For women around the world, life is a seemingly never-ending rollercoaster of menstruation, which let us be honest isn't always a joyride. It comes with its hormonal ups and downs and period pain that can turn the journey into a bit of a turbulence.&nbsp;

Despite it being common knowledge that period pains can affect the daily lives of menstruating individuals, there is still a certain stigma when it comes to conversations on this 'taboo' topic.

On one hand, countries like Spain have approved menstrual leaves, on the other hand, nations and individuals continue to ignore what can be a debilitating issue for many women.

<h2>The ‘pain’ of period pain</h2>

What causes period pains? The answer is both tricky and straight. Every month, a woman's body sheds the uterine lining, a natural process characterised by cramps. Think rhythmic contractions, which help your body shed the waste material it doesn't need.&nbsp;

However, period pain, while a shared experience, varies from person to person.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;Gravitas | Paid Period Leave: Smriti Irani's comments spark debate

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Dr Smita B Kalappa, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Apollo Clinic, J P Nagar, Bengaluru,&nbsp; says, "Period pain, also known as dysmenorrhea, can vary significantly among individuals. For some women, the pain might be mild and manageable, ranking at a 2 or 3 on that scale. Others might experience more severe pain, reaching up to a 7, 8, or even 9, where it significantly disrupts daily activities and requires medication or medical attention."

In an exclusive conversation with WION, Dr Kalappa explained, "Not all women experience the same level of pain or discomfort during their periods. The severity and type of menstrual pain can vary greatly among individuals."&nbsp;

"Some may have mild cramps or discomfort that doesn't interfere much with their daily activities, while others might experience intense pain that significantly affects their quality of life," she adds.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-is-popping-meftal-spas-for-menstrual-cramps-safe-medical-experts-answer-668854">Is popping Meftal spas for menstrual cramps safe? Medical experts answer</a>

Dr Sandhya Rani, Sr Consultant - Obstetrics &amp; Gynaecology, Aster Women and Children, Bengaluru explains that for a lucky few — around 17 per cent, period pain is minimal. Around 50-90 per cent face moderate pain, and roughly 5-10 per cent face severe pain.

To help men understand the pain women go through, Dr Rani quotes John Guillebaud, a University College London reproductive health professor, who in a 2018 article said that patients described menstrual cramping pain as "almost as bad as having a heart attack."

<h2>How can women deal with dysmenorrhea, aka period pain?</h2>

Dr Gaana Sreenivas, Consultant - Obstetrician &amp; Gynaecologist, BirthRight by Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Bannerghatta, Bengaluru suggests that first and foremost women must reduce stress, and improve their mental and physical health. Deep breaths, meditation, or yoga are good options to do this. Furthermore, exercise, drinking soothing teas like chamomile, fennel, and ginger tea can also help, she said.

However, she warns that caffeine can make cramps worse, and instead recommends decaf for coffee lovers.

Alternatively, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help alleviate menstrual cramps. These help by reducing inflammation and thereby easing the pain. However, these drugs must be taken under medical supervision.&nbsp;

Applying heat can also help&nbsp;calm period cramps, "a&nbsp;hot bag is a lifesaver," she says, adding "Good emotional, social, physical, and psychological support is a must to tide over the phase of period pains".

<h2>How much bleeding is normal?</h2>

Typically, a woman loses between 20 to 80 millimetres of blood, equivalent to one and a half shot glasses during a normal menstrual cycle.&nbsp;

However, as with pain, this can vary from person to person. Those, with heavy menstrual flow, can lose much more than 80 ml. This can be due to a variety of factors "ranging from non-cancerous uterine growths like fibroids or polyps to more serious conditions such as uterine or cervical cancer," states Dr Rani.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/life-fun/health-and-wellness/foods-that-you-should-avoid-during-menstrual-pain-1702496955967" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/life-fun/health-and-wellness/foods-that-you-should-avoid-during-menstrual-pain-1702496955967&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjtwuqdqK-DAxWe8zgGHQlxCNEQFnoECAcQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw3wrbXdnR2tS5MygDdSeoXB" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/life-fun/health-and-wellness/foods-that-you-should-avoid-during-menstrual-pain-1702496955967" target="_blank">Foods That You Should Avoid During&nbsp;Menstrual Pain</a>

Additionally, hormone-related health issues, like thyroid issues or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), can also contribute to a heavy menstrual flow. It could also be a warning sign of conditions like "von Willebrand disease (VWD) or platelet function disorder, and non-bleeding-related disorders like liver, kidney, or thyroid disease, pelvic inflammatory disease, and cancer, can also impact menstrual bleeding," she explains.

<h2>When should one consult a doctor?</h2>

Open conversations about periods and period pain can empower women, remove the shame and stigma, and also help level the so-called professional playing field.&nbsp;

It is crucial for women to consult healthcare professionals for personalised advice, ensuring a more informed and empowered approach to managing period pain.&nbsp;

"If the pain is exceptionally severe and unmanageable with over-the-counter medications, or if it's interfering significantly with work, it might be necessary to seek medical advice promptly," advises Dr Kalappa.

"Empathy and support can go a long way in helping women to manage this sometimes debilitating condition and also to open up and seek proper guidance instead of suffering in silence and labouring under many myths and misconceptions," she adds.

For women around the world, life is a seemingly never-ending rollercoaster of menstruation, which let us be honest isn't always a joyride. It comes with its hormonal ups and downs and period pain that can turn the journey into a bit of a turbulence.

For women around the world, life is a seemingly never-ending rollercoaster of menstruation, which let us be honest isn't always a joyride. It comes with its hormonal ups and downs and period pain that can turn the journey into a bit of a turbulence. Despite it being common knowledge that period pains can affect the daily lives of menstruating individuals, there is still a certain stigma when it comes to conversations on this 'taboo' topic. On one hand, countries like Spain have approved menstrual leaves, on the other hand, nations and individuals continue to ignore what can be a debilitating issue for many women. The ‘pain’ of period pain What causes period pains? The answer is both tricky and straight. Every month, a woman's body sheds the uterine lining, a natural process characterised by cramps. Think rhythmic contractions, which help your body shed the waste material it doesn't need. However, period pain, while a shared experience, varies from person to person. Also read | Gravitas | Paid Period Leave: Smriti Irani's comments spark debate × Dr Smita B Kalappa, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Apollo Clinic, J P Nagar, Bengaluru, says, "Period pain, also known as dysmenorrhea, can vary significantly among individuals. For some women, the pain might be mild and manageable, ranking at a 2 or 3 on that scale. Others might experience more severe pain, reaching up to a 7, 8, or even 9, where it significantly disrupts daily activities and requires medication or medical attention." In an exclusive conversation with WION, Dr Kalappa explained, "Not all women experience the same level of pain or discomfort during their periods. The severity and type of menstrual pain can vary greatly among individuals." "Some may have mild cramps or discomfort that doesn't interfere much with their daily activities, while others might experience intense pain that significantly affects their quality of life," she adds. Also read | Is popping Meftal spas for menstrual cramps safe? Medical experts answer Dr Sandhya Rani, Sr Consultant - Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Aster Women and Children, Bengaluru explains that for a lucky few — around 17 per cent, period pain is minimal. Around 50-90 per cent face moderate pain, and roughly 5-10 per cent face severe pain. To help men understand the pain women go through, Dr Rani quotes John Guillebaud, a University College London reproductive health professor, who in a 2018 article said that patients described menstrual cramping pain as "almost as bad as having a heart attack." How can women deal with dysmenorrhea, aka period pain? Dr Gaana Sreenivas, Consultant - Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, BirthRight by Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Bannerghatta, Bengaluru suggests that first and foremost women must reduce stress, and improve their mental and physical health. Deep breaths, meditation, or yoga are good options to do this. Furthermore, exercise, drinking soothing teas like chamomile, fennel, and ginger tea can also help, she said. However, she warns that caffeine can make cramps worse, and instead recommends decaf for coffee lovers. Alternatively, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help alleviate menstrual cramps. These help by reducing inflammation and thereby easing the pain. However, these drugs must be taken under medical supervision. Applying heat can also help calm period cramps, "a hot bag is a lifesaver," she says, adding "Good emotional, social, physical, and psychological support is a must to tide over the phase of period pains". How much bleeding is normal? Typically, a woman loses between 20 to 80 millimetres of blood, equivalent to one and a half shot glasses during a normal menstrual cycle. However, as with pain, this can vary from person to person. Those, with heavy menstrual flow, can lose much more than 80 ml. This can be due to a variety of factors "ranging from non-cancerous uterine growths like fibroids or polyps to more serious conditions such as uterine or cervical cancer," states Dr Rani. Also read | Foods That You Should Avoid During Menstrual Pain Additionally, hormone-related health issues, like thyroid issues or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), can also contribute to a heavy menstrual flow. It could also be a warning sign of conditions like "von Willebrand disease (VWD) or platelet function disorder, and non-bleeding-related disorders like liver, kidney, or thyroid disease, pelvic inflammatory disease, and cancer, can also impact menstrual bleeding," she explains. When should one consult a doctor? Open conversations about periods and period pain can empower women, remove the shame and stigma, and also help level the so-called professional playing field. It is crucial for women to consult healthcare professionals for personalised advice, ensuring a more informed and empowered approach to managing period pain. "If the pain is exceptionally severe and unmanageable with over-the-counter medications, or if it's interfering significantly with work, it might be necessary to seek medical advice promptly," advises Dr Kalappa. "Empathy and support can go a long way in helping women to manage this sometimes debilitating condition and also to open up and seek proper guidance instead of suffering in silence and labouring under many myths and misconceptions," she adds.

