Menstrual Hygiene: Your Guide to Sustainable, Zero Waste Periods

Menstrual hygiene remains a topic of great importance for women and adolescent girls in India, where open conversations about periods are only beginning to take place. As awareness grows, so do the ways we approach menstrual hygiene, with more focus on sustainability and mindful choices.

This guide explores how zero-waste period products can support better menstrual health, reduce environmental impact, and help women experience their periods with comfort and confidence.

What is Menstrual Health and Hygiene?

Menstrual health isn’t just about managing periods. It shows a woman’s overall physical, emotional, and social well-being during menstruation. Understanding menstrual hygiene is an important part of that.

Menstrual hygiene refers to the everyday practices that help maintain cleanliness and prevent infection during a period. This includes washing the genital area with care, changing sanitary products regularly, and disposing of them safely.

But menstrual hygiene isn’t only about staying clean. It also involves feeling comfortable, having access to the right products, and making informed choices about how to manage your period.

Physical and Mental Effects of Poor Menstrual Hygiene

Neglecting proper menstrual hygiene can have lasting effects on a woman’s health. Physically, poor menstrual practices may lead to:

• Skin irritation and rashes caused by long-term use of damp or unclean sanitary materials.
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs), with symptoms such as a burning sensation during urination, pelvic pain, and frequent urges to urinate.
• Reproductive tract infections that can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes, leading to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), chronic pelvic pain, and sometimes infertility.
• Toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare but life-threatening condition caused by bacterial toxins when tampons or menstrual cups are left in for too long (more than eight hours).
• An increased risk of cervical cancer due to repeated infections and poor menstrual hygiene practices.

Psychologically, the lack of safe menstrual care can lead to feelings of shame, anxiety, and social withdrawal. Young girls may miss school, women may be unable to attend work, and their confidence can gradually decrease. These effects are often increased by stigma and limited access to menstrual care resources.

Types of Menstrual Hygiene Products

There is a wide variety of menstrual hygiene products and practices available across the country that meet different needs and preferences.

Each product comes with its benefits and drawbacks, so understanding them is key to choosing a sustainable, safe, and comfortable menstrual hygiene solution.

Why Menstrual Hygiene Is Important

The importance of menstrual hygiene is vital for women and girls in India. Maintaining proper hygiene:

• Helps prevent infections and physical discomfort
• Supports self-esteem and emotional well-being
• Enables full participation in social, academic, and economic activities
• Reduces the risk of reproductive health complications
• Promotes awareness of bodily autonomy and rights

Neglecting menstrual hygiene can have both immediate and long-term consequences.

Causes of Poor Menstrual Hygiene

Here are some common causes of menstrual hygiene neglect across India:

• Limited access to affordable menstrual products
• Lack of privacy and safe washing facilities at home or in schools
• Insufficient knowledge about menstrual hygiene management
• Social taboos and misinformation that prevent open discussions
• Financial constraints leading to the reuse of unsanitary products

Menstrual Hygiene Management

Menstrual hygiene management refers to a comprehensive approach that ensures menstruation is managed safely and with dignity. It combines three key elements: education, access to suitable products, and supportive infrastructure. This means providing reliable information about menstrual health, making affordable and safe menstrual products available, and ensuring that every menstruator has access to clean, private spaces for changing and disposing of used materials.

Best practices in menstrual hygiene management include:

• Regularly changing pads or other menstrual products

• Washing hands before and after each change
• Proper disposal or cleaning of used items
• Encouraging open dialogue about menstrual care in families, workplaces, and schools
• Providing accurate and age-appropriate education about menstruation and menstrual care
• Seeking medical advice for persistent discomfort or unusual symptoms
• Encouraging policies and community efforts that reduce stigma and support menstrual equity
• Promoting access to healthcare and guidance for menstrual-related concerns

Benefits of Sustainable Periods

Shifting to sustainable period practices offers several important benefits:

• Reduces environmental impact. Most disposable pads and tampons contain plastic, which can take centuries to decompose.
• Saves money over time. Reusable products can last for years, reducing the need for frequent purchases.
• Minimises chemical exposure. Sustainable alternatives often avoid the additives and synthetic materials found in some mainstream products.
• Encourages informed, conscious choices about menstrual care and personal health.
• Promotes self-reliance, as management becomes less dependent on continual purchasing and disposal.

Sustainable menstrual hygiene is an essential step toward holistic well-being and environmental responsibility.

Tips About Sustainable Period

Here are some menstrual hygiene tips for adopting zero-waste periods:

• Start with small changes. Try a cloth pad or menstrual cup for one cycle to see what works best for you.
• Monitor your comfort and hygiene. Change or wash products regularly to stay clean and prevent irritation.
• Explore period panties or other eco-friendly options if cups or pads aren’t suitable.
• Involve family members or friends in conversations to normalise sustainable menstrual care.
• Store and carry reusable products in breathable, hygienic pouches or containers.
• Use mild, fragrance-free soap and clean water when washing reusable products.
• Dry reusable items in sunlight whenever possible, as it helps disinfect naturally.
• Keep a small waterproof pouch for carrying used items when outside the home.
• Track your cycle and prepare in advance so you always have clean, ready-to-use products.
• Dispose of non-reusable waste responsibly, following local waste management guidelines.

Remember, sustainability is a gradual process. Choose habits that suit your lifestyle, comfort, and surroundings, and make changes at your own pace.

Sustainable Menstrual Products

Key alternatives for achieving zero-waste periods include:

• Menstrual cups:

They can last up to 10 years with proper care and produce minimal waste, but they require regular cleaning and correct insertion.

• Cloth pads:

Washable and reusable for 2-4 years. They come in different sizes and absorbencies to suit individual needs.

• Period panties:

Made from natural or synthetic fibres, they are comfortable, absorbent, and reusable, making them ideal for light to moderate flow days.

Also Read: What Should Women Know Before Using a Menstrual Cup?

Conclusion

Women and girls in India can benefit greatly from adopting sustainable menstrual hygiene practices. By avoiding common mistakes, such as infrequent changing of products, neglecting handwashing, using harsh soaps, reusing disposable items, and ignoring unusual symptoms, each menstruator can protect her health and the environment.

Menstrual care is a right, not a privilege. Choosing reusable products and making informed decisions ensures comfort, dignity, and well-being during every cycle. Modern menstrual hygiene is about empowerment, awareness, and respect for both the body and the planet.