Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated every year on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene, break the stigma around menstruation, and raise awareness about the challenges of accessing menstrual products. According to UNICEF, around 1.8 billion people around the world menstruate every month, including girls, women, transgender men and non-binary people. Many of them face a range of problems from stigma to social exclusion. Gender inequality, discriminatory social norms, cultural taboos, poverty, and lack of basic services like toilets and sanitary products can all add to challenges related to menstrual health and hygiene. (Also read: Menstrual Hygiene Day 2022: 5 Common Menstruation Myths Debunked by an Expert)
What is menstrual hygiene
A period occurs when the uterus sheds blood and tissue from the uterine lining and leaves the body through the vagina. Menstrual hygiene means being able to access products that can absorb or collect blood flow during menstruation, having privacy to change pads/menstrual cups, etc., and having access to facilities for disposing of used products.
Menstrual Hygiene Day Date: Why is it celebrated on May 28?
Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated every year on the 28th day of the fifth month because the average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days and on average people menstruate for five days in a month.
History of Menstrual Hygiene Day
Menstrual Hygiene Day was launched by Germany-based NGO WASH United in 2013, when a 28-day social media campaign was launched to raise awareness about different aspects of menstruation. Motivated by the positive response garnered by the campaign, Menstrual Hygiene Day was celebrated for the first time on May 28, 2014 with rallies, exhibitions, workshops, speeches, etc.
Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023 Theme
The theme of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023 is: “Making menstruation a normal reality by 2030”.
Importance of Menstrual Hygiene Day
Menstrual hygiene is important for the well-being and dignity of people who menstruate and this day highlights the importance of good menstrual hygiene practices, such as using clean and safe menstrual products, maintaining ‘personal hygiene and effective management of menstrual discomfort. Many people in low-income communities do not have access to affordable and hygienic menstrual products and the day advocates for greater access to menstrual products. The day also focuses on gaining knowledge about our bodies, our menstrual cycles and our reproductive health.
List of common menstrual products that can ensure hygiene during periods
- Menstrual pads
- Menstrual cups
- Organic cotton pads
- Menstrual panties
- Reusable cloth pads
Tips for menstrual hygiene
According to the CDC, here are the guidelines to follow for a healthy period:
- Wash your hands before and after using a menstrual product.
- Don’t flush menstrual products down the toilet, but wrap them in toilet paper or a tissue and throw them in a trash can.
- Sanitary napkins should be changed every few hours, even if the flow is light. Change them more frequently if the flow is heavy.
- Change tampons every 4 to 8 hours.
- In the case of menstrual cups, clean them after a day of use and disinfect them properly by placing them in boiling water for a few minutes after your period ends.
- Wear cotton underwear and keep your genital area clean. Wipe from the front of your body to the back.
- Drink enough fluids to maintain hydration levels.
