Menstrual Hygiene Day: Risk factors associated with poor hygiene practices

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Menstruation, also called a period, is a normal and healthy part of life for most women. It occurs when blood and tissue from the uterine lining are shed and leave the body through the vagina.

Every year, on May 28, Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed to promote good menstrual hygiene practices and raise awareness about the importance of access to menstrual products, education about menstruation, and the provision of adequate sanitation facilities.

For millions of women across the world, managing periods is not just a private matter. It is a public health issue. In communities where access to clean water, sanitary products, and private toilets is limited, menstruation can lead to more than just discomfort. It can lead to serious health problems, including infections, reproductive complications, and even infertility.

While poor menstrual hygiene is often discussed in terms of stigma and access, it is also essential to understand the specific risk factors that put women and girls at greater risk of illness during their periods.

Menstruation or periods can create a moist, warm environment that promotes bacterial growth if not managed hygienically. This makes the genital area more vulnerable to infections.

This can result in a significantly higher risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs), reproductive tract infections (RTIs), yeast infections, and, in some cases, toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

Key risk factors for illness during menstruation

1. Reusing unwashed or damp cloth pads

In areas where sanitary pads are unaffordable or unavailable, many menstruating women turn to cloth as a reusable alternative. However, the risk arises when clothes are improperly washed with soap and clean water or are not dried in direct sunlight, which has natural disinfecting properties.

These cloth pads are sometimes stored in damp or dark areas, such as under beds or inside school bags. These conditions enable bacteria such as E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus to thrive, resulting in vaginal infections, foul-smelling discharge, skin rashes, and reproductive tract infections (RTIs).

Reusable clothes should be washed thoroughly, dried in the sun, and stored in a clean, dry place. Studies show that women who use reusable absorbent pads are more likely to have symptoms of urogenital infection or be diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis (BV) or urinary tract infections (UTIs) compared to those using disposable pads.

2. Lack of access to clean water and safe toilets

Clean water is essential for washing hands, cleaning reusable pads, and maintaining hygiene during menstruation. 

The lack of private toilets, especially in schools and workplaces, leads many girls to delay changing pads, increasing their risk of infection. This not only increases the risk of diseases but also leads to psychological stress and being absent from school or work. 

Consequences include UTIs, RTIs, and increased vulnerability to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

3. Not changing pads or tampons frequently

Wearing a pad or period underwear for too long can cause skin irritation, rashes, and infections. Prolonged use of tampons without changing increases the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare but life-threatening condition. 

Proper menstrual hygiene requires changing pads and tampons every 4 to 6 hours, depending on the individual’s level of activity. Use the lowest-absorbency tampon needed. If you can wear one tampon for up to 8 hours without needing to change it, the absorbency may be too high.

4. Using unsanitary absorbents

In the absence of safe, affordable products, some individuals use materials such as old mattress foam, newspapers or paper bags, sawdust or ash, leaves, or pieces of sponge, depending on what is available.

These materials are neither sterile nor absorbent enough to manage menstrual flow safely and effectively. They can introduce foreign bacteria or parasites into the body or cause abrasions and tears in the vaginal lining.

These can also increase the risk of RTIs and long-term reproductive damage. The long-term consequence can be chronic exposure to infections due to such practices, which can result in infertility or complications during childbirth.

5. Poor hand hygiene: 

Hands are the most common carriers of germs. When people touch their genital area or menstrual products without clean hands, they introduce pathogens like E. coli and Candida albicans (yeast). 

This can result in yeast infections (characterized by itching and white discharge), bacterial vaginosis, and skin irritation. 

In crowded schools or displacement camps, lack of soap, water, or privacy makes proper hygiene difficult, compounding the risk. It is always important to wash your hands before and after changing any menstrual product, even reusable ones.

6. Wearing synthetic or tight underwear

Tight or synthetic underwear, especially during menstruation, creates a warm and moist environment ideal for yeast and bacterial growth. Combined with sweating or prolonged use of pads, this can lead to yeast infections, rashes, itching, body odour, and general discomfort. 

7. Poor Vagina hygiene practices

Douching, or vaginal douching, involves rinsing the vagina with a liquid solution is bad vagina hygiene practice. Scented hygiene products can irritate the skin and impact your natural pH balance. They may also cause vaginal infections, such as yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis.

The vagina is a self-cleaning organ, so all you need to do is wash the outside of the vagina (vulva) and bottom every day.  To do this, use only water to rinse your vulva. Drinking plenty of water can help flush out your urinary tract and prevent infections, such as yeast infections.

Lastly, an annual wellness exam is a complete check-up that includes a Pap smear, a pelvic exam, and a breast exam. These exams are essential for good reproductive health as they can catch early signs of cancer or other health issues.

Conclusion 

Menstrual hygiene is a fundamental health right. The risk factors outlined show how structural and unhygienic practices can turn a natural biological process into a serious health issue.