Explained | Period Pain: Understanding and managing menstrual cramps, experts weigh in

A new investigation has raised concerns over the safety of period pants. It has been found that these menstrual hygiene products contain high levels of silver. How effects can they have on your health?

Gravitas | New investigation reveals shocking details about menstrual hygiene product

The changes that a woman's body is prone to menstruation is probably the most prominent one commonly referred to as periods - it's a monthly phenomena where the body discharges blood. But what causes modd swings in periods?

Menstruation: Study maps brain changes during periods

Menstruation: What causes mood swings? | World News | WION

#GravitasPlus | Painful periods are often dismissed by physicians. But they could be a sign of endometriosis. This disease is misunderstood and under-represented.

Gravitas Plus: Experiencing painful periods? It could be endometriosis

On an average day, millions of people menstruate, with more than 300 million women and other menstruators, which includes transgender men or people who identify as nonbinary. According to a report by the World Bank, an estimated 500 million lack access to menstrual products and adequate facilities for menstrual health largely due to a lack of awareness, education, and/or cultural influences.&nbsp;

Women and adolescent girls are shamed, made fun of and even seen as “impure,” “dirty” or “unclean” when they are menstruating, a biological process which is essential to human reproduction. An average person uses over 11,000 sanitary products, which is over the course of 3,500 menstrual days, which last between three to seven days and add up to nearly 10 years of a person’s lifetime.&nbsp;

In a world where an estimated 500 million people struggle to procure menstrual products and have access to adequate facilities for menstrual health, several countries continue to impose what is known as the “tampon tax.” Here is what you need to know about the two issues affecting menstruators across the world:&nbsp;

<h2>What is World Menstrual Hygiene Day?</h2>

Considering the importance of menstrual health and hygiene, the world began observing Menstrual Hygiene Day, on the 28th day of the 5th month of the year, annually since 2014.&nbsp;

The reason behind this is that menstrual cycles last for an average of 28 days and people menstruate an average of five days each month. This year’s theme is “Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030.”&nbsp;

UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Natalia Kanem said, “A girl’s first period should be a happy fact of life, a sign of coming of age with dignity. She should have access to everything necessary to understand and care for her body and attend school without stigma or shame.”&nbsp;

<h2>What is&nbsp;Menstrual Hygiene Management?</h2>

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF define&nbsp;Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) as “Women and adolescent girls using a clean menstrual management material to absorb or collect menstrual blood, that can be changed in privacy as often as necessary, using soap and water for washing the body as required and having access to safe and convenient facilities to dispose of used menstrual management materials.”

In addition to this, menstruates also have the knowledge of basic facts linked to the menstrual cycle and how to manage it with dignity and without embarrassment or stigma, which is also seen as an important part of MHM.&nbsp;

Poor menstrual health and hygiene are seen as a hindrance to fundamental rights like working on going to school for women, girls and people who menstruate. This is considering the patterns of exclusion and shame arising from insufficient resources to manage menstruation, according to UNFPA. Furthermore, gender inequality, extreme poverty, humanitarian crises and harmful traditions can amplify deprivation and stigma, related to menstruation.&nbsp;

<h2>What is ‘period poverty’?</h2>

Period poverty refers to the struggle of many menstruates who cannot afford menstrual products as well as the increased economic vulnerability they face due to the financial burden posed by menstrual supplies. However, these costs are not limited to pads or tampons but also pain medication and underwear.&nbsp;

Period poverty also includes the lack of or absence of knowledge pertaining to menstrual hygiene education and sanitary facilities (washrooms/bathrooms). However, when we address period poverty, it is not just an economic issue but also a social and political one and this is where the concept of “tampon tax” comes in.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Tampon tax’: What is it and who is imposing it?</h2>

In a world where hundreds of millions of people are affected by “period poverty,” global calls for the end of the so-called tampon tax have increased. Tampon tax refers to the consumption levies such as value-added tax (VAT) which most countries charge on items such as sanitary pads, tampons, panty liners and menstrual cups.&nbsp;

While menstrual products in some countries are considered non-essential items for VAT purposes, items like toilet paper, condoms and over-the-counter medicines are tax-free or at least carry a lower levy. Notably, Kenya became the first country to scrap VAT on sanitary pads and tampons in 2004 and over a dozen other countries have followed suit, as per the data by Reuters.

Meanwhile, some 10 countries have moved to place sanitary products as tax-exempt goods or exempted the tax on imported raw materials used to make them. Last year, the European Union revised a directive which allowed its 27 member nations to reduce VAT on sanitary products by five per cent, which means they can lower taxes on some goods. &nbsp;

One of the reasons why tampon tax continues to be levied in many countries is because VAT is an important source of revenue for governments and is a large part of some countries' GDP. Furthermore, the VAT rates vary depending on the country, considering governments often have different definitions of what is considered an essential good that is exempted from the levy.&nbsp;

Notably, Scotland,&nbsp;last year became the first nation to make sanitary pads and tampons free at designated public places, like youth centres and pharmacies.&nbsp;

Where does India stand in all of this? 
&nbsp; 
The experience of menstruators across India differs but the stigma around the biological process remains prevalent in many parts of the country. Earlier this month, a 12-year-old girl was allegedly tortured and killed by her 30-year-old brother in the Thane district after he mistook the bloodstains on her clothes for her involvement in a sexual relationship. &nbsp;

As per media reports, the girl was unable to explain the reason behind the bloodstains on her clothes due to her lack of knowledge about menstruation. She was reportedly subjected to torture as the accused allegedly inflicted severe burns on various parts of the victim’s body and after days of being kicked and punched, she was taken to the hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.&nbsp;

Additionally, nearly 33 crore menstruating women are affected by different levels of “period poverty,” either in terms of access to menstrual products, information, or infrastructure for hygiene. A report by NGO Dasra and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) shows that 23 million girls are forced to drop out of school every year due to a lack of proper MHM facilities.&nbsp;

A 2018 study conducted by UNICEF shows 70 per cent of Indian mothers believed menstruation is “dirty.” This translates to practices like girls not being allowed to touch members of the family, or enter the kitchen, and sometimes even being made to eat separately, as per reports. In some parts of the country, women and girls are also made to sleep outside the house, often in a hut or livestock shed.&nbsp;

However, it is not all doom and gloom.&nbsp;In 2018, India scrapped its tax on menstrual products following months of campaigning by activists over the government’s 12 per cent duty on menstrual hygiene products which sparked outrage across the country. It came to be known as ‘Lahu ka Lagaan’ which translates to “blood tax”.&nbsp;

The move was welcomed considering periods are one of the leading reasons why girls drop out of schools in India while others are forced to stay at home due to the lack of access to menstrual products. According to the recent National Family Health Survey, over 30 per cent of women between the age of 15 and 24 do not use hygiene methods like “locally prepared napkins, sanitary napkins, tampons, and menstrual cups” during their period.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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On an average day, millions of people menstruate, with more than 300 million women and other menstruators, which includes transgender men or people who identify as nonbinary.

