Lack of access to the right menstrual products may lead to greater risk of infection. For example, some studies show that, in locations with high humidity , reusable pads may not dry thoroughly, possibly contributing to infection risks.
In some cases, women and girls do not have access to menstrual products at all. They may resort to rags, leaves, newspaper or other makeshift items to absorb or collect menstrual blood. They may also be prone to leaks, contributing to shame or embarrassment. However, there is no clear causal relationship, and urogenital infections are more often caused by internal, than external bacteria.
Women and girls living in extreme poverty and in humanitarian crises may be more likely to face these challenges. In one Syrian refugee community , for example, health workers reported seeing high levels of such vaginal infections, perhaps a result of poor menstrual hygiene management.
However, there is no strong evidence about the risks and prevalence of such infections. Cultural expectations and beliefs can also play a role. Some traditions discourage menstruating people from touching or washing their genitals during menstruation, which might increase their vulnerability to infection and discomfort, and could affect their sense of dignity.
Menstruation is often different from person to person, and even one person can experience very different periods over their lifetime. This is often healthy and normal. But when menstruation prevents people from engaging in regular activities, medical attention is required. Unfortunately, lack of attention to, and education about, menstruation means that many women and girls suffer for years without receiving care.
Below are some of the conditions and disorders related to menstruation. One common menstruation-related complaint is dysmenorrhea, also known as menstrual cramps or painful periods. It often presents as pelvic, abdominal or back pain. In some cases, this pain can be debilitating. Studies show that dysmenorrhea is a major gynaecological issue among people around the world, contributing to absenteeism from school and work, as well as diminished quality of life.
Sometimes, menstrual irregularities can indicate serious disorders. For example, some women and girls may experience abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding, called menorrhagia, which could signal a hormonal imbalance or other concerns.
Excruciating pain or excessive bleeding during menstruation can also indicate reproductive problems such as endometriosis when the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus or fibroids lumpy growths in the uterus.
Irregular, infrequent or prolonged periods can indicate disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Extremely heavy periods can also increase the risk of iron-deficiency anaemia, which can cause extreme fatigue, weakness, dizziness and other symptoms.
Severe or chronic iron-deficiency anaemia can cause dangerous complications during pregnancy as well as physiological problems. The hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle can also cause physical and emotional symptoms, ranging from soreness, headaches and muscle pain to anxiety and depression.
These symptoms are sometimes considered premenstrual syndrome PMS , but when severe or disabling they are sometimes considered premenstrual dysphoric disorder. There are also conditions that can exacerbate menstruation-related complaints. For example, studies show that female genital mutilation can cause longer and more painful periods.
Most people who menstruate experience some physical or emotional discomfort known as premenstrual syndrome PMS about a week before or during the first few days of their menstrual periods. PMS manifests differently in different people and may vary between menstruation cycles.
The most common symptoms during PMS include changes in appetite, backaches, acne, bloating, headaches, depression, feelings of sadness, tension or anxiety, irritability, sweating, tender breasts, water retention, constipation or diarrhea, trouble concentrating, insomnia and tiredness. For some, these symptoms can be so severe that they miss work or school, while others are not bothered. On average, women in their 30s are most likely to have PMS. PMS may also increase as a person approaches menopause because of the fluctuations in hormone levels.
It is not really known why people experience PMS. Researchers believe it is because of the dramatic drop in estrogen and progesterone that takes place after ovulation when a woman is not pregnant. PMS symptoms often disappear when the hormone levels begin to rise again.
Stereotypes and stigma surrounding PMS can contribute to discrimination. The onset of menstruation, called menarche, varies from person to person. It commonly starts between the ages of 10 and In rare cases, menarche can take place before a girl reaches age 7 or 8. Menarche can also be delayed or prevented due to malnutrition, excessive exercise or medical issues.
It is hard to know the global average age of menarche, because recent and comparable data are hard to find. One study from found that 14 is a typical age of menarche.
Some studies have found that menarche is occurring earlier among girls in certain places, often in high-income countries and communities. However, lack of systematically collected data from low-income countries means that broader or global conclusions cannot be made. Similarly, it is difficult to determine the average age at which menstruation ends, known as menopause.
Data from suggest an average age of around Menstrual taboos have existed, and still exist, in many or most cultures. Below is a non-exhaustive list of menstruation myths and taboos, as well as their impact on women and girls.
