Talk on Menstrual Hygiene Management

This presentation was the basis of a talk given at St. Ursula School in Pune on Menstrual Hygiene Management to an audience of 9th and 10th grade students.

1. Menstruation Health, Hygiene and Happy Women Poonam Relwani

2. Flow Past and Present A quick look at the numbers Menstrual Awareness Types of menstrual hygiene options available Use of the right tools Busting the myths - SHE is important Busting the stigma - HE is important Hygiene - For yourself Hygiene - For the environment Hygiene - For a peaceful mind

3. About Me Poonam Relwani Head Corporate Communication Sears Holdings India For Samaira Foundation

4. “Those Days”

5. That Era Those Days “Periods” / menstrual cycle - would be looked down upon with shame Lot of secrecy around the topic Men from Mythology to Modern India have tried to keep woman weak by citing “impurity” due to “periods”. Menstruating women were isolated and made to sit in one place without touching anything - lest it become “impure”

6. This Era Those Days Today, even the sanitary napkins are advertised openly. They don’t use the word “un dino” any more! Today, tampons, sanitary napkins, pads, periods, puberty, etc. are topics that have been brought out of the closet. Girls / Women are quite comfortable discussing about them. However, awareness is missing.

7. 28 th May International Menstrual Hygiene Day

8. Why the talk is necessary mandatory

9. Isn’t this a ‘women’s only’ topic?

10. 70% Of all reproductive diseases in women are caused by poor menstrual hygiene 1,50,000 Of all reproductive diseases in women are caused by poor menstrual hygiene

11. What does poor menstrual hygiene mean? Let’s decode it

12. Depends on several factors: Economical conditions Culture and thought process of a community Individual upbringing (education by parents) Access to /availability of hygiene management 43% of women in India have no access to sanitary pads 45% of women surveyed accepted that menstruation is still considered taboo in India Poor menstrual hygiene questions Do I know what is menstruation? My menstruation just started this year - am I comfortable with my body? What am I using for absorbing the menstrual fluid? How do I dispose of the used pad/cloth? How many times do I change the pad/cloth? How many times do I wash myself? How do I buy pads (if at all)?

13. Combating menstrual hygiene issues

14. Talk + Support + Celebrate The three-step formula

15. Talk about it RED is good (It’s not blue) Proud to be a woman Body’s natural capability to reproduce As natural as taking a restroom break This is nature’s call too Nothing to be ashamed about Know your body Understand the Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS)

16. Learn I, ME, MYSELF Understand your body’s cycle Record / use a Period Calendar Keep a spare napkin/tampom with you always Manage PMS by being aware of its symptoms and their occurence TALK, TALK, TALK Share your problems and seek support The Tools What to use? Sanitary Napkins Cloth Pads Tampons Menstrual Cup How to use? When to change? Cleaning and bathing Pain management PMS symptom management My Period, My Choice Asha is an athlete and finds tampons to be the best option for menstrual hygiene Priya is very concerned about the harmful effects of plastic on the earth. She has chosen menstrual cup for managing her periods

17. Educate Do your bit to help girls around you Spread the cheer, the pride and the awareness Pull those in the dark into the sunshine It’s no more TABOO

18. Support Schools, colleges, workplaces, offices must provide pads through dispensing systems and disposal mechanisms Institutions Policy Men Governments should include tax rebates for menstrual hygiene products Governments should make provision for safe disposal of menstrual waste Men should also receive education on the physical, biological and mental changes of the opposite gender

19. As a man, how can I support? Learn about what a woman goes through during her period Physical pain Psychological stress Shame Fear of spotting Understand PMS and learn to recognize in women Headaches Mood swings Stomach pain Irritability Nausea and Vertigo Read up on what other men have done to support women i n this area Arunachalam Muruganantham Anurag Chauhan Amol Prakash Mane Learn Support Show pride Do not ridicule / make fun of girls on this subject Show support and solidarity Be helpful and kind Respect when she needs space Upkeep of her dignity is your most important support For a girl, going through the process of puberty is as difficult as it is for a boy. You have been through it all too, haven’t you? Show pride in her journey from being a girl to becoming a woman Identify the feelings of taboo, shame etc around you - does your sister hide her sanitary napkins around you? Just one sentence, “It is okay” can do wonders. Promote hygienic options with your kith and kin Discourage negativity among other men around you

20. Celebrate 28th May World Menstrual Hygiene Day Talk about it Blog about it Group discussions Outreach Break taboos Break the stigma Each individual’s views upgraded becomes your success Popular hashtags: #menstruationmatters #stopthestigma #nomoretaboo #periodtalk #nomorelimits

21. Sustainable Menstruation Promoting health for the woman and the earth Non-biodegradable pads take 500 years to decompose Non-biodegradable pads contain cancer-causing DIOXINS 1 woman generates 175 kgs of menstrual waste in her menstruating lifetime

22. Sustainable Menstrual Hygiene Options Made of corn starch, bamboo and/or natural fiber Starts decomposing in 6 months Looks and feels exactly like a regular sanitary napkin Natural Pads Menstrual Cups Cloth Made of silicon Can be used for up to 10 years Economical and safe Leak proof Hygienic No solid waste Holds up to 40 ml of liquid No odour issues In today’s modern age, it’s easier to use cloth pads and period panties made specifically for the purpose. With washing machines and easier ways to maintain hygiene, one can consider going back to the older days of using cloth - albeit with a makeover

23. Menstrual Waste Disposal Do not use plastic to wrap your used pads - consider waste newspaper Do not burn used pads Do not discard with other waste Use separate bins meant only for menstrual waste and discard separately Best of all: Switch over to the best natural menstrual hygiene option - the menstrual Cup