Poor Menstrual hygiene can have medical implications — inadequate hygiene can lead to UTIs and, in extreme cases, reproductive damage. Not having access to hygiene products can mean women can not keep themselves clean, and can not safely leave home to go to school or even work. This socio-economic problem is not limited to developing parts of the world.
I remember hearing a story about a homeless woman that resonated with me. I never had “regular” periods, which was much worse when I was younger. Having my period start unexpectedly — that feeling in the pit of my stomach, the fear of embarrassment, and the discomfort is both physical and emotional — teenage trauma returning to haunt me. All of that was temporary. It lasted only until I could find a drugstore and a restroom or get to my car and make it home. At the very worse was a ruined pair of pants. Now imagine you have none of those things. Imagine not having access to toilet paper, let alone anything else. Consider not having ready access to clean water to wash up with or an easy way to change and launder your clothes. It may sound silly to some, but to this day, I live in actual fear of leaking in public. I come from the tail end of a generation that equated menstruation with shame and dirtiness when any form of strong emotions, no matter how justified, could elicit a “you must be on your period” comment (most frequently from an arrogant man). Even being seen buying tampons was uncomfortable.
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