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Business Standard
28-05-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025: Why periods must never limit access or dignity
Every month, over 2 billion people across the world bleed, but not everyone can talk about it, let alone manage it with dignity. That's why Menstrual Hygiene Day has become a global movement to bring the spotlight to an often-overlooked but vital issue: menstrual health. From breaking taboos to building infrastructure that improves access to hygiene products and better menstrual health for all girls, women, transgender men, and non-binary persons, the day calls for a future where periods are no longer a problem, but just a part of life. What is menstrual hygiene? Menstruation is a natural biological process in which the uterus sheds its lining, resulting in blood and tissue passing out of the body through the vagina. Menstrual hygiene refers to the practices and conditions that allow individuals to manage their periods safely and with dignity. This includes access to clean and effective menstrual products (like pads, tampons, or menstrual cups), privacy to change them as needed, and facilities to properly dispose of used products. Menstrual Hygiene Day: History Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is observed every year on May 28 to raise awareness about the importance of good menstrual hygiene management. It was initiated by the German-based NGO WASH United in 2013 when a 28-day social media campaign was launched to spread awareness around different aspects of menstruation. Motivated by the positive response, Menstrual Hygiene Day was observed for the first time on May 28, 2014, with rallies, exhibitions, workshops, and speeches. The choice of May 28 is symbolic: May is the fifth month of the year, representing the average length of a menstrual cycle (five days), and 28 signifies the average number of days in a menstrual cycle. What is the theme of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025? The theme for Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025 is ' Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld ', urging collective action to ensure that menstruation does not limit access to education, health, or opportunity. This theme underlines the global commitment to eliminate the stigma surrounding menstruation and ensure that by 2030, menstruation is recognised as a normal and healthy part of life. Also Read Why is Menstrual Hygiene Day important? According to UN Women, Menstrual Hygiene Day holds significance as it plays a crucial role in: Breaking taboos: Encouraging open conversations about menstruation to dismantle long-standing myths and stigmas. Promoting education: Ensuring that individuals, especially young girls, have access to accurate information about menstrual health. Improving access: Advocating for better access to menstrual products and sanitation facilities. What is the mission of Menstrual Hygiene Day? The mission of MH Day is to create a world where menstruation is accepted as a normal part of life. This involves ensuring that everyone has access to quality menstrual products, period-friendly toilets, and accurate information about menstruation. By fostering a period-friendly environment, MH Day aims to empower individuals to manage menstruation without shame or barriers. What is the status of menstrual hygiene in India? India has made significant strides in improving menstrual hygiene, but challenges remain. According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21), only 27.7 per cent of women had access to all four essential Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) resources, which include using appropriate period products, an improved unshared toilet, water within the premises, and soap at the handwashing point. On the use of menstrual hygiene products, NFHS-5 says that only 78 per cent of women aged 15–24 use hygienic methods of menstrual protection, and about 50 per cent of these use cloth. NFHS-5 further revealed that the lowest percentage of women using hygienic methods of menstrual protection are in Bihar (59 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (61 per cent), and Meghalaya (65 per cent). What are the common menstrual products that can ensure hygiene during periods? Menstrual pads Menstrual cups Organic cotton tampons Period panties Reusable cloth pads How to maintain hygiene during menstruation? Maintaining proper menstrual hygiene is key to preventing infections and ensuring comfort during your period. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), here are some important guidelines: Wash your hands before and after handling any menstrual product. Never flush menstrual products; wrap them in toilet paper and dispose of them in a covered bin. Change sanitary pads every few hours, even with light flow. Replace tampons every 4 to 8 hours to reduce the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). Clean menstrual cups daily during your period and sterilise them after use. Wear breathable cotton underwear and practise front-to-back cleaning. Stay hydrated to support your body during menstruation. How does menstrual hygiene impact health? Proper menstrual hygiene is vital for the overall health and well-being of women and girls: Physical health: Poor menstrual hygiene can lead to infections such as UTIs and reproductive tract infections. Mental health: Stigma and lack of support can cause stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Education: Inadequate facilities in schools can lead to absenteeism during periods. Economic impact: Missing school or work due to menstrual issues can have long-term economic consequences. What can be done to improve menstrual hygiene? To enhance menstrual hygiene management: Education: Implement menstrual education in schools and communities. Access to products: Ensure availability and affordability of menstrual products. Infrastructure: Develop period-friendly sanitation facilities in public spaces. Policy support: Governments should prioritise menstrual health and allocate resources accordingly. According to the National Health Mission of India, improving menstrual hygiene is not just a health issue, it's a matter of dignity, equality, and human rights. It urges people to come together this Menstrual Hygiene Day to promote awareness, dignity, and safe practices. For more health updates, follow #HealthWithBS
News18
28-05-2025
- Health
- News18
Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025: Why Social Media Deserves Credit For The Day?