On an average day, millions of people menstruate, with more than 300 million women and other menstruators, which includes transgender men or people who identify as nonbinary. According to a report by the World Bank, an estimated 500 million lack access to menstrual products and adequate facilities for menstrual health largely due to a lack of awareness, education, and/or cultural influences. Women and adolescent girls are shamed, made fun of and even seen as “impure,” “dirty” or “unclean” when they are menstruating, a biological process which is essential to human reproduction. An average person uses over 11,000 sanitary products, which is over the course of 3,500 menstrual days, which last between three to seven days and add up to nearly 10 years of a person’s lifetime. In a world where an estimated 500 million people struggle to procure menstrual products and have access to adequate facilities for menstrual health, several countries continue to impose what is known as the “tampon tax.” Here is what you need to know about the two issues affecting menstruators across the world: What is World Menstrual Hygiene Day? Considering the importance of menstrual health and hygiene, the world began observing Menstrual Hygiene Day, on the 28th day of the 5th month of the year, annually since 2014. The reason behind this is that menstrual cycles last for an average of 28 days and people menstruate an average of five days each month. This year’s theme is “Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030.” UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Natalia Kanem said, “A girl’s first period should be a happy fact of life, a sign of coming of age with dignity. She should have access to everything necessary to understand and care for her body and attend school without stigma or shame.” What is Menstrual Hygiene Management? The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF define Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) as “Women and adolescent girls using a clean menstrual management material to absorb or collect menstrual blood, that can be changed in privacy as often as necessary, using soap and water for washing the body as required and having access to safe and convenient facilities to dispose of used menstrual management materials.” In addition to this, menstruates also have the knowledge of basic facts linked to the menstrual cycle and how to manage it with dignity and without embarrassment or stigma, which is also seen as an important part of MHM. Poor menstrual health and hygiene are seen as a hindrance to fundamental rights like working on going to school for women, girls and people who menstruate. This is considering the patterns of exclusion and shame arising from insufficient resources to manage menstruation, according to UNFPA. Furthermore, gender inequality, extreme poverty, humanitarian crises and harmful traditions can amplify deprivation and stigma, related to menstruation. What is ‘period poverty’? Period poverty refers to the struggle of many menstruates who cannot afford menstrual products as well as the increased economic vulnerability they face due to the financial burden posed by menstrual supplies. However, these costs are not limited to pads or tampons but also pain medication and underwear. Period poverty also includes the lack of or absence of knowledge pertaining to menstrual hygiene education and sanitary facilities (washrooms/bathrooms). However, when we address period poverty, it is not just an economic issue but also a social and political one and this is where the concept of “tampon tax” comes in. ‘Tampon tax’: What is it and who is imposing it? In a world where hundreds of millions of people are affected by “period poverty,” global calls for the end of the so-called tampon tax have increased. Tampon tax refers to the consumption levies such as value-added tax (VAT) which most countries charge on items such as sanitary pads, tampons, panty liners and menstrual cups. While menstrual products in some countries are considered non-essential items for VAT purposes, items like toilet paper, condoms and over-the-counter medicines are tax-free or at least carry a lower levy. Notably, Kenya became the first country to scrap VAT on sanitary pads and tampons in 2004 and over a dozen other countries have followed suit, as per the data by Reuters. Meanwhile, some 10 countries have moved to place sanitary products as tax-exempt goods or exempted the tax on imported raw materials used to make them. Last year, the European Union revised a directive which allowed its 27 member nations to reduce VAT on sanitary products by five per cent, which means they can lower taxes on some goods. One of the reasons why tampon tax continues to be levied in many countries is because VAT is an important source of revenue for governments and is a large part of some countries' GDP. Furthermore, the VAT rates vary depending on the country, considering governments often have different definitions of what is considered an essential good that is exempted from the levy. Notably, Scotland, last year became the first nation to make sanitary pads and tampons free at designated public places, like youth centres and pharmacies. Where does India stand in all of this? The experience of menstruators across India differs but the stigma around the biological process remains prevalent in many parts of the country. Earlier this month, a 12-year-old girl was allegedly tortured and killed by her 30-year-old brother in the Thane district after he mistook the bloodstains on her clothes for her involvement in a sexual relationship. As per media reports, the girl was unable to explain the reason behind the bloodstains on her clothes due to her lack of knowledge about menstruation. She was reportedly subjected to torture as the accused allegedly inflicted severe burns on various parts of the victim’s body and after days of being kicked and punched, she was taken to the hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. Additionally, nearly 33 crore menstruating women are affected by different levels of “period poverty,” either in terms of access to menstrual products, information, or infrastructure for hygiene. A report by NGO Dasra and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) shows that 23 million girls are forced to drop out of school every year due to a lack of proper MHM facilities. A 2018 study conducted by UNICEF shows 70 per cent of Indian mothers believed menstruation is “dirty.” This translates to practices like girls not being allowed to touch members of the family, or enter the kitchen, and sometimes even being made to eat separately, as per reports. In some parts of the country, women and girls are also made to sleep outside the house, often in a hut or livestock shed. However, it is not all doom and gloom. In 2018, India scrapped its tax on menstrual products following months of campaigning by activists over the government’s 12 per cent duty on menstrual hygiene products which sparked outrage across the country. It came to be known as ‘Lahu ka Lagaan’ which translates to “blood tax”. The move was welcomed considering periods are one of the leading reasons why girls drop out of schools in India while others are forced to stay at home due to the lack of access to menstrual products. According to the recent National Family Health Survey, over 30 per cent of women between the age of 15 and 24 do not use hygiene methods like “locally prepared napkins, sanitary napkins, tampons, and menstrual cups” during their period. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Menstrual Hygiene Day: ‘Tampon tax’ in a world that struggles with ‘period poverty’

Have you ever considered the possibility of stress being the culprit behind your irregular menstrual cycle? Well, the question is valid and the problem prevalent. WION spoke with Dr Pushpa Dahiya, head of the department&nbsp;of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences,&nbsp;Haryana, to get a deeper understanding on the connection.&nbsp;

The regular rise and fall of various hormone levels in a woman's&nbsp;body regulates the menstrual cycle. Our hormone levels are also significantly impacted by stress. In order to better understand how stress affects menstruation, let's first go through the hormonal changes that take place during the menstrual cycle.&nbsp;

The main hormonal changes include:

- A&nbsp;surge in the hormone known as follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), which directs the ovaries to start maturing eggs for ovulation.

- An increase in the hormone luteinizing hormone (LH), which instructs the ovary to release a mature egg.

- An increase in progesterone that instructs the uterus to keep its lining in place in case of an egg implantation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

- An increase in oestrogen that instructs the uterus to create its lining in the event that the egg successfully fertilises.&nbsp;

When an egg is not fertilised at the conclusion of the cycle, the levels oestrogen and progesterone naturally decline to allow for menstruation and the cycle to begin again.&nbsp;

<h2>Brain and the ovaries: Tracing the link</h2>

The brain and ovaries have a connection that governs all of these changes. The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, a tightly regulated system controlling female reproduction is responsible for this.&nbsp;

Due to the fact that these organs frequently work in tandem, medical professionals find it convenient to refer to them as one entity, explains Dr Dahiya.&nbsp;

The brain regions that cause the release of FSH and LH are the pituitary gland and hypothalamus (the control centre of your brain).

The brain communicates with the ovaries with the help of these hormones. After then, the ovaries produce oestrogen and progesterone, which also provide crucial feedback to the brain.&nbsp;

However, the brain and the adrenal glands also communicate. These tiny glands, which are found close to the kidneys, are responsible for producing cortisol, a hormone released when we are stressed.&nbsp;The feedback loop between the brain and the ovaries may get disrupted when cortisol enters the equation.

Cortisol is primarily released when we are in a stressful scenario. As cortisol primes our systems for a "fight-or-flight" response, this adrenal response has played a crucial role in our evolution.&nbsp;

The human body is&nbsp;put into a "survival mode" by cortisol in a variety of ways. For instance, it speeds up our breathing and pulse rate. The blood is also directed towards our muscles.&nbsp;

The hypothalamus is also impacted by cortisol, which instructs it to stop producing the hormones that initiate the menstrual cycle.&nbsp;

In the course of our evolutionary history, this made sense because it prevented women from conceiving when their survival was in danger. But,&nbsp;our systems are unable to distinguish between stress brought on by a life-threatening situation and unpleasant circumstances in recent times.&nbsp;

“In our fast-paced world, not everyone can handle stressful situations. Moreover, each individual has a different style of handling stress. Hence, it affects the body in myriad ways,” says Dr Dahiya.&nbsp;

A condition known as hypothalamic amenorrhea may occur under extreme circumstances. In simple terms, a woman does not&nbsp;menstruate due to a problem with her&nbsp;hypothalamus in this condition, as defined by&nbsp;Cleveland Clinic.&nbsp;

The hypothalamus quits producing GnRH, a crucial hormone for menstruation. which throws off the balance of your hormones. This causes periods to be erratic or nonexistent. The&nbsp;hypothalamus may decide to go on strike (or stop&nbsp;functioning) if it senses that something is putting undue stress on your body.&nbsp;

<h2>Ways to overcome stress</h2>

Dr&nbsp;Dahiya suggests four simple steps to maintaining a healthy balance in life which would also keep the menstrual cycle in check.&nbsp;

- Pay attention to how you feel and give your mental health first priority.

- Spend some time on the activities that make you happy and content.

- Self-care methods:&nbsp;Get enough rest, consume wholesome foods, and work out frequently.

- Use mindfulness and meditation strategies.

 
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Have you ever considered the possibility of stress being the culprit behind your irregular menstrual cycle? Well, the question is valid and the problem prevalent.

