Menstrual Hygiene: What is it, why is it important, and how can it be improved?
By Emma Gaughan // May 2024
May 28 was Menstrual Hygiene Day, a yearly day to spread awareness about the importance of having good menstrual hygiene, and steps that can be taken to help people all over the world have better menstrual hygiene. But what is menstrual hygiene, anyways?
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), there are several things needed for good menstrual hygiene. Safe menstrual products, privacy to change products, access to a safe and clean place to bathe and wash hands, and education on menstruation. Inability to access these things can lead to poor menstrual health, which greatly harms those who experience a period.
Without access to safe facilities and products, there are several health concerns that may arise. Less serious concerns include rashes and irritation, but it can also lead to major complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease and toxic shock syndrome, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). These conditions can be fatal, but are preventable with proper education about menstrual health. That is what makes Menstrual Hygiene day so crucial— education about proper menstrual health can help prevent disease and death among those who menstruate.
However, education alone will not prevent poor menstrual hygiene. Another large aspect of poor hygiene is lack of access to sanitary products and facilities. Period poverty is the inability to access period products due to financial burdens. A lack of access to period products creates a lack of access to good menstrual hygiene, and can create health issues for those it affects. Therefore, a important way to improve menstrual hygiene is to work to stop period poverty, which organizations like Love For Red are trying to do.