The rules, we talk about it, with the co-president of the Var family planning Danièle Dubois, on the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, May 28.
Protections: a wide choice
Before talking about hygiene, a quick reminder of the different means of protection available. Alongside traditional pads, panty liners and other disposable tampons, there are washable and reusable products on the market.
The sponges are inserted into the vagina after being lightly moistened with lukewarm water. THE cups and the menstrual discs are inserted by folding them in half and sticking against the vaginal walls to collect blood, without leaking.
Less known, the disc has a greater capacity and allows you to make love during your period by wearing it. But some find it harder to put on.
Finally, menstrual panties, which have appeared on the market in recent years, are increasingly popular, despite their cost to purchase.
“The question of hygiene, note on this subject Danièle Dubois, is often linked to that of cost, and sometimes access to water.”
Three rules of hygiene during menstruation
1. The first basic rule, before changing protection, is “of wash one’s hands. You also need to be able to wash your cup or his reusable panties”.
2. It takes respect change frequencies pads: every 3 to 4 hours for a panty liner or disposable pad, every 3 to 6 hours for a tampon, every 4 to 5 hours for a sponge and every 6 hours maximum for menstrual discs and menstrual pads. cups.
“It is important to respect these deadlines; keeping a tampon, sponge, disc or cup can cause a toxic shock syndrome resulting in malaise, vomiting, sudden fever, diarrhoea, etc.”, warn the Dr Françoise Ramage, referent and director of the Var family planning sexual health center.
3. “Rules or not, we avoid washing with products that are too detergent or perfumed soaps, continues Danièle Dubois. We also do not practice vaginal washing, even with so-called intimate hygiene products. The toilet must remain outside, at the level of the vulva, so as not to unbalance the vaginal flora. The best is to be satisfied with a simple Marseille soap. And if it stings, itches or stinks…, we go see the doctor!“
Operation “Panties Red”
The question of menstruation is also that of menstrual precariousness, highlighted during the pandemic by student associations.
“As part of its plan to fight menstrual poverty, the Region provides us with protection, including period panties, a brilliant but expensive invention”, explains Daniele Dubois.
“We go to emergency accommodation centres, to reception units for women asylum seekers, to social education centres, to housing estates, and before the distribution, we present different means of protection.
“Beyond the educational aspect, the idea is to talk about the rules, to realize together how common taboos are: the idea that blood is dirty is still very widespread.”
“In some cultures, women are considered ‘unclean’ during their periods, and kept out of family and social life. Some girls don’t use tampons or cups for fear of losing their virginity… Behind all these prejudices, there is the sanction of women’s sexuality.”
The discussion groups during these “Rouge culotte” meetings are therefore also an opportunity to talk about contraception, sexuality or the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
And to see that there is still a lot to do to combat prejudice. Regardless of generation or culture…