Menstrual blood is composed of regular blood and tissue, with no special or dangerous properties. Yet throughout history, many communities have thought the mere presence of menstruating women could cause harm to plants, food and livestock. People continue to hold similar beliefs today. Some communities believe women and girls can spread misfortune or impurity during menstruation or other vaginal bleeding. As a result, they may face restrictions on their day-to-day behavior, including prohibitions on attending religious ceremonies, visiting religious spaces, handling food or sleeping in the home.
In western Nepal, the tradition of chhaupadi prohibits women and girls from cooking food and compels them to spend the night outside the home, often in a hut or livestock shed. Similar rules apply to women and girls in parts of India and other countries.
In one rural community in Ethiopia , the taboos about vaginal bleeding led not only to women and girls being exiled from the home during menstruation, but also during childbirth and postpartum bleeding.
Isolation and expulsion from the home are often dangerous for women and girls — and can even be fatal. For example, women and girls in Nepal have been exposed to extreme cold, animal attacks or even sexual violence.
It is important to note that not all aspects of these traditions are negative. See more here. Menstrual stigmas also affect how women and girls are able to manage their health and hygiene. Some cultures prohibit women and girls from touching or washing their genitals during menstruation, possibly contributing to infections. In some parts of Afghanistan, it is even believed that washing the body during menstruation can lead to infertility.
In other places, women and girls are fearful that their bodies could pollute water sources or toilets. These beliefs also affect how women and girls dispose of menstrual products. In some places, women burn menstrual pads to avoid cursing animals or nature. In other places, burning menstrual products is believed to cause infertility. Some communities believe menstrual products should be buried to avoid attracting evil spirits.
Others believe improper disposal of these products can cause a girl to menstruate continuously for life. Many communities believe menstruating women and girls cannot eat certain foods, such as sour or cold foods, or those prone to spoilage.
In fact, there are no medically recommended restrictions on the kinds of food menstruating people can or should eat, and dietary restrictions can actually put them at risk by limiting their nutrient intake.
This leaves girls vulnerable to a host of abuses, including child marriage, sexual violence or coercion, and early pregnancy. While menstruation is one indication of biological fertility, it does not mean girls have reached mental, emotional, psychological or physical maturity.
In rare cases, menarche can take place before a girl reaches age 7 or 8, for example. And even older teens may not be mature enough to make informed choices about marriage, sexual activity or motherhood. Women may face degrading comments about menstruation affecting their physical or emotional states. They may be excluded from certain roles or positions of leadership.
Women can also face stigma and mistreatment for not having periods. These beliefs can adversely affect women who do not experience regular monthly menstruation, such as women who have irregular cycles and transgender women. These ideas are also harmful to transgender men who menstruate. These men can face discrimination, limited access to menstruation products and poor access to safe, private washing facilities.
Silence about menstruation can lead to ignorance and neglect, including at the policy level. This leaves women and girls vulnerable to things like period poverty and discrimination. It also adversely affects women and girls with heightened vulnerabilities.
Those living with HIV can face stigma when seeking sanitation facilities, menstruation supplies and health care, for example. Those in prisons or other forms of detention may be deprived of menstruation supplies. The menstrual cycle is driven by hormonal changes. But eventually your menstrual cycle should return to normal.
Need to make an appointment with a Piedmont physician? Save time, book online. Close X. Back to Living Better Living Better newsletter. Zip Code. Do women need periods? Many women use short-term contraceptives like birth control pills to skip their periods. Can suppressing your period affect fertility? It has been six months since you came into this world like a whirlwind, turning your dad and me into confused-but-never-been-happier parents. There are at least five immediate and devastating consequences of COVID on education that require collective action.
June In emergencies, UNICEF provides dignity kits to women and girls, which include sanitary pads, a flashlight and whistle for personal safety when using the toilet. The kits gave me the courage and the confidence to come to school every day. Menstruation is stigmatized all over the world. The first period can be met with either celebration, fear or concern. For every girl, this signifies an important transition to womanhood - a time when they would benefit from the support of family and friends.
Many girls do not have complete and accurate understanding of menstruation as a normal biological process. Educating girls before their first period -- and, importantly, boys -- on menstruation, builds their confidence, contributes to social solidarity and encourages healthy habits.
Such information should be provided at home and at school. Poor menstrual hygiene can pose physical health risks and has been linked to reproductive and urinary tract infections.
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