- Engaging in open conversations about menstruation, breaking taboos, and eliminating shame.
- Educating ourselves and others about menstrual health.
- Encouraging schools and institutions to include comprehensive menstrual education in their curriculum.
How is Stonesoup helping to end period stigma for Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024?
- Promoting the use of Menstrual cup for hygiene during menstrual cycle
Menstrual cups are eco-friendly and more cost-effective. Cups offer more freedom of movement and no intimate area rashes. The cup also keeps period odour away as the blood doesn’t come into contact with air. It also provides a lesser changes of leakage. There is no need to change the cup after every few hours. One can go without changing a menstrual cup for more than 12 hours. Also, it is easier to use compared to a tampon. The insertion is smoother and it is generally not very uncomfortable if insertion is done correctly. What more? You can swim, run, trek, drive and do whatever you want with a menstrual cup inside, not having to worry about anything that irritates your skin while pursuing an active lifestyle.
Stonesoup's eco-friendly cups are made from medical-grade silicone, have a unique patented design, and are reusable for 10 years.
- Promoting the use of reusable pads for a sustainable future
Regular disposable pads have numerous layers of synthetic fibres. These layers usually include a centre with absorbent polymers and a plastic waterproof backing to help prevent leakage. A sustainable alternative to disposable pads is reusable, sustainable sanitary pads. They function like disposable pads. You secure them to your underwear, and they successfully absorb menstrual fluid externally. After using them for the first time, you rinse, wash, and dry them. You can then reuse them after they have dried.
Stonesoups’ Mandya Heavy Pads are soft, hypo-allergenic, washable cloth pads that can be used for period care, especially for heavy bleeders and all-night absorption. They are compact to carry, easy to maintain and rash-free. They have a wider base to protect them from staining when sleeping. Rid yourself of the plastic-y feel and gift yourself some Petals comfort. These cloth pads have broad wings to minimize pant stains and hold them in place. They are leak-proof and come in a variety of colourful patterns to make period-time, fun-time! The concept of reusable period pads is pretty similar to disposable pads. It’s just that you don’t throw them away. You clean them to reuse them.
Stonesoup is your partner in ending all the period stigmas. We are always here to help. So let’s get out there and challenge those stigmas because hygiene during menstrual cycle is important!