The Role of Hygiene In Preventing Menstrual Infections

Menstrual infections are common among women of all ages. From yeast infections during or before your periods to urinary tract infections, menstrual infections can come in different types and adversely affect your health. There is still limited awareness regarding menstrual hygiene in India, which leads to thousands of women falling victim to these infections every year. These infections, if left untreated, can lead to poor menstrual health, fertility problems, and even renal failure and kidney stones in some cases. Preventing menstrual infections is possible by following thorough menstrual hygiene tips. Several best practices for menstrual hygiene can help you keep yourself safe against these infections. 

So, this Menstrual Hygiene Day, let’s raise awareness about menstrual hygiene management and share hygiene tips that will help you prevent common menstrual infections.

10 Menstrual Hygiene Tips You Must Follow To Keep Yourself Safe From Infections
 

Focus on Your Diet

Diet and hygiene may not seem connected, but they can be when it comes to preventing infections. A healthy diet can improve your immunity and help your body prevent infections from the get-go. Eating home-cooked meals that contain the right amounts of nutrients, proteins, and carbohydrates can help you live a healthier and more active life. Combining good hygiene practices with a healthy diet helps you prevent infections and maintain proper menstrual health.

Use Warm Water When Washing Your Intimate Regions

Using warm water to clean your intimate region is a common practice, especially when you are going through your period. This practice is believed to clear out bad bacteria that may be growing in your intimate region and ease muscle tension to relieve any soreness or pain you may be experiencing during menstrual periods. The same practice is useful and safe after sexual activity, and it reduces your risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections.

Drink Plenty of Water Everyday

Drinking lots of water daily can help make your periods less uncomfortable, as it helps relieve symptoms like bloating. The ICMR recommends drinking around two litres of water daily for adult women. Drinking plenty of water ensures your renal system functions properly, reducing your risk of kidney stone formation or urinary tract infections.

Make Sure Your Undergarments Are Dry

If you sweat a lot or are required to work outdoors, which leads to a lot of sweat, the sweat can get absorbed by your undergarments. Wet undergarments, especially those soaked in sweat, give rise to the growth of bacteria, which can cause infections in your intimate regions. This is why it is extremely important to ensure your undergarments are dry. If you use a wet cloth as a sanitary napkin during periods, you must stop that practice immediately.

Use Breathable Fabric Undergarments

To follow up on the previous point, make sure you use undergarments made of cotton or specialised cotton that has been treated as antimicrobial and antibacterial. Various synthetic modern fabrics, such as spandex, are used to make undergarments; if you are comfortable wearing them and they suit your body, you can also use them. The key is to find light and breathable undergarments to ensure appropriate air flow to your nether regions, ensuring the area remains dry throughout the day.

Avoid Using Soaps or Vaginal Sprays

The vagina is a self-cleaning organ, so why are there so many intimate cleaning products available in the market? People are accustomed to using soaps to clean any part of their body, and the same assumption applies to cleaning intimate regions. So, long story short, do not use these products as much as you can help it. While they are not particularly harmful, they can lead to the intimate area becoming too dry and changing the natural pH balance of your intimate area. The odour of these products can also irritate the region, which can increase your risk of infections.

Use The Right Sanitary Products

Scented products, as mentioned previously, can irritate your vaginal region leading to an increased risk of infections. This can be dealt with by choosing the right sanitary products. Regardless of whether you use sanitary napkins or tampons, make sure you choose unscented and hypoallergenic products. You can also use menstrual cups during periods as they are safer comparatively and, if used correctly, minimise the risk of infections.

Do Not Use Tampons Overnight

If you use tampons, it is important to note that they must be changed every few hours. Based on your flow and the instructions on the tampon packaging, you should most preferably change tampons every four to six hours. If you use tampons overnight, they can increase the risk of infections, as toxic shock syndrome sets in if you wear a tampon for over eight hours.

Change Sanitary Products Regularly

Just like tampons, sanitary products like napkins/pads or menstrual cups also need to be changed regularly. If you fail to change them in the recommended time, it increases the risk of infections in your vaginal region, negatively impacting your menstrual health and hygiene. Wearing the same pad for long hours beyond eight hours increases the risk of bacteria development, which can significantly increase your risk of infections.

Monitor Signs of Infection

The last step for menstrual hygiene management is monitoring the signs of infections and getting them treated at the earliest stage possible. There are several types of vaginal infections and urinary tract infections, which can present themselves with symptoms like vaginal discharge that has a foul smell, discharge that’s a different colour, or inflammation and redness in the region. These symptoms need to be monitored properly and if you are experiencing any such physical symptoms, you need to get checked by a gynaecologist, as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Preventing menstrual infections is possible with simple hygiene tips that can help you live a healthier and more fulfilling life. So, on this menstrual hygiene day, let’s spread awareness about these simple menstrual hygiene tips that can help you live a life without the risk of infections. 

For more information about common gynecological problems or gynaecological infections, check out MASSH. We specialise in the treatment of all types of gynaecological problems with the latest minimally invasive surgical procedures. We are also proud to be working with the top gynecologist in Delhi, so if you want to consult with our specialists, visit us today.