Menstruation, also known as a period or monthly, is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. A Sanitary pad/towel is an absorbent pad/item worn by women to absorb menstrual blood. The disposable sanitary pad is far and away the most widely used method of menstrual management.
Disposable pads had their start with nurses using wood pulp bandages to catch their menstrual flow, creating a pad that was made from easily obtainable materials and inexpensive enough to throw away after use.
Close to 20 billion sanitary napkins, tampons, and applicators are dumped into North American landfills every year. When wrapped in plastic bags, feminine hygiene waste can take centuries to biodegrade. The average woman uses over 16,800 sanitary pads over her lifetime, leaving behind residue far beyond her lifespan.
Appropriate disposal of used menstrual material is still lacking in many countries of the world including Nigeria. Most of the countries have developed techniques to manage their fecal and urinary wastes but, because of lack of menstrual management practices in the world, most of the women dispose of their sanitary pads or other menstrual articles into domestic solid wastes or garbage bins that ultimately become a part of solid wastes.
A Sanitary pad or tampon should never be flushed down the toilet because it may clog the drainage system and lead to flooding of the toilet. After use, a disposable sanitary pad or a tampon should be wrapped in a newspaper or waste paper and put in a garbage bin.
It is also necessary to dispose of the contents of the garbage bin promptly because if the sanitary pad or a tampon is left in the garbage bin for a long time, then the menstrual fluid on these disposed products may get contaminated with germs and emit a foul smell. Hence, first, it is necessary to keep the garbage bin covered to prevent the foul smell from spreading in your house, and secondly, the contents of the garbage bin should be disposed of promptly to prevent the spread of diseases by flies and other insects that gather around these garbage bins. ALSO SEE: How To Dispose Placenta After Birth In Nigeria
The Right Way to Handle Menstruation.
The first thing to know is there’s no right or wrong way to handle menstruation. Every woman is different, and so is her body’s reaction to periods. That’s why there are so many types of sanitary pads to choose from. In addition, the kind of sanitary pad you choose depends on your personal preference and on what works best for your body and your period.
Here are some tips to get you started.
- The first time you get your period, you might want to try a regular-sized napkin (also known as a pad) or tampon.
- If the regular size seems to be filling up too quickly, then try a longer size pad.
- If after a few hours it looks like there’s not much blood there, then you can switch to a regular pad or a lesser absorbency tampon.
Your flow is not exactly the same throughout your period. Therefore, using the same sanitary napkin for all days might not seem like the best option. Some girls use two different types of sanitary pads with different absorbencies—one that can take care of their heavy days and a lighter absorbency napkin for their lighter days. There are also special pads for the nighttime. These are longer and wider at the back, so they can fully protect you while you move around in your sleep and offer you a night of worry-free sleep, even on those days. A preferred type of sanitary pad for a lot of women, however, is one with wings. These wings are meant to hold the pad in place throughout the day and make sure that there are no leakages. Apart from this, today you can find sanitary napkins that come with an odor lock technology that masks foul odor and keeps you feeling clean and fresh! See: Gynaecosid: Everything You Know
With the level of advancement in technology, the kinds of sanitary pads available in the market provide for almost all of your period-related concerns! Understand your body and your periods first, so that you can choose a sanitary pad that is a perfect match for your menstrual hygiene.
