MHM common Questions

Poor MHM affects girls’ education, health, and dignity. For example, girls may suffer from discomfort, endure teasing and shaming while at school, and face exclusion from everyday activities. Yet, some girls feel shy talking about menstruation because in most societies and cultures, speaking about menstruation is a taboo. As a girl, you should know that not speaking about menstruation will make it difficult for you to get adequate information on how to manage menstruation with dignity and to get support when needed.

1. Menstruation is surrounded by taboos and myths that make girls like you and women not participate in socio-cultural aspects of life but also makes them undertake unhygienic health practices that may lead to infections and other negative outcomes. Some of these myths include: big girls are the only ones who menstruate; you cannot get pregnant if you have sex during menstruation; sex cures painful menstruation; menstruation is a curse; and menstruation is dirty and unclean. Please know that all these myths are not true.

2. For example, girls can start menstruation as early as 8 years; you can get pregnant during ovulation when there is blood spotting which can be mistaken for menstruation; sex does not prevent menstrual pains; menstruation is not a curse, it is a normal body change in girls and women; and above all, menstruation is not dirty or unclean.

3. However, girls should ensure they maintain good personal hygiene such as changing sanitary pads, washing hands with soap and bathing regularly. This is because menstrual blood can start to smell when it comes in contact with air outside the girl or woman’s body. 

1. In order to understand menstruation, you have to know your menstrual cycle. A menstrual cycle is a process through which the female body releases mature eggs and prepares for fertilization. This cycle begins at puberty. The average menstrual cycle is usually around 28 days but some girls and women have a cycle of 21 and other up to 35 days. The first day of your is the first day of your cycle.

2. A period lasts from 3 to 7 days, but some women have shorter or longer periods and can be different from one partner to the next. The menstrual cycle for the girls during their first year or two is often irregular.

3. Irregular periods are when the number of days between periods or the numbers of days that you bleed is not the same or you are losing more or less blood than usual. Irregular periods are common and normal. A missed period does not always mean there is a problem, but if a woman or girl has three or more missed periods in a row, she should see a doctor. The most common reason for a missed period is pregnancy. Other reasons for having irregular periods can be high levels of stress, changes in body weight and malnutrition and underlying illnesses such as fibroids.

1. Pre-menstruation has a wide variety of signs and symptoms, including mood swings, tender breasts, food cravings, fatigue, irritability, fatigue and depression, among others.It’s estimated that as many as 3 of every 4 menstruating women have experienced some form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Conditions experienced by girls and women during menstruation include: abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, over bleeding, diarrhea, vomiting, and irritability, among others. You can manage these conditions by doing the following: using a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel and place it where there is pain; exercising to decrease bloating and improve your mental health; using a painkiller to reduce on the pain; drinking a lot of water, especially warm water; eating a balance diet; and getting enough rest. If symptoms persist, please seek medical advice.

2. You can manage these conditions by doing the following: using a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel and place it where there is pain; exercising to decrease bloating and improve your mental health; using a painkiller to reduce on the pain; drinking a lot of water, especially warm water; eating a balance diet; and getting enough rest. If symptoms persist, please seek medical advice.

There is a range of menstrual products available on the market and it is important for you to make informed decisions on what to use. There are disposable sanitary pads, ReUsable Menstrual Pads (RUMPs), menstrual cups and tampons. Cloth can also be a hygienic option to manage bleeding, when washed and stored properly. What is most important for you is that the product you choose to use should make you feel comfortable using it and easy to change frequently to avoid staining odour of infection.

Poor menstrual hygiene can lead to many other issues like fungal or bacterial infections of the reproductive tract and irritation of the skin that may cause discomfort and other vaginal diseases. It is important, therefore, that you avoid risks from unhygienic practices during menstruation by maintaining good hygiene practices such as bathing at least 2 or 3 times a day, shaving your private parts regularly and changing your menstrual products or pads. This will help you not get Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and other hygiene risks.

Boys and girls like you have different needs and priorities in terms of sanitation and hygiene facilities which should be considered in schools. For example, boys need urinals or separate latrines whereas girls need to have separate latrines, washrooms and changing rooms. The MoES encourages you to demand that you have these facilities in your school to be able to manage your