Menstrual hygiene day 2017: Five hygiene tips every girl and woman should know!

New Delhi: Every year on May 28, Menstrual Hygiene Day (MHD) is celebrated worldwide to raise awareness about the importance of menstrual hygiene management and break taboos for women and adolescent girls.

It was initiated by the German-based NGO WASH United in 2014. May 28 was chosen to celebrate for its symbolism since May is the 5th month of the year and most women experience bleeding for an average of five days every month and their menstrual cycle is usually 28 days long.

The MHD initiative has received the support of over 270 global partners.

Every woman and girl should know the importance of hygiene management during menstruation.

Here are some tips to maintain hygiene during your periods which you may not be aware of:

Wash regularly

One should take bath regularly to keep the body clean and avoid odor. Even hands should be washed before and after going to the bathroom, changing your menstrual protection and cleaning the vagina. Always wash your vagina well before you change into a new pad to beat bad odour.

Wash the right way

Always wash your vagina externally and never use normal soap, douches or shampoo on your intimate area as it can upset the natural flora and acidity. One can opt for a wash specially formulated for intimate use or just use your hand and warm water.

Change sanitary pads often

Using the same sanitary pad increases the risk of infection and toxic shock syndrome (TSS), so one should change their pad often. Prolonged use of damp sanitary pads can also irritate your skin.

Discard used sanitary product properly

Used napkins should be dicarded properly as they are capable of spreading infections, will smell very foul. Always wrapped the pad before discarding as it ensures that the smell and infection is contained. Most importantly, wash your hands well after you discard your used napkin since you are likely to touch the used portion of the pad or tampon while discarding it.

Avoid using soaps or vaginal hygiene products

As vagina has its own cleaning mechanism which works in a very fine balance of good and bad bacteria. Washing it with soap or vaginal hygiene products can kill the good bacteria making way for infections. So, it is very important to wash yourself regularly during mensuration.