Menstrual hygiene management
The Government of Uganda recognizes menstrual health and hygiene as a very critical issue that limits the participation of women and girls in education and development processes. It also remains a challenge faced by adolescent girls in Uganda thus contributing to prevalence of urogenital infections, Irritation of the skin that may cause discomfort and can possibly result in dermatitis, transactional sex and related consequences.
The vast majority of women and girls in Uganda use homemade alternatives to manage their menstruation. The government and CSOs have trained learners and teachers on how to make reusable pads.
The challenges persist in terms of quality and standards of MHM products used including distribution challenges.
- 65% of girls and women in Uganda are unable to fully access & meet their MHM needs from 140 schools in Uganda
- 70% of adolescent girls mentioned menstruation as a major hindrance to their optimal performance at school.
Plavio Uganda is giving access to safe and affordable reusable sanitary pads to the adolescent girls and rural women and this is in a bid to reduce on the high rates of absentees and teenage pregnancies in schools.
We aim to address issues of menstrual health for both girls in schools, rural community women, PWDs (persons with disabilities) including boys and men in schools and in rural communities to educate them on menstruation, reproductive health and menstrual hygiene management (MHM)
- Our programme aims to teach students what periods are, and how girls can manage them at home (communities) and at school.
- Educating boys and men alongside girls and women to reduce the stigma surrounding periods and prevent related teasing and bullying and communal acceptance of women in the communities. This aims to create a culture of understanding and support.
- The ultimate aim of the MHM Programme is to help girls to continue their education in a stigma-free environment.
Keys Inormation
What is Period Poverty?
UN Women defines Period Poverty as ‘the inability to afford and access menstrual products, sanitation and hygiene facilities and education and awareness to manage menstrual health.’
What are periods?
- A monthly flow of blood from the uterus and out of the vagina, occurring roughly every 28 days. A period refers to one of four phases of the menstrual cycle and can last anywhere between 2 to 7 days, most commonly lasting for about 5 days. This process occurs in women and girls who have a uterus and vagina.
- Periods may begin from the age of 12 and is the last stage of puberty in girls. However, this age can vary, with many girls starting at a younger or older age.
- Periods may be irregular at first for many years.
Why do we have periods?
The menstrual cycle is where the body prepares the lining of the uterus to create the environment necessary for a possible pregnancy.
1. The menstrual cycle is a hormonal process, where chemical messages are passed between the pituitary gland in the brain, ovaries and uterus/womb to cause periods.
2. An egg/ovum is produced in the ovaries.
3. The egg is released around 14 days after your last period and travels down the fallopian tubes into the uterus – this is ovulation.
4. The blood which lines the uterus thickens up in preparation.
5. If you had sex and conceived successfully, then the fertilized egg would comfortably embed itself in this lining and the foetus would grow in the womb into a baby.
We aim to address issues of menstrual health for both girls in schools, rural community women, PWDs (persons with disabilities) including boys and men in schools and in rural communities to educate them on menstruation, reproductive health and menstrual hygiene management (MHM)
- Our programme aims to teach students what periods are, and how girls can manage them at home (communities) and at school.
- Educating boys and men alongside girls and women to reduce the stigma surrounding periods and prevent related teasing and bullying and communal acceptance of women in the communities. This aims to create a culture of understanding and support.
- The ultimate aim of the MHM Programme is to help girls to continue their education in a stigma-free environment.
Keys Inormation
What is Period Poverty?
UN Women defines Period Poverty as ‘the inability to afford and access menstrual products, sanitation and hygiene facilities and education and awareness to manage menstrual health.’
What are periods?
- A monthly flow of blood from the uterus and out of the vagina, occurring roughly every 28 days. A period refers to one of four phases of the menstrual cycle and can last anywhere between 2 to 7 days, most commonly lasting for about 5 days. This process occurs in women and girls who have a uterus and vagina.
- Periods may begin from the age of 12 and is the last stage of puberty in girls. However, this age can vary, with many girls starting at a younger or older age.
- Periods may be irregular at first for many years.
Why do we have periods?
The menstrual cycle is where the body prepares the lining of the uterus to create the environment necessary for a possible pregnancy.
1. The menstrual cycle is a hormonal process, where chemical messages are passed between the pituitary gland in the brain, ovaries and uterus/womb to cause periods.
2. An egg/ovum is produced in the ovaries.
3. The egg is released around 14 days after your last period and travels down the fallopian tubes into the uterus – this is ovulation.
4. The blood which lines the uterus thickens up in preparation.
5. If you had sex and conceived successfully, then the fertilized egg would comfortably embed itself in this lining and the foetus would grow in the womb into a baby.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
- The age you start your period is to do with your genetics and other factors.
