Once a month, all women of childbearing age have their period and have to deal with the issue of menstrual hygiene. Even in our modern times, women’s menstruation is still a shameful topic.
What is menstrual hygiene?
The generic term menstrual hygiene includes all products that serve to effectively collect menstrual blood once a month. For example, a menstrual cap. The generic term menstrual hygiene covers all products that serve to effectively collect menstrual blood once a month and hide it from the outside world. Female menstruation has always been a subject of shame and myth. Products for menstrual hygiene are either worn in the underwear, such as sanitary towels, or the blood is already collected in the body, as is the case with tampons, sponges or menstrual cups. Menstrual hygiene products ensure that underwear is protected and allow women to live a normal life during their period.
Forms, types and kinds
There are a number of different products on the market:
Sanitary napkins are the longest-used menstrual hygiene products in the history of menstrual hygiene. While cloth sanitary napkins that were washed again after use were mostly used in the past, disposable sanitary napkins that are attached with adhesive strips in the panties and absorb the blood have become popular today. They come in different varieties and sizes, depending on the strength of the menstrual period. Tampons, small sticks of compressed absorbent cotton that expand on contact with fluid and absorb it, are popular. They are inserted into the vagina with or without an insertion device and absorb the blood. Wearing tampons does not restrict women; they can even go swimming with them. Another option are small menstrual sponges, which are also inserted into the vagina and absorb the blood from the inside. They are rinsed out and reinserted as needed. However, sponges do not come close to the absorbency of tampons. A relatively new inexpensive and environmentally conscious method is a menstrual cup made of natural rubber or silicone. It does not absorb the blood, but catches it at the cervix. When the cup is filled, it can be emptied in the toilet, rinsed with water and reinserted.
Structure and mode of operation
Sanitary napkins, which are mainly disposable, are made of soft non-woven or plastic material, in which there is a so-called ultra core made of small plastic crystals with a high absorbency, which absorbs the blood and stores it inside the pad until it needs to be changed. Sanitary napkins are available in different sizes and thicknesses, with or without fragrance and more or less permeable to air. They are stuck into the panties with an adhesive strip. Tampons are made of compressed absorbent cotton with a different colored tape attached to the bottom end so that the tampon can be easily removed from the vagina for changing. As it absorbs blood from the uterus, the tampon expands until it reaches its capacity. Then it can be removed with the help of the tape and disposed of in the trash. Tampons should not be changed too often because the mucous membranes will dry out, but they should also not remain in the vagina for more than 8 hours because of a potential risk of infection. Menstrual sponges as an environmentally friendly and inexpensive alternative to tampons are small natural sponges that can be cut to size. Due to the soft material, they can optimally adapt to the conditions in the vagina and last for about a year. They have a natural antibacterial effect and are also suitable for women with sensitive skin or allergies due to the natural material. Menstrual cups, still a fairly unknown alternative, combine the positive properties of the pad and the tampon. They are made of natural rubber or silicone and have a cup-shaped appearance. They are placed at the cervix like a tampon, but catch the blood like a sanitary napkin, thus sparing the mucous membranes
Medical and health benefits
Which method a woman chooses usually depends on her individual preferences and comfort level.All methods have in common that they catch the blood from the uterus, which would otherwise flow out and be visible. Women who do a lot of sports usually prefer tampons, because through their use the days are hardly noticeable. Tampons allow all movements and also swimming, which is not possible when using pads. However, some women prefer traditional pads because they have less of the feeling of congestion that makes some women dislike using tampons. However, women who use tampons regularly sometimes also have the problem that the vagina becomes dry and sensitive due to the use of tampons. However, tampons do not cause the problem of odor that can occur when using pads. But here it also depends on the general intimate hygiene during the period. Sponges take some getting used to for many women because their absorbency does not approach that of tampons. Menstrual cups are not familiar to most women. Like sponges, they are an environmentally conscious alternative. When using sponges and cups, special attention must be paid to hygiene because of their reusability.
