PERSONAL HYGIENE FOR WOMEN (Part 6 of 8) Menstrual Hygiene

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Welcome the participants.
• Remind the participants of the purpose of the course.
• Introduce today’s session (objective and how long it will be).

Ice-breaking game (10 minutes)

• Ask the participants to stand in a circle.
• One will volunteer to stand in the middle of the circle.
• The person in the middle will say color or accessory. For example, “If you are wearing blue” or “If you are wearing a dress.”
• The people who match that description will quickly try to swap places with another individual who matches that description. The person in the middle must also try to find a space so that one is left in the middle.
• This new person in the middle now will do the same for example, “If you are wearing earrings” or “If you are wearing green clothes”.
• Continue like this at least 5 times.

Main activity (70 minutes)

Part 1: Review of last workshop (10 minutes)

• Show them the picture that they drew in the last workshop and ask them if they remember what we discussed in our last workshop. Encourage everyone to participate.

Part 2: Learning about Menstruation (30 minutes)

Ask everyone to sit in a circle and explain to them that we are now going to talk about menstruation. Explain:

• What is menstruation

Menstruation is a normal vaginal bleeding that is a natural part of a healthy woman’s monthly cycle. Every month, in the years between puberty (the time from when the period starts, usually the age of 10 to 14) and menopause (the time when the period stops, usually the age between 45 to 55).

Puberty is the time in life when children are becoming adults. The body changes, at a rhythm that is different for everyone. For boys, their voices change, they grow hair on their face and body for example. For girls, the body changes, they grow hair and they start to have their menstruation.

The time between periods (last day to the first day) typically averages 28 days, with bleeding typically lasting around 2 to 7 days.

The average age for a girl to get her first period is 12. This does not mean that all girls start at the same age.

Women usually have periods until menopause which occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, usually around age 50. Menopause means that a woman is no longer ovulating (producing eggs) or having periods and can no longer get pregnant. Like menstruation, menopause can vary from woman to woman and these changes may occur over several years.

The most important thing to remember is that menstruation is a natural process for females and never to regard yourself as impure when you have it. The menstruation process is part of being a female.

• Why women have menstruation

A period is when a woman’s body releases tissues that are no longer needed. This tissue comes from the uterus, which is where a baby develops in the female body. The uterus is located in the lower abdomen of the woman’s body. Every month or so, the uterus lining gets thicker to prepare for a fertilized egg if the woman becomes pregnant. If the egg doesn’t get fertilized, that lining is released from the body as blood through the vagina. This monthly process is called menstruation or a period.

•  Why men do not have a period

Male and female body in different ways. For example, only women are able to get pregnant and have babies. Male have different reproductive organs. As a result, men do not have a period and therefore cannot get pregnant.

• What are the additional symptoms?

Besides the bleeding, other symptoms of menstruation may happen. It can provoke head pain, low abdomen pain, women can be more tired than usual, have a food craving,s or breast soreness. It can also have an effect on the mood: being more sensitive, or easily angry for example.

Part 3: Menstrual Management (20 minutes)

• Show the picture 5.1 and 2 and ask the participants to explain what they understand seeing the pictures

(encourage everyone to participate)

• Explain picture 5.1 and 5.2 by pointing out one after one:
  • Take a long fast walk or do other light exercises. this can help to relieve pain
  • Drink enough water when you have your menstruations
  • Get a good night’s sleep during the period, as girls may find themselves more tired than usual.
  • Change sanitary napkins every 4-6 hours is the cardinal rule to establish vaginal hygiene.
  • Wash your female genital part regularly is extremely important. Remember to wash your female genital part with water and a little bit of soap. Too much soap can be too aggressive. Make sure the water is not too hot and remember to rinse off all the soap. Do not try to clean inside your vagina because that might create an infection in the area
  • Do not use deodorants or perfumes on the genitals; this will cause irritation and rashes.
  • Clean the menstrual clothes in cold water and finally drying them directly in the sunlight
  • Wash hands each time after going to the washroom
  • Females should be prepared and keep track of when their periods are. This will help them be better prepared and help prevent accidental leakage in their underwear.
  • Females can take painkillers on the most painful days, After seeing a caregiver in a clinic or a hospital.

 

Part 4: Use of sanitary Pad/Clothes (10 minutes)

• The vagina is able to clean itself; no special care is needed other than washing the external genitals. Washing the outer genital area with clean water must be a daily practice. Change sanitary napkins or pads regularly. Always wash your hands before and after handling a pad. Clean and soft cloths can be used in place of sanitary pads. The use of dirty clothes must be discouraged. Menstrual blood-absorbing items must be properly disposed of in a burial pit or other appropriate method.

• Ask if anyone has any queries.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

• Thank the participants for their involvement and concentration during the session.
• Summarize what was learned during the session (how to maintain menstrual management)
• Collect feedback from the participants by asking questions like: “Do you feel like you learn something during the session?” “Do you think this new knowledge can be useful to you?” “Were you comfortable during the session?”
• Give the participants the date and the location of the next session, make sure everybody will be available. If not, find a more convenient time and place so everybody can be here.