Feminine hygiene

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Feminine hygiene products (also called menstrual hygiene products) are personal care products used by women during menstruation, vaginal discharge, and other bodily functions related to the vulva and vagina.

These products are either disposable or reusable. Sanitary napkins (American English) or sanitary towels (British English), tampons, and pantiliners are disposable feminine hygiene products. Menstrual cups, cloth menstrual pads and period panties are the major categories of reusable feminine hygiene products[1].

Products meant to "cleanse" the area of the vulva or inside of the vagina, such as feminine deodorants, douche, feminine powders, feminine soaps, and feminine wipes have also been described as "feminine hygiene" products. These products may lead to allergic reaction and irritation as the vagina naturally flushes out bacteria.[2] Many health professionals advise against douching because it can change the balance of vaginal flora and acidity.[3]

Types[edit]

Disposable:

Reusable:

Feminine products benefits and risks[edit]

Disposable Products

  • Panty Liner[4]
    • Benefits:
      • Keeps vaginal area dry
    • Risks
      • Skin is unable to breathe through the plastic
      • Can cause bacterial and yeast infections.
  • Sanitary Napkin[5]
    • Benefits
      • Can be worn overnight
      • Allows you to better monitor your flow
    • Risks
      • Can cause bad odor
      • Cannot hold a lot of flow
      • Not water resistant
  • Tampon[5]
    • Benefits
      • Water resistant
      • No odor during use
      • No mess from menstural blood
      • Holds a lot of flow
    • Risks
      • Can lead to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)
      • Can increase menstural cramps
      • Increased risk of vaginal infections

Reusable Products

  • Menstrual Cup[6]
    • Benefits
      • Safer than tampons
      • Holds more menstural blood than pads or tampons
      • Good for the environment
    • Risks
      • Can be messy
      • Can cause allergic reactions
      • Can cause vaginal irritation
  • Cloth Menstrual Pad[7]
    • Benefits
      • Soft
      • Will not cause skin irritation
      • Machine Washable
    • Risks
      • More contact with menstural blood.
  • Period Panties[8]
    • Benefits
      • Eco friendly
      • Comfortable
      • Leak proof protection
    • Risks
      • Expensive
      • Must buy a lot of them or wash them everyday to use them through an entire menstural cycle.

Cleansing Products  

  • Douche[9]
    • Benefits
      • None
    • Risks
      • Can cause infection
      • Can cause miscarriage
  • Feminine Wipes[10]
    • Benefits
    • Risks
      • Can lead to yeast and bacterial infection.

Society and culture[edit]

In low-income countries, women's choices of menstrual hygiene materials are often limited by the costs, availability and social norms.[11]

Costs and tax[edit]

Tampon tax is a shorthand for sales tax charged on tampons, pads and menstrual cups. The cost of these commercial products for menstrual management is considered to be unacceptably high for many low-income women. At least half a million women across the world do not have enough money to adequately afford these products. This can result in missing school or even dropping out. Several initiatives worldwide advocate to eliminate the tax all together. In some countries, such petitions have already been successful (for example parts of the UK and the United States).[12][13][14]

Many people believe the tampon tax should be abolished because tampons are a necessity for women. They consider the tax discriminatory because things like prescription drugs and condoms are not taxed. Lawmakers around the country have started to take notice. Many have taken measures to exempt menstrual hygiene products from the sales tax. Some lawmakers have even succeeded. [15]

There has been some changes to the tampon taxes but most of these changes are state level or by city Since the year 2016 four states have passed legislations providing sales tax exemptions for menstrual product purchases. These states are New York, Illinois, Connecticut and Florida. On a smaller scale, individual cities have also changed their laws in favor of eliminating the tampon tax. Chicago and Washington D.C do not have tax on menstrual products even though the state they're located in does. New York is an example of one state that has not eliminated their tampon tax. According to the New York City Council's finance division, it is estimated that it would cost the city over $5 million dollars a year to repeal the tax. The majority of this money would go to providing free menstrual products to public schools. Free the Tampon, an advocate for free menstrual products estimates that annually it would cost less than $5 a year, per women or girl, to provide tampons and pads in restrooms at schools and businesses. [15][16]

Access to products in prisons[edit]

The Federal bureau of Prisons in the United States announced that women in its facilities would be guaranteed free menstrual pads and tampons. In section 411 of the First Step Act which was passed on May 22, 2018 states, "The Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall make the healthcare products described in subsection (c) available to prisoners for free, in a quantity that is appropriate to the healthcare needs of each prisoner"[17]

Activism[edit]

With the want for tax reform people all over the world have become activists. Supporters of the exemption of said taxes are calling their efforts "menstural equity" they explain it as a social movement that strives for feminine products like tampons to be considered necessities. Things that are considered necessities, for example toilet paper, are not taxed. Activists are often being led by members of government. Councilwomen Julissa Ferreras- Copeland led a movement with a tampon tax pilot project ultimately providing free pads and tampons at a local high school in Queens, New York. Ferreras-Copeland's effort has now been expanded into 25 different schools around New York City. Other democrats including: Ydanis Rodriguez and the council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito campaign calling on state legislature to stop taxing sanitary products. Free the Tampons is considered the main advocate organization for elimination of the tampon tax. [16]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Nicole, Wendee (2014-3). "A Question for Women's Health: Chemicals in Feminine Hygiene Products and Personal Lubricants". Environmental Health Perspectives. 122 (3): A70–A75. doi:10.1289/ehp.122-A70. PMC 3948026. PMID 24583634. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Feeling Fresh". kidshealth.org. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  3. ^ "Douching | Womenshealth.gov". womenshealth.gov. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  4. ^ "Are panty liners beneficial or harmful? I alternative to panty liners". UTI prevention I Vaginal care I Ezspur. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  5. ^ a b "What are the advantages and disadvantages of tampons and sanitary napkins? - Quora". www.quora.com. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  6. ^ "Menstrual Cups: How to Use, Benefits, and More". Healthline. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  7. ^ "Cloth Pad Pros & Cons". Reusable Menstrual Products. 2016-11-23. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  8. ^ "Pros and Cons of Period Panties | Time for the Holidays". Time for the Holidays. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  9. ^ "What Is a Douche? Usage, Safety, and More". Healthline. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  10. ^ "Should We Really Be Using Feminine Care Wipes for Down There?". InStyle.com. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  11. ^ UNESCO (2014). Puberty Education & Menstrual Hygiene Management - Good Policy and Practice in health Education - Booklet 9. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Paris, France, p. 32
  12. ^ "Could this be the first country to end 'period poverty'?". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  13. ^ Nosheena Mobarik (3 October 2018). "Mobarik: UK one step closer to ending the tampon tax". Conservatives in the European Parliament.
  14. ^ "Women get their periods every month — and it's incredibly expensive". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  15. ^ a b Ooi, Jorene (2018). "Bleeding Women Dry: Tampon Taxes and Menstrual Inequity".
  16. ^ a b Rabin, Roni Caryn. "New York City Bill to Call for Free Tampons in Public School Restrooms, Shelters and Jails". Well. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  17. ^ https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5682/text#toc-H2AA5480F32E04078BF96E84FE829FB76. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links[edit]