Have you ever considered the possibility of stress being the culprit behind your irregular menstrual cycle? Well, the question is valid and the problem prevalent. WION spoke with Dr Pushpa Dahiya, head of the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Haryana, to get a deeper understanding on the connection. The regular rise and fall of various hormone levels in a woman's body regulates the menstrual cycle. Our hormone levels are also significantly impacted by stress. In order to better understand how stress affects menstruation, let's first go through the hormonal changes that take place during the menstrual cycle. The main hormonal changes include: - A surge in the hormone known as follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), which directs the ovaries to start maturing eggs for ovulation. - An increase in the hormone luteinizing hormone (LH), which instructs the ovary to release a mature egg. - An increase in progesterone that instructs the uterus to keep its lining in place in case of an egg implantation. - An increase in oestrogen that instructs the uterus to create its lining in the event that the egg successfully fertilises. When an egg is not fertilised at the conclusion of the cycle, the levels oestrogen and progesterone naturally decline to allow for menstruation and the cycle to begin again. Brain and the ovaries: Tracing the link The brain and ovaries have a connection that governs all of these changes. The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, a tightly regulated system controlling female reproduction is responsible for this. Due to the fact that these organs frequently work in tandem, medical professionals find it convenient to refer to them as one entity, explains Dr Dahiya. The brain regions that cause the release of FSH and LH are the pituitary gland and hypothalamus (the control centre of your brain). The brain communicates with the ovaries with the help of these hormones. After then, the ovaries produce oestrogen and progesterone, which also provide crucial feedback to the brain. However, the brain and the adrenal glands also communicate. These tiny glands, which are found close to the kidneys, are responsible for producing cortisol, a hormone released when we are stressed. The feedback loop between the brain and the ovaries may get disrupted when cortisol enters the equation. Cortisol is primarily released when we are in a stressful scenario. As cortisol primes our systems for a "fight-or-flight" response, this adrenal response has played a crucial role in our evolution. The human body is put into a "survival mode" by cortisol in a variety of ways. For instance, it speeds up our breathing and pulse rate. The blood is also directed towards our muscles. The hypothalamus is also impacted by cortisol, which instructs it to stop producing the hormones that initiate the menstrual cycle. In the course of our evolutionary history, this made sense because it prevented women from conceiving when their survival was in danger. But, our systems are unable to distinguish between stress brought on by a life-threatening situation and unpleasant circumstances in recent times. “In our fast-paced world, not everyone can handle stressful situations. Moreover, each individual has a different style of handling stress. Hence, it affects the body in myriad ways,” says Dr Dahiya. A condition known as hypothalamic amenorrhea may occur under extreme circumstances. In simple terms, a woman does not menstruate due to a problem with her hypothalamus in this condition, as defined by Cleveland Clinic. The hypothalamus quits producing GnRH, a crucial hormone for menstruation. which throws off the balance of your hormones. This causes periods to be erratic or nonexistent. The hypothalamus may decide to go on strike (or stop functioning) if it senses that something is putting undue stress on your body. Ways to overcome stress Dr Dahiya suggests four simple steps to maintaining a healthy balance in life which would also keep the menstrual cycle in check. - Pay attention to how you feel and give your mental health first priority. - Spend some time on the activities that make you happy and content. - Self-care methods: Get enough rest, consume wholesome foods, and work out frequently. - Use mindfulness and meditation strategies. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Can stress have a bearing on the menstrual cycle? Expert explains

PadCare Labs, founded by Ajinkya Dhariya in 2018, offers an all-round solution for sanitary waste disposal sanitary bins, a recycling system and products made the residue after recycling. It recently raised Rs 1 crore on Shark Tank India.

Padcare: Solving sanitary napkins disposal problem, one bin-full at a time

Sanitary pads may not be so hygienic after all. A new study states that most sanitary napkins sold across India contain cancer-causing contaminants. The study states that using sanitary napkins may cause cancer and even infertility among some women. The results of the study are shocking considering almost three in every four teenage women in India use sanitary napkins.

“It is shocking to find numerous harmful chemicals in commonly available sanitary products, including toxic chemicals like carcinogens, reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors, and allergens,” said Dr Amit, one of the investigators and a programme coordinator at the environmental NGO Toxics Link which conducted the study.&nbsp; 
 
The NGO is part of the International Pollutants Elimination Network and a report in India Today states that ten brands of pads were tested for the study. The samples that were tested reportedly contained traces of phthalates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Both contaminants have the ability to form cancerous cells. Toxics Link found the presence of certain phthalates that are restricted according to European regulations. 
 
The study also reveals that the chances of harmful chemicals being absorbed by the body are very high through sanitary pads. “As a mucous membrane, the vagina can secrete and absorb chemicals at a higher rate than the skin,” said Dr Aakanksha Mehrotra, a programme coordinator at Toxics Link who was part of this study. 
A lot of conversation about menstrual hygiene centres around how one should opt for sanitary napkins instead of unhygienic protection during periods.&nbsp; 
 
However, the presence of harmful chemicals, including carcinogens in sanitary pads has never been mentioned until now.&nbsp; 
 
India Today report cites that according to the latest National Family Health Survey, nearly 64 per cent of women aged 15-24 years use sanitary pads in India. Demography and education also determine the usage of pads. It is inferred that a more prosperous society has a higher usage of pads.

Sanitary pads may not be so hygienic after all. A new study states that most sanitary napkins sold across India contain cancer-causing contaminants. The study states that using sanitary napkins may cause cancer and even infertility among some women.

Sanitary pads may not be so hygienic after all. A new study states that most sanitary napkins sold across India contain cancer-causing contaminants. The study states that using sanitary napkins may cause cancer and even infertility among some women. The results of the study are shocking considering almost three in every four teenage women in India use sanitary napkins. “It is shocking to find numerous harmful chemicals in commonly available sanitary products, including toxic chemicals like carcinogens, reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors, and allergens,” said Dr Amit, one of the investigators and a programme coordinator at the environmental NGO Toxics Link which conducted the study. The NGO is part of the International Pollutants Elimination Network and a report in India Today states that ten brands of pads were tested for the study. The samples that were tested reportedly contained traces of phthalates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Both contaminants have the ability to form cancerous cells. Toxics Link found the presence of certain phthalates that are restricted according to European regulations. The study also reveals that the chances of harmful chemicals being absorbed by the body are very high through sanitary pads. “As a mucous membrane, the vagina can secrete and absorb chemicals at a higher rate than the skin,” said Dr Aakanksha Mehrotra, a programme coordinator at Toxics Link who was part of this study. A lot of conversation about menstrual hygiene centres around how one should opt for sanitary napkins instead of unhygienic protection during periods. However, the presence of harmful chemicals, including carcinogens in sanitary pads has never been mentioned until now. India Today report cites that according to the latest National Family Health Survey, nearly 64 per cent of women aged 15-24 years use sanitary pads in India. Demography and education also determine the usage of pads. It is inferred that a more prosperous society has a higher usage of pads.

Usage of sanitary pads may lead to cancer, infertility, says a new study

There, it's been said premenstrual mood swings and anxiety are "key public health issue(s) globally".&nbsp;

Premenstrual symptoms are reported by more than 64 per cent of women globally during each menstrual cycle, reports IANS quoting a recent study.

28.61 per cent of women reported that premenstrual symptoms interfered with their daily activities every time they had a period, and another 34.84 per cent claimed that this happened sometimes.

Watch |&nbsp;Spain: First European country to offer paid menstrual leave

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Food cravings (85.28 per cent), mood changes or anxiety (64.18 per cent), and weariness (57.3 per cent) were the most frequently reported symptoms.

Jennifer L. Payne, director of the Reproductive Psychiatry Research Programme at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and one of the study's authors, said "our demonstrates that premenstrual mood symptoms are incredibly common worldwide."

"More importantly," she noted, "a majority of women reported that their premenstrual symptoms interfered with their everyday life at least some of the time."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-menstrual-hygiene-day-how-women-have-managed-periods-throughout-history-482520">Menstrual Hygiene Day: How women have managed periods throughout history</a>

According to the researchers, "premenstrual mood symptoms are a key public health issue globally" because at least 61 per cent of women in all age categories reported experiencing mood-related symptoms every menstrual cycle.

More than 238,000 survey responses from women ages 18 to 55 from 140 countries were analysed for the study, which was published in the Archives of Women's Mental Health.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/chinese-man-goes-to-doctor-after-finding-blood-in-pee-turns-out-he-was-on-his-period-496368">Chinese man goes to doctor after finding blood in pee, turns out he was on his period</a>

The data was taken from an app called 'Flo' which assists women in tracking their menstrual cycle as well as their emotional and physical symptoms both during and after pregnancy.

Researchers have expressed hope that increasing healthcare practitioners' awareness of how frequently these symptoms—particularly anxiety and mood-related symptoms—occur, will help women avail better care.

"Increasing awareness of how common these symptoms are, and that if they impact functioning that there are treatments available, will help women improve their quality of life."

(With inputs from agencies)

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There, it's been said premenstrual mood swings and anxiety are "key public health issue(s) globally". Premenstrual symptoms are reported by more than 64 per cent of women globally during each menstrual cycle, reports IANS quoting a recent study.

There, it's been said premenstrual mood swings and anxiety are "key public health issue(s) globally". Premenstrual symptoms are reported by more than 64 per cent of women globally during each menstrual cycle, reports IANS quoting a recent study. 28.61 per cent of women reported that premenstrual symptoms interfered with their daily activities every time they had a period, and another 34.84 per cent claimed that this happened sometimes. Watch | Spain: First European country to offer paid menstrual leave Food cravings (85.28 per cent), mood changes or anxiety (64.18 per cent), and weariness (57.3 per cent) were the most frequently reported symptoms. Jennifer L. Payne, director of the Reproductive Psychiatry Research Programme at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and one of the study's authors, said "our demonstrates that premenstrual mood symptoms are incredibly common worldwide." "More importantly," she noted, "a majority of women reported that their premenstrual symptoms interfered with their everyday life at least some of the time." Also read | Menstrual Hygiene Day: How women have managed periods throughout history According to the researchers, "premenstrual mood symptoms are a key public health issue globally" because at least 61 per cent of women in all age categories reported experiencing mood-related symptoms every menstrual cycle. More than 238,000 survey responses from women ages 18 to 55 from 140 countries were analysed for the study, which was published in the Archives of Women's Mental Health. Also read | Chinese man goes to doctor after finding blood in pee, turns out he was on his period The data was taken from an app called 'Flo' which assists women in tracking their menstrual cycle as well as their emotional and physical symptoms both during and after pregnancy. Researchers have expressed hope that increasing healthcare practitioners' awareness of how frequently these symptoms—particularly anxiety and mood-related symptoms—occur, will help women avail better care. "Increasing awareness of how common these symptoms are, and that if they impact functioning that there are treatments available, will help women improve their quality of life." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Finally! Research accepts PMS as a 'key public health issue globally' which interferes with women's lives

Women have been managing their periods for millennia, but the way they do so has changed as menstruation has become more and less stigmatised over time. 
 
