UNDERSTANDING MENSTRUATION

 

NOBODY SAW THAT BLOODED BODY
AS THEY WERE PASSING NEARBY,
BUT EVERYONE NOTICED THOSE
SMALL BLOOD STAINS ON HER SKIRT.

MENSTURATION:  It is also known as a period or monthly menses. It is regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. The first period usually begins between twelve and fifteen years of age, a point in time known as menarche.

Upto 80% of women report having some symptoms prior to menstruation. Common signs and symptoms include acne, tender breast, bloating , feeling tired , irritability and mood changes. These may interfere with normal lifestyle therefore qualifying as premenstrual syndrome in 20 to 30% of women in 3 to 8% symptoms are severe.

 THE HITORY OF PERIODS: HOW WOMEN HAVE DEALT WITH MENSTURATION THROUGH THE AGES:

• ·     ANCIENT MENSTURAL MYTHS: Women have experienced periods since before humans were completely evolved as a species. Despite this, there’s a very little documentation about women periods in ancient history probably due to the fact that most of the scribes were men who chose not to record mensturation.

What we know is that women likely experienced a much lighter menstrual cycle than we do today. Partly due to malnutrition and partly due to the 40. Today, women usually begin menopause around age 50.

Historian also believe that menstruating women were associated with magic and sorcery.

• ·     MENSTRUATION IN MEDIEVAL TIMES: Once again there isn’t a ton of documentation surrounding women period in the history of this time . historians generally conclude most medieval women used rags or other absorbent material during heavy periods. Otherwise many women would just free bleed into their clothes. At this time, there was a lot of religious shame surrounding periods so women went to insane lengths to hide their cycle from the public. They would carry little pouches of sweet- smelling herbs around their necks or waist to neutralize the smell of blood and they believed that burning a toad and wearing the ashes in a pouch around your waist would ease cramps and heavy flow.  
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HEALTH EFFECTS OF MENSTRUATION:

          ·    CRAMPS

          ·    MOOD AND BEHAVIOUR

          ·    BLEEDING

          ·    MENSTRUAL DISORDERS- There is a wide spectrum of differences in how women experience menstruation. There are several ways that someone’s menstrual cycle can differ from the norm.

         ·    SEXUAL ACTIVITY 

PAIN MANAGEMENT:  The most common treatment for menstrual cramps are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs). NSAIDs can be used to reduce moderate to severe pain and all appear similar. About 1 in 5 women donot respond to NSAIDs and require alternative therapy such as simple analgesics or heat pads. Other medications for pain management include aspirin or paracetamol and combined oral contraceptives. Although combined oral contraceptive may be used there is insufficient evidence for the efficacy of intrauterine progestogens. 

MENSTURAL MANAGEMENT:Menstrual products are made to absorb or to catch menstrual blood. A number of different products are available – some are disposable, some are reusable. Where women can afford it,items used to absorb or catch menses are usually commercially manufactured products.

There are disposable products:

• SANITARY NAPKINS 
  
  
  
• TAMPONS 

• MENSTRUAL CUPS 

• DISPOSABLE MENSTRUAL CUPS 
  
  
  
• REUSABLE CLOTH PAD 

 

•      PERIOD PROOF UNDERWEAR
  
  
  
•      SEA SPONGES
  
  
  
•       DRAW SHEET
  

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE : In developing countries , women experience the lack of access to affordable menstrual hygiene products in addition to a lack of access to other services such as sanitation and waste disposal systems needed to manage their menstrual cycles. Lack of access to waste disposal leads women to throw used products in toilet systems, pit latrines or discarded in to open areas such as bodies of water. These practices pose dangers to workers who handle these wastes as it increases possible exposure to bloodborne infections in soaked menstrual products and exposure to chemicals found in menstrual hygiene products. Inappropriate disposal also creates pressures on sanitation systems as menstrual hygiene products create sewage blockages . The effects of these inadequate facilities has been shown to have social effects on girls in developing countries leading to school absenteeism.

 CONCLUSION :  Menstrual blood is the only source of blood that is not traumatically induced. Yet in modern society this is the most hidden blood,the one so rarely spoken of and almost never seen,except privately by women.

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