Menstruation is a normal, natural biological process experienced by all adolescent girls and women. 52% of women globally are in reproductive age and most of them are menstruating every month. most of them are not in situations to take care of their menstruation in a hygienic manner. Menstruation is believed to be silent and invisible. Awareness and understanding of Menstrual hygiene are an essential aspect for every woman. Habits correlated to menstruation hygiene are of major worry as it has a health impact if ignored. Women have developed their own personal approaches to handle this period.
Cultural Beliefs, Myths and Taboos –Harmful Restrictions
Menstrual hygiene practices were affected by cultural norms, parental influence, personal preferences and socioeconomic status. Due to cultural beliefs and restrictions many girls were not sufficiently informed about the reality of menstruation. Girls who are unaware of menarche were frightened, confused, and feel embarrassed and are likely to develop negative approaches towards menstruation. Education plays a key role to know more about menstruation hygiene management and to overcome these false beliefs and prohibitions. Proper education by parents about reproductive health, sexuality and related issues is often a no-go area leading to a low knowledge and understanding on this issue.
Types of Absorbents Used during Menstruation
A variety of options are available, and the choice is often influenced by the cost, access to private space to change, easy disposability and easy and regular availability of the product. The choice of absorbents changes among rural and urban women. In rural areas, the most of the women prefer absorbents that are reusable like cloth pads whereas in urban areas women prefer to use commercial sanitary pads. Menstrual Cups is a new technology which has been developed for poor women and girls and an as alternative to sanitary pads and tampons. They are like cups made up of medical grade silicone rubber which makes the cup easy to fold and get inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual blood. They are reusable and eco-friendly. It offers practical, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative where sanitation conditions are not good.
Safe Disposal Techniques
Appropriate disposal of used menstrual material is still lacking in many countries. most of the women dispose them into domestic solid wastes or garbage bins that ultimately become a part of solid wastes. In rural areas, mostly women use reusable and non-commercial sanitary materials like reusable pads or cloths. Thus, they generate lesser amount of menstrual waste as compared to women in urban areas.
The behaviour of women regarding disposal is different when being at home and away from home. At home, they dispose the waste by wrapping and throwing in the dustbin along with other domestic waste. In public places, prior to having knowledge about the consequences of flushing the pads, they flush them in the toilets or wrap and throw them in the dustbins. Where dustbins are not placed they leave the soiled pads wrapped or unwrapped in the toilets. This makes the toilets dirty, breeding place for flies and mosquitoes, and also unhygienic for other toilet users and cleaners.
Biodegradable, disposable ‘Suvidha’ pads, by the Ministry for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India s are oxy-biodegradable and made available in packs of 4, priced at Rs. 2.50 per pad. Available across 586 Indian districts, at Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi centres. It Contains a special additive that renders the napkin biodegradable when exposed to sun and air. The oxo- biodegradable napkin starts decomposing six months after its disposal in a landfill under certain pressure conditions. By comparison, an ordinary pad starts degrading after 500 years.
Menstrual Waste Disposal
Sanitary napkins might decompose over a period of about one year except its plastic lining in on-site sanitation. It was reported that some women wrap their used menstrual cloths and packs in polythene bags before disposing in pit latrines which prevents them from decomposition. Nowadays, mostly women/girls prefer commercial sanitary pads and tampons which are made up of super absorptive materials like polyacrylate. These pads and tampons when flushed in the toilets they get saturated with liquid and swell up, thus resulting in
sewage backflow, a serious health hazard.
The adhesive wings and the perforated plastic layers in the commercial sanitary napkins are not easily biodegradable. Deodorised sanitary products used by women/girls contain chemicals used in bleaching such as organochlorines which when buried in the soil disturb the soil microflora and decomposition takes time. Incineration is a better technique to dispose of menstrual waste but burning of pads releases harmful gasses that effects health and environment. Burning of inorganic material at low temperature releases dioxins which are toxic and carcinogenic in nature.
To conclude lack of privacy, ignorance, misconceptions, unsafe practices, and illiteracy of the mother and child regarding menstruation are the root causes of many problems in menstrual Hygiene Management.
Education Plays a Major role, and it should start from the school. Teachers should be educated and trained to impart knowledge about menstruation and menstrual hygiene management among students.
Social and electronic media also play an important role to make the girls and women aware about the latest menstrual products and its safety disposal. Emphases should be given on the use of reusable sanitary or cloth pads to overcome the problem of disposal.
Girls and women should be aware of the consequences of disposing of used menstrual products in open or flushing them in toilets. If possible, incinerators should be installed at homes, schools, and community levels.
FAQs
1. What are the best menstrual hygiene management practices for adolescent girls in rural and urban areas?
The best menstrual hygiene management practices for adolescent girls include using clean and safe absorbents (such as sanitary pads, menstrual cups, or clean reusable cloth pads), changing them every 4–6 hours, washing the genital area with clean water, and ensuring proper disposal. In rural areas, reusable cloth pads are commonly used due to affordability and accessibility, while urban women often prefer commercial sanitary pads. Access to private sanitation facilities, awareness about menstrual health, and education on safe disposal practices play a critical role in maintaining proper menstrual hygiene management.
2. How can poor menstrual hygiene practices affect women’s reproductive health?
Poor menstrual hygiene practices can lead to reproductive tract infections (RTIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs), skin irritation, and long-term gynecological complications. Using unclean cloth, not changing absorbents frequently, or flushing sanitary pads in toilets can create unhygienic conditions and environmental hazards. Maintaining proper menstrual hygiene, using safe menstrual products, and ensuring hygienic disposal methods significantly reduce health risks and promote overall reproductive health.
3. What are eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives to sanitary pads for menstrual hygiene management?
Eco-friendly menstrual hygiene products include reusable cloth pads, menstrual cups made of medical-grade silicone, and biodegradable sanitary napkins such as ‘Suvidha’ pads distributed through government initiatives. Menstrual cups are cost-effective, reusable for several years, and reduce menstrual waste significantly. Reusable cloth pads, when washed and dried properly in sunlight, are also a sustainable option. Choosing sustainable menstrual products helps reduce environmental pollution caused by non-biodegradable plastic components in commercial pads.
4. What are the safe and recommended methods for menstrual waste disposal at home and in public places?
Safe menstrual waste disposal methods include wrapping used sanitary pads in paper before discarding them in designated bins, using biodegradable disposal bags, and opting for incinerators where available. Flushing pads or tampons in toilets should be strictly avoided as they can cause sewage blockages and health hazards. In rural settings, proper washing and sun-drying of reusable cloth pads is essential. Schools, homes, and community centers should promote safe menstrual waste management systems to maintain hygiene and protect the environment.
Dr. Shweta Khanna., MBBS.,DGO.,
Consultant gynaecologist,
Regency hospital,
Kanpur.