From rags to tampons, menstrual cups and free-bleeding, take a tour of the history of period products on this Menstrual Hygiene Day. 
 
- Not always taboo - 
 
For most of human history, menstruation was very poorly understood.&nbsp; 
 
In ancient times, it was often thought of negatively, the blood was considered impure and periods were thought to be a curse. 
 
From the 15th century, "women would apply remedies, for example, enemas, perform physical exercise or take emmenagogue plants", which helped regulate menstruation cycles, French historian Nahema Hanafi told AFP. 
 
It was the job of the women in a teenager's family or community to inform her about periods. But they also discussed how it worked with men. 
 
"In medieval and modern times, people talk about menstruation because it is a crucial health issue that concerns the whole family," Hanafi said. 
 
Noblewomen, for example, would catalogue their periods in correspondence with their father or uncle. 
However menstruation became taboo in 19th century Europe with the rise of the middle class, which brought about new social norms, the historian said.&nbsp; 
 
Modesty became a feminine virtue. 
 
"In this movement, everything related to the body and sexuality was kept from women's sight, which prevented them from being informed about these subjects -- and from talking about them," Hanafi said.

Rags attached with hooks - 
 
Throughout history women mostly wore skirts or dresses.&nbsp; 
 
Peasant women let the blood flow freely. 
 
Middle class or high brow women used cloth, held in place by knots or hooks, to catch the blood. 
 
However women had fewer periods than today, because they were more likely to be pregnant. 
 
And girls used to get their first period years far later in life. 
 
Girls got their period at around 16 years of age in 1750, compared with an average of 12.6 years today, according to the French Institute for Demographic Studies.

The first products - 
 
The first menstrual products started appearing towards the end of the 19th century, particularly in the United States and Britain. 
 
"Early products sold in the US and the UK were rough, large and not particularly good," said Sharra Vostral, a historian at Purdue University who has written a book on the history of menstrual hygiene. 
 
Sanitary pads became widely available from the 1920s, buoyed by mass advertising campaigns as companies targeted a new market. Tampons followed suit in the 1930s. 
 
"Many people believed women were not qualified to do lots of things during their period," Vostral said. 
Menstrual products helped women "hide their period and overcome prejudice... that's also why these products became very appealing," she said. 
 
The menstrual cup first went on sale in the 1930s, but became more widely available in the 2000s. 
 
Sponges and reusable pads - 
 
More options have been available to women in recent years, including reusable pads, sponges and period underwear. 
 
"It took a very long time for period products to meet the needs and comfort of women," said Elise Thiebaut, author of the 2017 book "This is my blood". 
 
The rise of social media has also seen more discussion and heightened awareness about menstruation. And some advertisements that had long used blue liquid to depict menstrual blood have now switched to red. 
 
Are these signs that the stigma surrounding menstruation could be lifting? 
 
Thiebaut said that the dialogue had changed "in an exceptional way over the past five years -- but it is in certain circles, certain generations, certain countries."

Women have been managing their periods for millennia, but the way they do so has changed as menstruation has become more and less stigmatised over time. From rags to tampons, menstrual cups and free-bleeding, take a tour of the history of period products on this Menstrual Hygiene Day.

Women have been managing their periods for millennia, but the way they do so has changed as menstruation has become more and less stigmatised over time. From rags to tampons, menstrual cups and free-bleeding, take a tour of the history of period products on this Menstrual Hygiene Day. - Not always taboo - For most of human history, menstruation was very poorly understood. In ancient times, it was often thought of negatively, the blood was considered impure and periods were thought to be a curse. From the 15th century, "women would apply remedies, for example, enemas, perform physical exercise or take emmenagogue plants", which helped regulate menstruation cycles, French historian Nahema Hanafi told AFP. It was the job of the women in a teenager's family or community to inform her about periods. But they also discussed how it worked with men. "In medieval and modern times, people talk about menstruation because it is a crucial health issue that concerns the whole family," Hanafi said. Noblewomen, for example, would catalogue their periods in correspondence with their father or uncle. However menstruation became taboo in 19th century Europe with the rise of the middle class, which brought about new social norms, the historian said. Modesty became a feminine virtue. "In this movement, everything related to the body and sexuality was kept from women's sight, which prevented them from being informed about these subjects -- and from talking about them," Hanafi said. Rags attached with hooks - Throughout history women mostly wore skirts or dresses. Peasant women let the blood flow freely. Middle class or high brow women used cloth, held in place by knots or hooks, to catch the blood. However women had fewer periods than today, because they were more likely to be pregnant. And girls used to get their first period years far later in life. Girls got their period at around 16 years of age in 1750, compared with an average of 12.6 years today, according to the French Institute for Demographic Studies. The first products - The first menstrual products started appearing towards the end of the 19th century, particularly in the United States and Britain. "Early products sold in the US and the UK were rough, large and not particularly good," said Sharra Vostral, a historian at Purdue University who has written a book on the history of menstrual hygiene. Sanitary pads became widely available from the 1920s, buoyed by mass advertising campaigns as companies targeted a new market. Tampons followed suit in the 1930s. "Many people believed women were not qualified to do lots of things during their period," Vostral said. Menstrual products helped women "hide their period and overcome prejudice... that's also why these products became very appealing," she said. The menstrual cup first went on sale in the 1930s, but became more widely available in the 2000s. Sponges and reusable pads - More options have been available to women in recent years, including reusable pads, sponges and period underwear. "It took a very long time for period products to meet the needs and comfort of women," said Elise Thiebaut, author of the 2017 book "This is my blood". The rise of social media has also seen more discussion and heightened awareness about menstruation. And some advertisements that had long used blue liquid to depict menstrual blood have now switched to red. Are these signs that the stigma surrounding menstruation could be lifting? Thiebaut said that the dialogue had changed "in an exceptional way over the past five years -- but it is in certain circles, certain generations, certain countries."

Menstrual Hygiene Day: How women have managed periods throughout history

As broader recognition has emerged of the cost of essential period products, governments around the world have taken strides to address the issue of “period poverty.” Scotland last year passed legislation ensuring that the products are available for free to all who need them, and students in New Zealand will soon be able to get free menstrual products in schools.

Now, retailers are getting involved.

In Ireland, the supermarket chain Lidl will offer free period products in its stores across the country — the first major retailer to make period products available for free nationwide.

The initiative comes as the Irish government is discussing a bill that would enshrine free period products for all into law, similar to a measure in neighboring Scotland.

“The guiding principle of this initiative is the inherent respect for the dignity of all those concerned,” Aoife Clarke, a spokesperson for Lidl Ireland, said in a statement, adding that the company wanted to support girls and women as a “family retailer.”

Activists welcomed the move as a sign that big businesses can strengthen campaigns to end “period poverty” — in which circumstances, financial or otherwise, leave those who menstruate without access to sanitary products.

The step by a major retailer to provide free sanitary products is a “game-changer,” said Claire Hunt, founder of Homeless Period Ireland, a volunteer organization that partnered with Lidl Ireland on the initiative.

She said the move sent a “positive message” that has even greater significance given the financial strain caused by the pandemic.

“If you’re experiencing food poverty or fuel poverty, you’re inevitably going to experience period poverty, too,” Hunt said.

Under the initiative, announced Monday, customers can claim a free box of sanitary pads or tampons each month beginning in May by downloading a coupon in the retailer’s app.

Lidl, a German-owned discount retailer, said it would also donate free period products to the Simon Communities of Ireland, a network of homelessness charities, and to Ladies Gaelic Football Association clubs across the country.

Neighboring Britain has also taken strides to address the issue of period poverty, particularly in Scotland, which in November became the first country to enact legislation making period products available free of charge to those who need them. In January, Britain’s government abolished a tax that classified sanitary products as nonessential, a charge that had been denounced as sexist. Schools across England and Wales offer period products, and Northern Ireland adopted a similar program last year.

In Ireland, about half of girls ages 12-19 reported occasionally struggling to afford sanitary products, according to a 2018 survey by the children’s charity Plan International.

And although campaigners called the involvement of a big retailer promising, they said more still needed to be done to address the underlying issues of poverty and to provide young people with better education on menstruation.

“If anything, it just opens conversations, and that’s the important thing,” Hunt said. “This is a dignity issue.”

Campaigners elsewhere agree.

Gabby Edlin, CEO of Bloody Good Period, a charity in Britain that provides and campaigns for free period products, said it was a symbol of change that businesses were getting involved.

“Nobody should be going into debt or struggling for money for something that is an essential part of human life,” she said.

As broader recognition has emerged of the cost of essential period products, governments around the world have taken strides to address the issue of “period poverty.

