Bleeding
Periods
Menstruation
Monthly cycle
These are the few synonyms for the gift that nature has bestowed upon every girl, yet the way society perceives menstruation is completely opposite to the way it should be perceived. Ever since I was a child, I have always noticed society telling young girls to be discreet about periods. In fact many times I was shushed and told not to talk about it in public.
I was a kid then and that’s why I used to do what I was told. I moulded myself the way our society wanted me to, but as I am an adult now and a bit more sensible, I can’t fathom the fact that society was so ashamed by periods, instead of embracing them. As I became more mature about life, there were questions that kept swirling in my mind regarding periods. The same questions that have been bottled up in my mind, ever since I hit puberty.
Periods Are Not Impure
As I grew up, I saw how periods were considered a taboo subject even though menstruation is a natural biological process and an integral part of a woman’s life. Instead of rejoicing over it, as the very first sign of womanhood, we tend to regard it as impure.
How can period blood be considered impure, when that same blood is the very first sign of a newborn life in a woman’s womb?
Instead of talking about it and educating young girls and women, why do we keep turning a blind eye to periods and menstrual hygiene? Instead of telling women not to enter the kitchen, not to visit holy places, or not to worship God, why don’t we educate our girls more about the precautions one has to take during periods? Why don’t we tell them about the complications of an unhygienic menstrual routine?
And how long will it take for us to accept that the perpetuation of the human race is directly contingent on the menstrual cycle?
Pads Hidden In Black Polythene Bags
I have never understood why shopkeepers or pharmacists hurriedly wrap pads and tampons in black bag polythene bags, especially in Asian countries. Most people will whisper slowly to the shopkeeper about the pads or tampons as though they are hideous secrets. Pads are not hideous, in fact, they are an essential resource during one’s menstrual cycle. So why do we talk about pads as if we are ashamed of them?
Why do we feel so guilty and uncomfortable for buying a packet of pads in public?
People buy a packet of condoms openly, we don’t have any qualms about that, but why do we have to be so ashamed about buying a packet of sanitary pads.
Misconceptions About Tampons And Menstrual Cups
There is one big misconception about tampons; it is believed that they should be used only by married women and that using tampons can cause the hymen to break. And since we live in a society where an intact hymen is considered a sign of virginity, most girls, especially in rural areas or those belonging to conservative or orthodox families do not have any idea about options other than sanitary pads.
The hymen is not a sign of virginity. And a girl should never be made to feel so uncomfortable about it.
Tampons, though slightly more expensive than sanitary pads, are amongst the most reliable options to use when it comes to a menstrual cycle. And the misconception that they break the hymen is completely unrealistic and irrelevant. Tampons can soak blood for about 8-12hours. Women can feel a slight discomfort while inserting it in their vaginas and while wearing it initially. But after getting used to it, the discomfort dissipates.
Another aid that is used during the time of menstruation, is the Menstrual cup. And just like tampons, there is a misconception that they can break the hymen. Menstrual cups are made of flexible medical grade silicone and shaped like a bell with a stem. They come in various sizes according to the shape of the cervix. They have been used by many women in the western world and they are the cheapest option for a healthy period. A menstrual cup can last for 10 years and it is eco-friendly.
Unlike Pads, both tampons and menstrual cups have a minuscule probability of leakage since they both are inserted to prevent the flow of blood outside of the vagina.
On 28th May 2019, we celebrated Menstrual Hygiene Day, and though I am glad that citizens of our society are more vocal about it, we still have many inhibitions and qualms regarding periods. We forget that unlike any natural process taking place in a human body, it is a gift that is beautiful to embrace. Not only by a woman or a girl but by society too. We forget that a period is not only about a girl or woman, but it concerns society as a whole.
And just like any beautiful thing, periods do come with their own complications. Since periods are associated with hormonal changes and hormonal changes can affect mental health, women experience something known as premenstrual syndrome. The pre-menstrual syndrome does not always affect mental balance, sometimes PMS can be easily dealt with. But, in some cases, PMS can result in depression, irritability and extreme mood swings and physical discomfort. Thus, it becomes important for people to differentiate between these symptoms and to provide emotional support to women who experience severe symptoms before, during or after their periods. As a society, we need to become more aware and more concerned about how periods affect women.