Menstrual Hygiene Day

Greeting readers! 

Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is on May 28th, and 2024 marks the tenth year of its observation! Initiated by the German non-profit WASH United in 2013, it was officially celebrated for the first time in 2014 and serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining good menstrual hygiene practices and breaking taboos surrounding menstruation. There is a lot of stigma or negative beliefs within society when it comes to menstruation. This global initiative aims to raise awareness about the challenges people who menstruate face during their menstrual cycles and advocates for access to proper hygiene facilities, education, and destigmatizing menstruation. This blog will explore the significance of MH Day, the challenges that menstruators face, and the steps that can be taken to empower everyone and create a more inclusive and informed society.

With awareness and advocacy in mind, Let’s review some positive affirmations: 

  • I use my voice to speak up for myself and others. 

  • I am resilient in the face of challenges.

  • I am a safe person for myself and others. 

  • I embrace opportunities to learn. 

Despite being something nearly half of the world’s population has experienced or will experience menstruation has always been viewed in negative or incorrect ways, leading to isolation or poor treatment of individuals during their periods. MH Day is all about challenging this stigma, encouraging open conversations about menstruation, and fostering a supportive environment for individuals to manage their menstrual health with dignity. 

What are the challenges faced by menstruators that MH Day aims to address?

  • Access to Hygiene Products: Many individuals, especially in underserved communities, face challenges in accessing affordable and safe menstrual hygiene products. This affects their health and can prevent individuals from participating in daily activities such as attending school or work.

  • Insufficient Sanitation Facilities: This occurs in rural areas but can still be a challenge to any individual on their period. Access to clean and private toilets with proper ways to dispose of hygiene products is crucial for individuals’ well-being, and lack of access poses a significant challenge to menstrual hygiene.

  • Limited Education: Misinformation about menstruation often leads to a lack of understanding among people of all genders. MH Day seeks to bridge this knowledge gap by promoting education about menstruation hygiene practices and debunking myths.

  • Emotional Impact: The start of menstruation can be a tough time for youth, marked by confusion, anxiety, discomfort, and even shame. It is important to acknowledge that these physical challenges also contribute to emotional challenges faced by individuals.

Empowering Individuals Through Education:

One of the key components of MH Day is education. By providing accurate and inclusive information about menstruation, the initiative aims to empower individuals to make informed choices about their health. Educational programs target everyone, creating an understanding and supportive environment that can get rid of the shame and embarrassment that has been associated with menstruation. This is particularly important to ensuring the well-being of the youth, especially during the challenging transition into menstruation. 

With this in mind, here’s how YOU can be a Prevention Partner: 

  • Educate yourself on the menstrual cycle. As a key component of MH Day, education is one of the best ways to break the stigma surrounding menstruation, as it encourages understanding and sensitivity towards those around us. Here is an article that discusses the basics of menstruation and common questions that caregivers have.

  • Discuss menstruation with your youth, regardless of their gender. This will help to recognize menstruation as a normal part of life that no person needs to be embarrassed or shamed for experiencing. Here is an article on talking to all youth about periods.  

  • Acknowledge and avoid using stigmatizing language surrounding menstruation. Here is an article discussing menstruation stigma, and here is an article detailing how to be inclusive when talking about menstruation.

  • Go With the Flow is an organization dedicated to providing free period products to students and eliminating disruptions to education due to menstruation.

  • Explore the CARE Website for more information on menstruation knowledge and inclusivity! 

References:

MenstrualHygieneDay.org, About Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2023. 

WASH United: https://www.wash-united.org/index.html

Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), A Parent’s Ultimate Guide to Periods, 2023: https://health.choc.org/a-parents-ultimate-guide-to-periods/

KidsHealth, Talking to Your Child About Periods, 2018: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/talk-about-menstruation.html#:~:text=The%20built%2Dup%20lining%20is,build%20up%2C%20then%20break%20down. 

Jill Litman, Menstruation Stigma Must Stop. Period., 2018: https://pha.studentorg.berkeley.edu/2018/06/05/menstruation-stigma-must-stop-period/ 

Joanna Anagnostou, How to Talk About Periods in a More Inclusive Way, 2021: https://moxie.com.au/blogs/the-regular/how-to-talk-about-periods-in-a-more-inclusive-way 

Go With The Flow, 2023: https://gowiththeflowaz.org/