Do people who menstruate have an option of making an informed choice about using period products? Are the choices given to them inclusive and intersectional?
The simple answer is no.
As a menstrual health educator, I have experienced numerous awareness sessions conducted by health professionals and educators in schools and communities addressing girls as young as 10. These sessions aim at educating girls on the biology of menstruation, breaking common myths around periods, nutrition and how to maintain hygiene.
However, many educators miss out on introducing several options available for menstrual hygiene. In fact, I have often witnessed educators only promoting commercial pads and disregarding a homemade cloth pad, and it’s mostly based on the assumption that menstruators belonging to lower income groups will not be able to maintain cloth pads hygienically.
Many girls we interviewed before our Menstrual Hygiene Management sessions in urban and rural slums had no knowledge of other products for managing periods apart from commercial pads. Most of them were averse to using a cloth pad and had never heard of tampons or period panties. Only a few in urban areas had heard about menstrual cups, but had no idea of how to use it.
Many people who menstruate continue to use a single product even if it’s intolerable, gives rashes or is itchy. But what is the alternative available? There are concerns about the environmental impact of period products, which pile up in landfills or sewers. So how does one make an informed choice? Since everything about our “that time of month” is so hush-hush, we tend to ignore such vital issues that further instill negative attitude about our own bodies and periods.
Until recently, I myself dreaded having periods, because every time I used a pad, it gave me unbearable rashes, but I continued to use them, as that was the first thing introduced to me by my mother, and it stuck with me for years. Two years ago, when the rashes became severe, I switched to a homemade soft cotton cloth pad. Well, even that didn’t suit me as my labia had become too sensitive to any kind of pads. I came to a point when I started missing work and stayed home on period days cause I was sick and tired of the constant discomfort caused by pads and just wanted to bleed free.
I bought tampons on the suggestion of a friend, but didn’t really try reading about all the side effects of using them. So, after several months of searching, I bought a menstrual cup. It worked like a dream for me, and I have never looked back since then. Now, I was privileged enough to discuss, try and search for a suitable menstrual product, but what about people who live in communities where such openness is not taken in good spirit?
I really feel that if we as educators can go that extra mile to explain all pros and cons of several products available in the market, then people, right from the beginning of their menstruation, can try various options and then choose comfort, budget, convenience and any variables that matter to them to find what works best.
Times are moving and new choices of product are available that are environment-friendly, organic, budget friendly, disposable, reusable and can be worn while having se. Some companies are going a step further in taking a more inclusive approach in the design and marketing of their menstrual products by considering the needs of people with disabilities or people who bleed but don’t identify as a woman and have unpleasant feelings of dysphoria and discomfort.
Our work around menstruation must also incorporate inclusivity, intersectionality and experiences of the most disadvantaged sections of society. Our period positive education has to broadly encompass real problems that some sections of society are facing, like lack of toilets, water, not having the means and money to afford sanitary pads, etc.
Unless we use the principles of empathy and genuine desire to improve all kinds of people’s experiences of menstruation, we really cannot uproot the negativity surrounding periods.
Note: The article has been written by Ambreen Arun For Uboontu Foundation.