Period

What is Menstrual Equity?
The most commonly recognized definition refers to the affordability, accessibility and safety of menstrual products. But menstrual equity is not just defined by products — it is also about education and reproductive care. It’s about making sure that people have the needs, support, and choices to decide how they want to take care of their menstrual health. And it’s about finally ending the stigma around periods that has prevented not only decision-makers, but also healthcare providers, educators and individuals from ensuring that menstrual health is a priority.

https://womensvoices.org/what-does-menstrual-equity-mean-to-you/ #:~:text=What%20is%20Menstrual%20Equity%3F,about%20education%20and%20reproductive%20care.

Providing a girl with underwear and sanitary pads may increase her chances of staying in school more than 30%.

Pads are rectangles of absorbent material that attach to the inside of a girl's underwear and catch menstrual blood. They're sometimes also called sanitary pads or sanitary napkins. Some pads have extra material on the sides. These "wings" fold over the edges of your underwear to help hold the pad in place and prevent leaking.
Pads should be changed every 3–4 hours, even if you have a light flow. Regular changing prevents buildup of bacteria and stops odor. If you have a heavier flow, you might need to change pads more often to make sure you don't leak.

https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/supplies.html
Pic : GlobalGiving

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has a wide variety of signs and symptoms, including mood swings, tender breasts, food cravings, fatigue, irritability and depression. It's estimated that as many as 3 of every 4 menstruating women have experienced some form of premenstrual syndrome.
Symptoms tend to recur in a predictable pattern. But the physical and emotional changes you experience with premenstrual syndrome may vary from just slightly noticeable all the way to intense.

Emotional and Behavioral signs and symptoms :

•Tension or anxiety
•Depressed mood
•Crying spells
•Mood swings and irritability or anger
•Appetite changes and food cravings
•Trouble falling asleep (insomnia)
•Social withdrawal
•Poor concentration
•Change in libido

Physical Signs and Symptoms :

•Joint or muscle pain
•Headache
•Fatigue
•Weight gain related to fluid retention
•Abdominal bloating
•Breast tenderness
•Acne flare-ups
•Constipation or diarrhea
•Alcohol intolerance

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/premenstrual-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20376780 #:~:text=Premenstrual%20syndrome%20(PMS)%20has%20a,some%20form%20of%20premenstrual%20syndrome.

Some healthy ways to Period
🩸Less phone time (or turn off) and turn your body onto power saving mode for this week, even if its the slightest change of choosing to go to bed with your phone in another room, or choosing to have no phone an hour before bedtime.

🩸Sleep more! Allowing your body that extra rest - even if thats going to bed 15min earlier than usual or setting your morning alarm a little later. Your body requires more rest in this stage of your menstrual cycle

🩸Put your feet up, take a moment to literally do nothing. Maybe read a book or write in a journal or allow yourself to just day dream out the window - there is so much magic in allowing ourselves to just do nothing

🩸Wear comfortable clothing - this will make you feel good & snug as well as support your body. Tight clothing can be a discomfort to bloating or cramping.

🩸 Create a nice space alone (if possible) to watch your favourite movie or show & eat your favourite snacks - Helpful foods during mensuration are dark chocolate, fruits, nuts & try to avoid high sugar foods, caffeine, alcohol & salt

🩸Use Plastic & chemical free period products, better for your body & better our earth

🩸Use relaxing essential oils to defuse or rub on body (rub on back of neck, behind ears, wrists & temples) Rose & Lavender are particularly great. Peppermint rubbed on tummy can support with cramping

🩸Allow yourself to rest more & say no to the non-essential things for that week - or at the very least the first couple of days of your bleed

Dysmenorrhea, also known as period pain, painful periods or menstrual cramps, is pain during menstruation. Its usual onset occurs around the time that menstruation begins.

So here are the quick steps to reduce menstrual pain instantly;
If you’re in the midst of intense menstrual cramping and looking for quick and instant period pain relief, your best route would be to opt for the heating pads and warmth, ginger or red raspberry leaf tea, magnesium oil or warm epsom salt baths, and allowing yourself to take it easy and rest.

While these methods are both natural and effective, the more you work on balancing your hormones through lifestyle changes, the less likely you are to have menstrual cramps or symptomatic periods down the road, helping you feel and look your best all month long.

source: sofreshngreen

The person's period blood color can help us to give a sign on women's vital health.
The body sheds tissue and blood from the uterus through the va**na. The Colors of the blood are depending on the cases that women are going through.
Health conditions and hormonal changes can also affect the blood color of our menstruation.
COLORS OF THE BLOOD :
Black - An old blood, may appear on beginning or in the end of the period. At first it is turning brown or dark red and then eventually becoming black. This can be also a sign that there's a blockage in your va**na.
Brown or dark red - An old blood, may appear on beginning or in the end of the period. The blood is not oxidized enough and may appear on different shades and can be an early sign of being pregnant. We can indicate also if you are miscarriage or having an ectopic pregnancy.
Lochia - Occurs after giving birth. This is the way that the our body is expelling the bloods and tissue. It may be bright red at first and as the blood decrease it appears in darker shades.
Bright red - Fresh blood and a steady flow. May start bright at first then darker at the end.
Pink - this occurs if the blood was mixed with cervical fluid, using birth control that lower the estrogen and sexual in*******se that creates a small tears in va**na. Having pink blood may also a sign that you have unhealthful diet, anemia and having weight loss.
Orange blood - Can be a bacterial infection. If you are having an orange blood it is better to see a doctor.
Gray - a sign also of bacterial infection. This is an imbalance between the beneficial and harmful bacteria in the va**na.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324848

MENSTRUAL HYGIENE IS EMPOWERMENT!💗✨🩸

Choose a period product that works well for you. It’s important to be comfortable and be “hiyang” with your chosen period product. Don’t be afraid to explore and try new products. Prioritize your comfort and hygiene over everything else ladies!

(PS. Click to see the full image)

MENSTRUATION IS A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE📢

“Because of social taboo and gender stereotypes that stigmatize menstruation as dirty, many people experience menstruation with shame and without access to the resources needed to manage their menstrual health safely,” she said. “Menstruation is a human rights issue. It is also a public health and development issue.”

Removing the shame and stigma from menstruation “In every region of the world, young feminist activists have been leading grass-root campaigns and initiatives, including in social media, to challenge stigma, taboos, gender inequality and period poverty,” said Michelet Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights during the 50th session Hum...

The menstrual hygiene in some countries are unmet because of some circumstances that makes women ashamed to their self and experience stigma in the society with the cause of discriminatory social norms, social taboos and poverty.
With this problem women who suffers with bad menstrual hygiene has its own consequences to their health, it can lead to reproductive and urinary tract infections, infertility and bacterial infection.

The UNICEF has a four keys to improve the menstrual health and hygiene which is the :
1. Social Support
2. Knowledge and Skills
3. Facilities and services
4. Access to absorbent materials and supportive supplies.

Menstrual hygiene Gender inequality, cultural taboos and poverty can cause menstrual health needs to go unmet.