As broader recognition has emerged of the cost of essential period products, governments around the world have taken strides to address the issue of “period poverty.” Scotland last year passed legislation ensuring that the products are available for free to all who need them, and students in New Zealand will soon be able to get free menstrual products in schools. Now, retailers are getting involved. In Ireland, the supermarket chain Lidl will offer free period products in its stores across the country — the first major retailer to make period products available for free nationwide. The initiative comes as the Irish government is discussing a bill that would enshrine free period products for all into law, similar to a measure in neighboring Scotland. “The guiding principle of this initiative is the inherent respect for the dignity of all those concerned,” Aoife Clarke, a spokesperson for Lidl Ireland, said in a statement, adding that the company wanted to support girls and women as a “family retailer.” Activists welcomed the move as a sign that big businesses can strengthen campaigns to end “period poverty” — in which circumstances, financial or otherwise, leave those who menstruate without access to sanitary products. The step by a major retailer to provide free sanitary products is a “game-changer,” said Claire Hunt, founder of Homeless Period Ireland, a volunteer organization that partnered with Lidl Ireland on the initiative. She said the move sent a “positive message” that has even greater significance given the financial strain caused by the pandemic. “If you’re experiencing food poverty or fuel poverty, you’re inevitably going to experience period poverty, too,” Hunt said. Under the initiative, announced Monday, customers can claim a free box of sanitary pads or tampons each month beginning in May by downloading a coupon in the retailer’s app. Lidl, a German-owned discount retailer, said it would also donate free period products to the Simon Communities of Ireland, a network of homelessness charities, and to Ladies Gaelic Football Association clubs across the country. Neighboring Britain has also taken strides to address the issue of period poverty, particularly in Scotland, which in November became the first country to enact legislation making period products available free of charge to those who need them. In January, Britain’s government abolished a tax that classified sanitary products as nonessential, a charge that had been denounced as sexist. Schools across England and Wales offer period products, and Northern Ireland adopted a similar program last year. In Ireland, about half of girls ages 12-19 reported occasionally struggling to afford sanitary products, according to a 2018 survey by the children’s charity Plan International. And although campaigners called the involvement of a big retailer promising, they said more still needed to be done to address the underlying issues of poverty and to provide young people with better education on menstruation. “If anything, it just opens conversations, and that’s the important thing,” Hunt said. “This is a dignity issue.” Campaigners elsewhere agree. Gabby Edlin, CEO of Bloody Good Period, a charity in Britain that provides and campaigns for free period products, said it was a symbol of change that businesses were getting involved. “Nobody should be going into debt or struggling for money for something that is an essential part of human life,” she said.

In Ireland, a grocery chain addresses 'period poverty' with free products

It may be called the misfortune of the country that despite regarding the motherland as Bharat ‘Mata’, we have failed in reading and respecting the daughters of the ‘Mata’.

What is more unfortunate is that left-leaning &amp; self-proclaimed ‘feminist’ historians who were entrusted with the responsibility of building syllabi for the future of the country preferred to put up fake and evidence-less theories of Aryan Invasion instead of teaching the students about the valor and the effective authoritarian values of our women leaders.

One must ask a question to the ‘historians’ if the role of Rani Laxmibai was so minute in the freedom struggle that she was wrapped up within a paragraph? It is a very well known fact that Jijabai, the mother of Shivaji Maharaj, had a huge constructive impression on the Chhatrapati and she was the inspiration to the idea of ‘Hindavi Swarajya’.&nbsp;

Then why is it that we prefer to have a case study on Akbar and not on Jijabai? If we are to enumerate the achievements of both, the latter would clearly have an upper hand.&nbsp;

Was it not Akbar who used to marry off the daughters of the Rajput kings who he knew were masters in warfare? Jijabai, on the other hand, started from nil. She carved out an empire from dust. An empire that would one day be the main force all across Hindustan. The warfare of the Marathas, especially the Naval forces and the guerilla warfare have been praised by multiple British historians. Ironically, the Indian historians stay silent over the same.

We, the general public, have very easily, let the left lobby carry out their agenda. This is why the birth of a child of a virgin mother becomes ‘history’ and a determined woman killing a tyrant and a despot free the world from his clutches is unrealistic and hence ‘mythological’.

Peeping into the past of India, we have women adept in every field. You name it and we have it.

Gargi, the embodiment of Knowledge; Sita, the personification of chastity; Panna Dhai, the incorporation of Sacrifice; Padmavati, the incarnation of honour; Jijabai, the quintessence of self-rule; Rani Laxmibai, the essence of Patriotism and so on.

The list is countless.

One major reason for this was found in a recent survey conducted across a sample size of 74000+ by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

In a shocking conclusion, we came to know that only 28 per cent of the content taught in Social Studies from class 6 to 8 were written or authored by women. The condition of Sanskrit is even worse at only 16 per cent. As we go towards higher standards, this percentage deteriorates. In textbooks of 10th standard, this percentage is around 7.14 per cent. In 11th standard textbooks, lessons by women writers are 5.8 per cent only.

This is basic human psyche that a person is likely to resonate with another person of the same gender in terms of ideology and ideals. This theory actually explains the absence of women figures from the educational framework in recent times, may they be historical or divine. The situation would improve if certain fake philosophy peddling historians stop carrying out their personal agenda and focus on the real historical figures which we have revered over the ages.

Almost all of us would have studied the grave gender imbalance in the state of Haryana. Reducing the gap between the genders can be truly counted as an achievement for the outgoing Khattar government. From an abysmal 832 girls for every 1000 boys in 2012 to the 924 girls per 1000 boys as per government figures of December 2018; this is the sheer success of government policies such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.&nbsp;

Karnal tops the state with a ration of 979 girls in 2018 up from 797 in 2012. A village of Haryana in Mahendragarh district, Amarpur Jorasi, recorded Sex ratio at birth of just 291 girls in 2014.&nbsp;

This figure soared to an impressive 1190 girls per 1000 girls as per government records. This figure also shows that Bollywood and movies made revolving around social figures are being successful in bringing about a change in society.

Talking about the menstrual cycle among girls, which until a few years ago was considered as a taboo, the survey got out interesting results. 60.29 per cent of girls claimed that they avoid entering into the temples whereas 43.74 per cent claimed that they were not allowed to participate in any kind of religious activities. 20.13 per cent girls opined that they were prevented to touch other person and segregate themselves from other.&nbsp;

It is the positive effect of an open and healthy discussion that we are able to talk of menstruation without fear of societal taboo. Perhaps, the time is ripe that we begin to celebrate menstruation as divinity and an ability to give birth. The coastal state of Odisha has a tradition of celebrating the menstrual cycle over 4 days known as ‘Raja’.&nbsp;

The Shakti Peeth of Kamakhya, which is known for granting wishes relating to childbirth, to celebrates menstruation.

One of the most interesting conclusions from this survey was that the women with the highest level of satisfaction hailed from the spiritual field.&nbsp;

87.83 per cent women in this field feel that women should participate in large numbers in the spiritual field as it gives happiness, peace of mind and self-confidence. India has always had a rich tradition of spirituality and women since beginning remained a part of it.&nbsp;

There are thousands of women dedicated to spirituality and living a different life. There are so many disciplines in spirituality exist in India having different ways of worships. The people who are dedicated to this field supposed to follow all the rules and style of living which is not that easy for common people.

The findings of the survey also reinforced the ancient and traditional concept that happiness is not dependent on materialism and is more about the connection with the divine. The forces which try to demolish the school of thought of Sanatan divinity should try to connect to the spiritual life rather than mumbling gibberish. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

It may be called the misfortune of the country that despite regarding the motherland as Bharat ‘Mata’, we have failed in reading and respecting the daughters of the ‘Mata’.

