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Let's talk about it Podcast: Important tips on hygiene during your period

podcast

This podcast is about the beauty of our bodies and particularly about one of the most natural processes that women and girls experience — menstruation or your period.
We will address some common myths and questions on menstrual hygiene.

Click on the play button to start listening.

 

00:00:04 Welcome to “Let’s talk about it” podcast — brought to you by Laaha.
00:00:12 Laaha is an open, online platform where women and girls can get information
00:00:16 about their health, wellbeing, and safety.
00:00:20 Please remember: All content provided on the platform is based on scientific
00:00:24 knowledge for educational purposes only.
00:00:27 It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice
00:00:31 or treatment.
00:00:35 My name is Maria, and I’m here to talk with you about the beauty of our bodies
00:00:40 and particularly about one of the most natural processes
00:00:43 that women and girls experience—menstruation or your period.
00:00:48 Menstruation is a natural, and essential, part of the reproductive cycle.
00:00:53 But often, there are myths or taboos about it -
00:00:56 and particularly women and girls’ hygiene.
00:00:59 So, today, let’s talk about some common myths and questions
00:01:02 on menstrual hygiene.
00:01:06 Number one.
00:01:07 Women and girls are ‘dirty’ when they have their periods. No!
00:01:12 Menstruation is a natural phenomenon that occurs every month.
00:01:16 Women and girls should take care to wash regularly and use clean sanitary materials
00:01:21 during their periods for health purposes and to feel comfortable.
00:01:25 Number two.
00:01:27 When I get my period I will smell bad.
00:01:30 Vaginas should smell like vaginas.
00:01:33 Your smell might change slightly during your period.
00:01:36 This is totally normal.
00:01:38 It’s a mild metal smell and no-one can smell it coming out of your clothes.
00:01:43 You do not need to ever use soap to wash your vulva -
00:01:47 your body self-regulates and the vulva automatically cleans itself!
00:01:52 Soap can cause irritations and infections.
00:01:56 Rinse with water only.
00:01:59 Remember - always rinse and wipe from front to back.
00:02:03 It is not a good idea to use feminine hygiene products such as scented
00:02:06 wipes, vaginal deodorants or scrubs as these can lead to infections.
00:02:12 Number three.
00:02:14 Girls need to hide getting their period because it is embarrassing.
00:02:19 The first period can be met with either
00:02:21 celebration, fear or concern.
00:02:24 For every girl, this signifies an important transition
00:02:28 to her body changing as she goes through puberty and adolescence.
00:02:33 This is a time when all girls would benefit from the support of family
00:02:36 and friends.
00:02:38 Number four.
00:02:39 Menstrual pads are expensive.
00:02:42 Many women and
00:02:43 girls do not have access to materials to manage their menstruation,
00:02:47 especially in times of emergency – natural disasters and conflicts.
00:02:52 Disposable pads and tampons can be expensive
00:02:56 but reusable pads can be a more economical choice.
00:03:00 Number five Getting my period
00:03:02 means I am a woman.
00:03:06 In many cultures across the globe,
00:03:08 getting your period is equated or talked about
00:03:11 as a transition into womanhood.
00:03:14 While starting to menstruate does mean that a girl is now able to become
00:03:17 pregnant, many girls get their period when they are between 10-14.
00:03:23 There are many other factors that help girls transition into becoming a woman:
00:03:27 education, emotional maturity,
00:03:30 and your body’s physical development.
00:03:33 Even though a girl may have her period,
00:03:36 it does not mean that she is an adult and she should still enjoy being a girl!
00:03:41 Number six.
00:03:43 Periods hurt.
00:03:45 While many women do experience stomach cramps during their period,
00:03:49 the pain is usually mild and passes after 1-2 days.
00:03:54 If it creates discomfort you can take mild pain medication,
00:03:57 use a warm heating pad or a hot water bottle..
00:04:01 Extreme discomfort or high pain may be an indication that something is wrong
00:04:06 and you should seek a doctor to get advice.
00:04:10 Number seven.
00:04:11 My friend only gets her period once in a while, she is so lucky.
00:04:17 Regular menstrual cycles - and periods
00:04:19 - are one way of your body indicating that it is healthy.
00:04:23 Sometimes, a woman or girl may miss a period because of stress,
00:04:28 nutrition, or health issues - or it could be a sign that they are pregnant.
00:04:33 Girls often have periods that are not regular when they first start having them.
00:04:38 So if you or a girl you know is not getting their periods regularly,
00:04:43 you can talk to a trusted person or a health
00:04:45 professional like your doctor or nurse.
00:04:53 If you have more
00:04:54 questions or would like to talk to someone—you can find contact details
00:04:58 of a service provider near you by clicking on ‘Need help’
00:05:02 or to search for more articles using the search function
00:05:06 or the chatbot.
Tags:
menstruation
firstperiods
allages