Last Updated: Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025: A German-based NGO named WASH United began a 28-day social media campaign to generate awareness about menstrual hygiene. Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025: Menstrual Hygiene is a fundamental right of every woman and their dignity. (File Pic) Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025: Menstrual Hygiene, one of the most vital components of women's empowerment, is much more than just the use of sanitary napkins and clean toilets. It determines the overall well-being of all menstruating women around the world. Menstrual hygiene is a fundamental right of every woman and their dignity. Hence, Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated annually on May 28 to make people aware of the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM). Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025: Theme Instead of picking up a theme for every year, the Menstrual Hygiene Day awareness campaign has already embarked on a long-term mission. The aim behind the special day is to make more and more people aware of menstrual hygiene so as to turn routine practices of menstruation into part of normal life by 2030. Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025: History Menstrual Hygiene Day was observed for the first time on May 28, 2014. It was initiated in 2012 by several organisations involved in public health with a mission to break the taboos of society regarding MHM. Why Social Media Deserves Credit For The Day? In 2013, a German-based NGO named WASH United began a 28-day social media campaign to generate awareness about the same. They pointed towards grassroots-level issues like sanitation and hygiene on various social media platforms like Twitter, garnering a considerable amount of positive feedback from the netizens. Finally, on May 28, 2014, many people around the world celebrated the day for the first time with rallies, exhibitions, movie screenings, workshops and speeches, as well as many such hashtag campaigns on social media. These initiatives also helped the men tackle the social stigma and help the menstruating ladies embrace the cycle as pride instead of shame, as per a report by Wayback Machine. Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025: Significance Various celebrations are carried out on this day to create a world, where everyone who menstruates, feels confident. Furthermore, open discussions about menstrual hygiene promote gender equality. MHD empowers people and helps in busting any myths and misconceptions about periods. The day is also an important way to raise awareness of period poverty and the need for various hygienic products like sanitary napkins or private places to menstruate. What Activities Are Done To Promote Awareness Of Menstrual Hygiene? The following practices are followed in order to celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day and promote awareness about the same — Expert-led educational webinars are organised to promote the well-being of menstruating women and girls. Workshops promote the usage of sustainable menstrual products without any shame. Panel discussions involving healthcare professionals and activists, as well as policymakers and the common public, are hosted to look into remote places that need more focus for the awareness of menstrual hygiene. Community participation, like rallies or campaigns on social media, to promote awareness of the same. Period-friendly toilets and access to period products should also be checked regularly. First Published: May 28, 2025, 07:10 IST
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025: Date, theme, significance — all you need to know
International Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025: Menstrual hygiene is much more than simply the use of sanitary napkins and access to clean toilets. It is a fundamental right for every woman and an essential aspect of their dignity, which significantly impacts the overall well-being of all menstruating women globally. This is why WASH United initiated a global day dedicated to menstruation: Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day), marked on 28 May since 2014. Since then, MH Day has been observed annually and, over the past decade, has developed into a global movement to raise awareness about the significance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM). This year, Menstrual Hygiene Day will be observed on Wednesday, 28 May 2025, under the theme 'Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld', which highlights that menstruation is no longer associated with stigma or taboos in a #PeriodFriendlyWorld. It aims to build a world where everyone has access to the necessities, comprehensive period education, menstrual health services, and infrastructure that supports menstrual hygiene and practices. 'Together' is crucial because no one individual can address the challenges that women* face related to their menstruation; however, when we unite, we can make a difference. Every year, this day raises awareness on menstruation through social media campaigns, events, and media coverage and puts the spotlight on global organisations to take action through the implementation of new policies and programmes.