- Periods commonly begin in girls around the ages of 12-14. They can begin as late as 18, or as early as 9 or 10.
- Periods usually begin around two years after breasts begin to develop. Other signs of puberty come first. Menstruation is the last stage of puberty in girls.
- Your first period may also be delayed in beginning if you are underweight, exercise a lot, are undernourished, or very stressed, amongst other reasons.
- Periods often last for 3-7 days.
- The normal length of time varies between women.
- Some may have a period which may only last 2 days, some 8 days, some even for 10.
- However, excessively heavy bleeding, and bleeding for 2 weeks or more is not normal, and you should go see a doctor.
- Over time, the length of your periods should even out and become around a similar length, although they can vary monthly.
- You have a uterus, are of the correct age group, and show other signs of puberty.
- You can count 21 days from the first day of your last period.
- You may experience PMS symptoms which indicate your period may start soon (see below)
Accordion Content
- You should always see a doctor if you are worried about any aspect of your health.
- You should also see a doctor if you experience debilitating or excessive pain or other symptoms, excessive heavy bleeding, or continuous bleeding for two weeks and more.
Pain And Side Effects
- Cramps – many women experience cramps in their lower abdomen. This can be because the uterus (the womb) contracts lightly in order to help the blood flow down through the vagina. These very small contractions are felt as menstrual cramps.
- Other pain – some women may experience symptoms such as headaches, back aches, stomach aches, feeling faint or dizzy, tired, emotional, amongst other symptoms. These are caused by hormones and can often indicate that your period will come soon. They can also be felt during particular times of the month, or during the period itself. When these symptoms are felt in the days before your period, this is known as pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is common and experienced by many women.
Extreme and debilitating pain is never normal – you should see a doctor. Mild pains as described above can unfortunately be normal.
5
All pains and symptoms vary between periods and between people. Everyone’s experience is different and what is normal for you may not be what is normal for everyone else.
- Again, this could be a side effect of having your period, which you may experience.
- If this is the case, it is very important to make sure you continue to eat regular meals and drink enough liquids.
Predictability And Regularity
Why are my periods so irregular, and never an equal distance apart?
- When you are new to menstruation, young, and during your teenage years, periods can be very irregular.
- It is normal to have irregular periods when you are younger, and these should even out over time to become predictable, likely monthly.
- Especially when you have your first period, it is likely to be some time before you see your next period. For the first few years, it can be normal to not have a period every month.
- However – if you are used to having regular monthly periods and then you do not see your period for more than three months, this is known as a missed period.
- Periods can be missed due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, eating disorders, under-eating and malnutrition, excessive athletic exercise, stress, hormonal disorders, and any other factors which can disrupt your hormones which control your periods.
- Again, this could be a side effect of having your period, which you may experience.
- If this is the case, it is very important to make sure you continue to eat regular meals and drink enough liquids.
Secondary amenorrhea is the term for when your periods stop. It refers to when periods have been regular but then stop for 3 months or more in a row. Causes include:
Pregnancy
- Hormone disruption – could be caused by stress, weight loss, under-eating, exercising, or reproductive disorders
- Menopause (if mid-late 40s)
- The contraceptive pill, if used.
Breastfeeding
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Genetic factors
Excessive/intensive exercise - Low body weight/poor nutrition/ eating disorders
- If your periods have become regular and then suddenly stop, you should see a doctor.
- Periods are experienced on average every 28-35 days, which is roughly one period each month. But, if the time of your menstrual cycle is shorter, then you may experience two periods in the same month.
- If this occurs as a rare anomaly, then this is ok. Irregular cycles and varying lengths of your cycle can be normal in younger people who are newer to menstruation.
- However, if you have two periods in a month and this continues for 3+ months, you should go see a doctor. This could be a symptom of other underlying medical issues.
Complied By:
Mr. Alok Jackob
Program Manager-Plavio Uganda
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
Strengthening Gender Equality And Social Inclusion
We’re actively addressing inequality, injustice, and marginalization through women empowerment in the pursuit of equality.
“Women and other vulnerable populations face greater barriers to employment and higher rates of discrimination when it comes to economic opportunities. Plavio Uganda work with rural and peri-urban communities and the public/private sector to provide business development training like Wezesha Impact to build a more resilient business and entrepreneurial environment that works for women”
Women globally will experience gender-based violence (GBV) in their lifetime. We are working with Commonwealth of Learning Canada to strengthen women’s rights, advance policies that protect women and girls and engage communities in ending GBV.
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