It may be called the misfortune of the country that despite regarding the motherland as Bharat ‘Mata’, we have failed in reading and respecting the daughters of the ‘Mata’. What is more unfortunate is that left-leaning & self-proclaimed ‘feminist’ historians who were entrusted with the responsibility of building syllabi for the future of the country preferred to put up fake and evidence-less theories of Aryan Invasion instead of teaching the students about the valor and the effective authoritarian values of our women leaders. One must ask a question to the ‘historians’ if the role of Rani Laxmibai was so minute in the freedom struggle that she was wrapped up within a paragraph? It is a very well known fact that Jijabai, the mother of Shivaji Maharaj, had a huge constructive impression on the Chhatrapati and she was the inspiration to the idea of ‘Hindavi Swarajya’. Then why is it that we prefer to have a case study on Akbar and not on Jijabai? If we are to enumerate the achievements of both, the latter would clearly have an upper hand. Was it not Akbar who used to marry off the daughters of the Rajput kings who he knew were masters in warfare? Jijabai, on the other hand, started from nil. She carved out an empire from dust. An empire that would one day be the main force all across Hindustan. The warfare of the Marathas, especially the Naval forces and the guerilla warfare have been praised by multiple British historians. Ironically, the Indian historians stay silent over the same. We, the general public, have very easily, let the left lobby carry out their agenda. This is why the birth of a child of a virgin mother becomes ‘history’ and a determined woman killing a tyrant and a despot free the world from his clutches is unrealistic and hence ‘mythological’. Peeping into the past of India, we have women adept in every field. You name it and we have it. Gargi, the embodiment of Knowledge; Sita, the personification of chastity; Panna Dhai, the incorporation of Sacrifice; Padmavati, the incarnation of honour; Jijabai, the quintessence of self-rule; Rani Laxmibai, the essence of Patriotism and so on. The list is countless. One major reason for this was found in a recent survey conducted across a sample size of 74000+ by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). In a shocking conclusion, we came to know that only 28 per cent of the content taught in Social Studies from class 6 to 8 were written or authored by women. The condition of Sanskrit is even worse at only 16 per cent. As we go towards higher standards, this percentage deteriorates. In textbooks of 10th standard, this percentage is around 7.14 per cent. In 11th standard textbooks, lessons by women writers are 5.8 per cent only. This is basic human psyche that a person is likely to resonate with another person of the same gender in terms of ideology and ideals. This theory actually explains the absence of women figures from the educational framework in recent times, may they be historical or divine. The situation would improve if certain fake philosophy peddling historians stop carrying out their personal agenda and focus on the real historical figures which we have revered over the ages. Almost all of us would have studied the grave gender imbalance in the state of Haryana. Reducing the gap between the genders can be truly counted as an achievement for the outgoing Khattar government. From an abysmal 832 girls for every 1000 boys in 2012 to the 924 girls per 1000 boys as per government figures of December 2018; this is the sheer success of government policies such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. Karnal tops the state with a ration of 979 girls in 2018 up from 797 in 2012. A village of Haryana in Mahendragarh district, Amarpur Jorasi, recorded Sex ratio at birth of just 291 girls in 2014. This figure soared to an impressive 1190 girls per 1000 girls as per government records. This figure also shows that Bollywood and movies made revolving around social figures are being successful in bringing about a change in society. Talking about the menstrual cycle among girls, which until a few years ago was considered as a taboo, the survey got out interesting results. 60.29 per cent of girls claimed that they avoid entering into the temples whereas 43.74 per cent claimed that they were not allowed to participate in any kind of religious activities. 20.13 per cent girls opined that they were prevented to touch other person and segregate themselves from other. It is the positive effect of an open and healthy discussion that we are able to talk of menstruation without fear of societal taboo. Perhaps, the time is ripe that we begin to celebrate menstruation as divinity and an ability to give birth. The coastal state of Odisha has a tradition of celebrating the menstrual cycle over 4 days known as ‘Raja’. The Shakti Peeth of Kamakhya, which is known for granting wishes relating to childbirth, to celebrates menstruation. One of the most interesting conclusions from this survey was that the women with the highest level of satisfaction hailed from the spiritual field. 87.83 per cent women in this field feel that women should participate in large numbers in the spiritual field as it gives happiness, peace of mind and self-confidence. India has always had a rich tradition of spirituality and women since beginning remained a part of it. There are thousands of women dedicated to spirituality and living a different life. There are so many disciplines in spirituality exist in India having different ways of worships. The people who are dedicated to this field supposed to follow all the rules and style of living which is not that easy for common people. The findings of the survey also reinforced the ancient and traditional concept that happiness is not dependent on materialism and is more about the connection with the divine. The forces which try to demolish the school of thought of Sanatan divinity should try to connect to the spiritual life rather than mumbling gibberish. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Breaking the stereotypes

Our society has men like Akshay Kumar and Arunachalam Muruganantham, who understood the pain a female goes through during the course of menstruation cycle. Rather than blindly following the horde of hypocrisy, some men chose to show their concern to any and every female around them.

A small town man from Tamil Nadu,Arunanchalam&nbsp;Muruganantham runs a factory, producing low-cost sanitary napkins. This initiative was not a money-making-idea. It was rather a step to get involved in the sphere shared by females; it had helped him to understand the pain of his wife, sister, and mother goes through while bleeding each month. Of course, the ride was no less than a roller coaster. Belonging to a conservative family, talking about menstruation with his own wife seemed like a sin. Running away from the judgemental eyes finally landed him in a medical college where he collected the used sanitary napkins. His moral never dropped even for a second because he had realised that menstruation was shrouded with the blind superstitious belief which is harmful to the entire female section. He had understood why men are unaware of the female biological phenomenon. He had understood that women of the society had been living a tough life all alone and needed proper hygienic sanitation during menstruation.

Taking inspiration from Arunachalam Muruganantham, writer/producer Twinkle Khanna along with husband Akshay Kumar, took the initiative further. Although the small town guy had gained his fame long before, Akshay Kumar made him India&#39;s &#39;Padman&#39;. This effort was made to inculcate in the society that menstruation is no evil spirit, and is as natural as peeing, which needs to be sanitised properly.&nbsp;

Giving Akshay Kumar the lead role in the film Padman was the right decision. Akshay, after all, starred in another taboo-breaking film &ndash; Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, and the actor is considered as an epitome of change in society. The film started off with a decent earning of 10 Cr, 13 Cr, and 16 Cr on the first three days of release. However, the film has seen with a considerable slowdown in the second week.

But the point is not how big hit the movie was at the box office. Rather, the impact of the movie in our personal lives needs to be analysed. Since I had expected a lot more viewership to this &lsquo;breaking-the-stereotype-movie&rsquo;, which actually didn&#39;t turn out likewise, I ended up conducting a survey asking what people know/think about menstruation.&nbsp;

From the responses of people, I realised that some have been hesitant in watching this film with family. A father and daughter might have felt embarrassed, or the son and the mother, or possibly a sister and a brother. To my shock, few men had answered &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t know what is menstruation&rsquo;, &lsquo;women bleed&rsquo;, &lsquo;Its women&rsquo;s personal problem, why should I know&rsquo;, &lsquo;women are Apavitra (profane) while bleeding&rsquo;, &lsquo;my wife and daughter don&rsquo;t tell me their problem regarding menstruation because of family customs&rsquo;.&nbsp;

This is disheartening because blood excreted during menstruation is actually what we all are made of. Had the blood been flowed in sewage even after conceiving the fetus, no human would have taken birth. Thus, if the women are profane during the course of menstruation, I believe we all are profane too.&nbsp;

The entire society needs to understand that although it is the woman who bleeds, the course of menstruation is to be dealt by the entire society. Not that men should start to bleed, but just as in pregnancy the husband has a very important responsibility of taking care of her wife. Similarly, while the wife, sister, daughter or mother is bleeding, men should play an empathetic role. The role of not giving her a judgemental nasty look, the role of sympathising her, the role of comforting and proving her, the role of becoming a helping hand instead of shunning her away simply by saying &#39;it happens every month, get used to it&#39;.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Although it is the women who bleed, the course of menstruation is to be dealt by the entire society. Akshay Kumar and Muru are amongst few to understand menstruation but what about the rest.

Our society has men like Akshay Kumar and Arunachalam Muruganantham, who understood the pain a female goes through during the course of menstruation cycle. Rather than blindly following the horde of hypocrisy, some men chose to show their concern to any and every female around them. A small town man from Tamil Nadu,Arunanchalam Muruganantham runs a factory, producing low-cost sanitary napkins. This initiative was not a money-making-idea. It was rather a step to get involved in the sphere shared by females; it had helped him to understand the pain of his wife, sister, and mother goes through while bleeding each month. Of course, the ride was no less than a roller coaster. Belonging to a conservative family, talking about menstruation with his own wife seemed like a sin. Running away from the judgemental eyes finally landed him in a medical college where he collected the used sanitary napkins. His moral never dropped even for a second because he had realised that menstruation was shrouded with the blind superstitious belief which is harmful to the entire female section. He had understood why men are unaware of the female biological phenomenon. He had understood that women of the society had been living a tough life all alone and needed proper hygienic sanitation during menstruation. Taking inspiration from Arunachalam Muruganantham, writer/producer Twinkle Khanna along with husband Akshay Kumar, took the initiative further. Although the small town guy had gained his fame long before, Akshay Kumar made him India's 'Padman'. This effort was made to inculcate in the society that menstruation is no evil spirit, and is as natural as peeing, which needs to be sanitised properly. Giving Akshay Kumar the lead role in the film Padman was the right decision. Akshay, after all, starred in another taboo-breaking film – Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, and the actor is considered as an epitome of change in society. The film started off with a decent earning of 10 Cr, 13 Cr, and 16 Cr on the first three days of release. However, the film has seen with a considerable slowdown in the second week. But the point is not how big hit the movie was at the box office. Rather, the impact of the movie in our personal lives needs to be analysed. Since I had expected a lot more viewership to this ‘breaking-the-stereotype-movie’, which actually didn't turn out likewise, I ended up conducting a survey asking what people know/think about menstruation. From the responses of people, I realised that some have been hesitant in watching this film with family. A father and daughter might have felt embarrassed, or the son and the mother, or possibly a sister and a brother. To my shock, few men had answered ‘I don’t know what is menstruation’, ‘women bleed’, ‘Its women’s personal problem, why should I know’, ‘women are Apavitra (profane) while bleeding’, ‘my wife and daughter don’t tell me their problem regarding menstruation because of family customs’. This is disheartening because blood excreted during menstruation is actually what we all are made of. Had the blood been flowed in sewage even after conceiving the fetus, no human would have taken birth. Thus, if the women are profane during the course of menstruation, I believe we all are profane too. The entire society needs to understand that although it is the woman who bleeds, the course of menstruation is to be dealt by the entire society. Not that men should start to bleed, but just as in pregnancy the husband has a very important responsibility of taking care of her wife. Similarly, while the wife, sister, daughter or mother is bleeding, men should play an empathetic role. The role of not giving her a judgemental nasty look, the role of sympathising her, the role of comforting and proving her, the role of becoming a helping hand instead of shunning her away simply by saying 'it happens every month, get used to it'. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Like Padman, are other men sharing the pain of menstruation?

