Menstruation is a pure organic course of skilled by women and girls worldwide. It is as regular a phenomenon as respiration. However, insufficient menstrual well being administration and the persisting stigma surrounding menstruation pose important challenges, significantly in nations like India.

According to UNICEF, Menstruation is a pure and wholesome physiological course of and impacts roughly 1.8 billion individuals worldwide. The World Health Organization has emphasised on menstrual well being as a elementary well being and human rights problem, urging collaborative and multi-sectoral actions to make sure optimum menstrual well being for all people.

However, the truth is that hundreds of thousands of women, ladies, and people who menstruate face quite a few challenges in managing their intervals in a hygienic and dignified method. These challenges stem from restricted entry to data and training, insufficient availability of services and products, deeply ingrained socio-cultural norms, and structural inequalities.

Challenges confronted by ladies

“Insufficient menstrual well being and hygiene (MHH) practices have a detrimental affect on well being and well-being, together with sexual and reproductive well being, psychological well being and may end up in a quite a few an infection that may adversely have an effect on the wellbeing of women and girls,” says Kamal Narayan, CEO, IHW Council.

Maintaining menstrual health and hygiene is crucial for girls’ physical well-being. “Proper menstrual hygiene practices, such as using clean and hygienic menstrual products, help prevent infections, irritations, and other health complications. Good menstrual health contributes to overall reproductive health and ensures girls can lead active and healthy lives. Apart from physical well-being, safe and healthy approach towards menstrual health can enhance the mental wellbeing of the individual,” provides Narayan.

Men should be part of the dialogue

As lack of correct menstrual hygiene amenities and stigma surrounding menstruation can result in emotions of disgrace, embarrassment, and low vanity. Promoting good menstrual well being and hygiene helps create a supportive setting the place ladies can really feel assured, empowered, and free from discrimination.

However, at any time when there’s a dialogue round sensitization and training on the difficulty, it’s at all times ladies – centric however in actuality, if the stigma and taboo across the problem is to be addressed in an efficient and sustainable method, then the entire household’s participation turns into crucial together with the lads and boys.

“Education is a vital a part of consciousness creation on the difficulty, implementing complete menstrual training in colleges is significant to create consciousness and dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding menstruation. By integrating age-appropriate menstrual well being training into the curriculum, not solely ladies however boys can acquire correct details about menstrual hygiene, sexual and reproductive well being. This is not going to solely reduce the disgrace and discomfort associated to the entire idea but in addition assist youngsters and kids in successfully understanding and managing their sexual life thus stopping STD’S and different associated infections and unsightly sexual experiences together with abuse,” states Narayan.

By involving men in the conversation, we can break the cycle of silence, stigma, and ignorance surrounding menstruation. “Men can play a significant role in supporting and promoting menstrual well-being in their families, communities, and workplaces. By understanding the biological process and its impact on women’s lives, men can become empathetic allies, creating an environment where women feel comfortable discussing their menstrual needs and challenges.

Menstrual health and hygiene are intricately linked to gender equality,” opines Narayan. Sensitizing males concerning the significance of menstrual well being helps break gender stereotypes and biases. It encourages males to problem discriminatory practices and actively take part in advocating for equal entry to menstrual merchandise, sanitation amenities, and academic alternatives.

The sensitization and consciousness additionally assist in fostering a way of shared duty in managing menstrual well being and hygiene. Men can actively contribute by offering emotional assist, helping in accessing menstrual merchandise, and advocating for satisfactory sanitation amenities in public areas. Narayan believes, “Sensitizing males creates a chance to form optimistic function fashions for youthful generations. By brazenly discussing menstruation and difficult societal taboos, males can mannequin respectful attitudes and behaviours. This, in flip, helps break the intergenerational cycle of misinformation and stigma related to menstruation. Hence making them essential stakeholders in the entire strategy of consciousness in addition to assist.”

The conversations around safe periods needs to grow further from discussing aspects like creating awareness, dispelling myths to engaging communities and families, from safe and hygienic sanitation facilities to accessible and affordable menstrual products. No doubt these factors are equally important and the government has been doing commendable work in the area of WASH and sanitation. Collaborative efforts involving governments, local authorities, and organizations have been promoting menstrual health and hygiene is a crucial step towards empowering girls and ensuring their overall well-being.

“By raising awareness, challenging taboos, and providing access to information, education, and resources civil society organizations as well as government has been working to break the barriers associated with menstruation.

In keeping with the theme of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023, “making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030″, essentially the most vital and sometimes negated facet of sensitization and motion consists of involving males as essential stakeholders within the course of. The overarching objective is to construct a world the place nobody is held again as a result of they menstruate by 2030 and males have a big function to play in such a world, the place they’ll present assist as fathers, brothers, husbands or simply associates. From properties to varsities and workplaces, males can present the a lot – wanted assist and solidarity to the trigger If we’re going to achieve collectively making a world the place intervals are a standard truth of life by 2030,” explains Narayan.

Public areas can turn into safer and extra comfy for girls, as soon as males are equally knowledgeable and sensitized concerning the relevance of menstrual well being. Sensitizing males about menstrual well being and hygiene is crucial for making a supportive and inclusive society. By partaking males as allies and advocates, we will foster gender equality, problem societal norms, and create an setting the place ladies and ladies can handle their menstrual well being with dignity and with out disgrace. Together, we will work in the direction of dismantling the obstacles and taboos surrounding menstruation and selling a more healthy and extra empowered future for all.