Periods are a natural bodily function, and are a sign that a girl or woman can get pregnant and have babies. Your period is the part of your menstrual cycle when  blood from the uterus (womb) passes through the vagina and out of the body. Periods are totally normal and healthy!

 

Periods can make a mess, especially if they start when you were not expecting it! But remember that they are a completely natural process. During their menstrual periods, girls are always advised to consider hygiene all the time—Which is for their own inarguably benefits. Due to fear of speaking out which is triggered by period teasing from male friends, stigma and lack of knowledge, most girls don’t know what to do next at the time of their periods; they end up doing the unexpected.

 

Despite the challenges girls and women face everyday, menstrual hygiene management and practices matters alot. One can manage to stay clean by doing the following:

 

• You should bathe every day as you usually do. If you can, clean your vulva (the outside part of your genitals) twice a day with water. Dry yourself and put a fresh cloth or pad on your underwear. Bathing regularly helps in cleaning your private parts as well as relieving your bad mood.

 

• Change your pad, cloth or tampon as soon as it is getting full. If you are using a pad, it is advisable to change it every six hours while if you are using a tampon, every two hours is recommended. The reason for this is that when menstrual blood is released from the body, various organisms are attracted to the body which multiplies in the warmth of the blood and causes irritation, rashes or urinary tract infections.

 

• Find a good sanitary brand that works for you and stick to it. Those with sensitive skin should avoid sanitary pads with plastic lining, as they can cause rashes, itchiness, and boils when rubbing against the skin.

 

• Do not try to clean the inside of your vagina because it can make infections more likely. The vagina has its own cleaning mechanism that works in a very fine balance of good and bad bacteria. Washing it with soap can kill the good bacteria making way for infections. So, while it is important to wash regularly during this time, all you need to use is some warm water. You can use soap on the external parts but do not use it inside your vagina or vulva.

 

• It’s also advised that you put on comfortable and loose clothes. Avoid tight-fitting ones like jeans. This will ensure free air circulation around the sensitive areas as well as minimize the rate of sweating.

 

With these five educational tips, any girl can stay clean as long as they are followed. Above all, we need to end stigmatization against our girls. Periods are a natural and healthy way of cleaning their wombs. Let’s not freak them out again.

 

The Blue

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By MAXWELL KAMAU