It&#39;s not often we get to see a Bollywood film dealing with an important social issue, trying to break a stereotype established in the society for centuries and most importantly an A-lister actor taking on this challenge to portray a risky character who may or may not be able to make into the hearts of the masses.&nbsp;

Releasing tomorrow on February 9, PadMan starring Akshay Kumar in the lead along with Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte will take on this challenge. The story is inspired by real-life story of&nbsp;Arunachalam Muruganantham,&nbsp;a&nbsp;social entrepreneur&nbsp;from&nbsp;Coimbatore&nbsp;in&nbsp;Tamil Nadu,&nbsp;India. Inventor of the low-cost sanitary pad-making machine and credited for innovating grassroots mechanisms for creating awareness about traditional and unhygienic practices around menstruation in rural India, the film traces Arunachalam&#39;s hurdles and rise to fame in real-life.&nbsp;

Arunachalam dropped out of school at&nbsp;14 years of age and&nbsp;worked as a farm labourer, workshop welder to earn his daily wage for several years before being hit by the realisation that Indian rural women have no access or awareness about their own personal hygiene. He understood the challenges faced by women on a monthly basis after being in close quarters with his wife and watching her use unhygienic products to stop bleeding during her menstruation cycle.&nbsp;

In an exclusive interview with WION, the real &#39;PadMan&#39;&nbsp;opens up about his ongoing struggle for women&#39;s personal hygiene awareness and his hopes from the Bollywood movie of the same name:

<ul>
	<li>How important is it for Bollywood to take up the issue of menstrual hygiene -- still a social taboo in India?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

For 18 years we have been working towards menstrual hygiene awareness in the country but nobody talks about women&#39;s menstruation. In fact, it would be the first time that an interview is based on this issue.&nbsp;Nobody has spoken about it for centuries-- mother never talks to daughter or&nbsp;vice versa. Now that a Bollywood movie is being made on the topic, the film with its visual space will at least empower women to talk about it, to open up. Via Akshay Kumar, via this movie, women will be empowered to start a dialogue. I am hopeful that since its a Bollywood movie, the topic it deals with will reach nook and corner of India and the world, something we always aspired to be able to do.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>The focus of the film and your campaign is mostly on rural population, however, the urban populace is also affected by social taboos like not visiting the temple while menstruating. Most feel it&#39;s a part of Hindu tradition. Some think there are scientific reasons behind it.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

These are century-old traditions, it will slowly go away via debates.&nbsp;Instead of looking for an opportunity from the society, I tried finding a solution to the problem with the little knowledge I had and became a solution-provider. In India, we need to become that and then we can become a superpower.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>In 1998, when you approached&nbsp;Shanti, your wife to use sanitary napkins, she said we have to compensate on&nbsp;house budget to afford, what can the government do to make sanitary pads available and affordable?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

The government needs to start by making a propaganda&nbsp;for menstrual hygiene&nbsp;awareness, to educate the women and then give them&nbsp;pads. I want them (government) to join us for this initiative. Currently, they just give pads without making them aware, it is useless.&nbsp;If you drop coke inside the jungle, what will the tribals do with it?

We have started the Pad challenge via which we pose with a pad in hand. The message behind this is: &#39;I am holding the pad, it&#39;s not a sin, it&#39;s a pride&#39;.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>At a point in your life, you wore pads for yourself to find out if they worked. It led to your&nbsp;mother leaving you and your wife filing for a divorce. The society even called you&nbsp;mentally unstable. How did you cope?</li>
</ul>

The whole society thought I was a pervert, a psycho and neglected me. I&nbsp;literally cried watching a scene in the movie that depicted that phase of my life. On the flip side, it made me free, made me feel like a &#39;pardesi&#39;&nbsp;but that made my job easier. I took it positively and conducted research without any disturbance.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>This one time you went to buy a sanitary pad for your wife, you faced a certain apprehension from the shopkeeper. Pease narrate.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

There was once when I got a chance to buy a sanitary&nbsp;pad for my wife when I saw her using a rag cloth -- I rode my cycle for 14 km&nbsp;and reached this shop. I asked the shopkeeper for a pad and he asked which brand, I had no idea what he meant and just asked him to give me any. He, then, took a packet, wrapped it in a brown packet, checked if no one was watching him and then handed me the packet readily. It looked like he was smuggling the packet to me. And this was not just limited to that place but even in Delhi where shopkeepers shy from handing the packet normally to you. There is so much stigma around that packet.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Sanitary pads are liable to 12% GST&nbsp;while there are products like sindoor, bindi, kajal that are free of tax. The government argues that if they&nbsp;remove the tax from pads then they would end up taking a massive hit on the domestic market and on imports. &nbsp;</li>
</ul>

They are only concerned about AA, availability and affordability while we are focusing our attention on a third A-- awareness as that is missing. GST is not a problem when you teach the importance of hygiene. People won&#39;t shy off from paying one or two rupees more. Also, the government can make pads tax free and not make losses as the spending on women&#39;s personal health will then come down if awareness is prioritised. They can even end up saving double.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>In India, 93% women&nbsp;can&#39;t afford sanitary napkins. What do you hope to achieve?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Our mission is creating rural employment for millions of women in India and converting India into 100% sanitary napkin using country from the current level of less than 10%. The film will help us to achieve this mission.&nbsp;

In 2014, Arunachalam was named by Time&#39;s magazine as one of the most influential people on the planet while also being awarded by the Government of India the prestigious Padma Shri.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Arunachalam is a South India-based social entrepreneur who invented a low-cost sanitary pad making machine and runs a campaign for importance women's personal hygiene awareness

It's not often we get to see a Bollywood film dealing with an important social issue, trying to break a stereotype established in the society for centuries and most importantly an A-lister actor taking on this challenge to portray a risky character who may or may not be able to make into the hearts of the masses. Releasing tomorrow on February 9, PadMan starring Akshay Kumar in the lead along with Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte will take on this challenge. The story is inspired by real-life story of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a social entrepreneur from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, India. Inventor of the low-cost sanitary pad-making machine and credited for innovating grassroots mechanisms for creating awareness about traditional and unhygienic practices around menstruation in rural India, the film traces Arunachalam's hurdles and rise to fame in real-life. Arunachalam dropped out of school at 14 years of age and worked as a farm labourer, workshop welder to earn his daily wage for several years before being hit by the realisation that Indian rural women have no access or awareness about their own personal hygiene. He understood the challenges faced by women on a monthly basis after being in close quarters with his wife and watching her use unhygienic products to stop bleeding during her menstruation cycle. In an exclusive interview with WION, the real 'PadMan' opens up about his ongoing struggle for women's personal hygiene awareness and his hopes from the Bollywood movie of the same name: How important is it for Bollywood to take up the issue of menstrual hygiene -- still a social taboo in India? For 18 years we have been working towards menstrual hygiene awareness in the country but nobody talks about women's menstruation. In fact, it would be the first time that an interview is based on this issue. Nobody has spoken about it for centuries-- mother never talks to daughter or vice versa. Now that a Bollywood movie is being made on the topic, the film with its visual space will at least empower women to talk about it, to open up. Via Akshay Kumar, via this movie, women will be empowered to start a dialogue. I am hopeful that since its a Bollywood movie, the topic it deals with will reach nook and corner of India and the world, something we always aspired to be able to do. The focus of the film and your campaign is mostly on rural population, however, the urban populace is also affected by social taboos like not visiting the temple while menstruating. Most feel it's a part of Hindu tradition. Some think there are scientific reasons behind it. These are century-old traditions, it will slowly go away via debates. Instead of looking for an opportunity from the society, I tried finding a solution to the problem with the little knowledge I had and became a solution-provider. In India, we need to become that and then we can become a superpower. In 1998, when you approached Shanti, your wife to use sanitary napkins, she said we have to compensate on house budget to afford, what can the government do to make sanitary pads available and affordable? The government needs to start by making a propaganda for menstrual hygiene awareness, to educate the women and then give them pads. I want them (government) to join us for this initiative. Currently, they just give pads without making them aware, it is useless. If you drop coke inside the jungle, what will the tribals do with it? We have started the Pad challenge via which we pose with a pad in hand. The message behind this is: 'I am holding the pad, it's not a sin, it's a pride'. At a point in your life, you wore pads for yourself to find out if they worked. It led to your mother leaving you and your wife filing for a divorce. The society even called you mentally unstable. How did you cope? The whole society thought I was a pervert, a psycho and neglected me. I literally cried watching a scene in the movie that depicted that phase of my life. On the flip side, it made me free, made me feel like a 'pardesi' but that made my job easier. I took it positively and conducted research without any disturbance. This one time you went to buy a sanitary pad for your wife, you faced a certain apprehension from the shopkeeper. Pease narrate. There was once when I got a chance to buy a sanitary pad for my wife when I saw her using a rag cloth -- I rode my cycle for 14 km and reached this shop. I asked the shopkeeper for a pad and he asked which brand, I had no idea what he meant and just asked him to give me any. He, then, took a packet, wrapped it in a brown packet, checked if no one was watching him and then handed me the packet readily. It looked like he was smuggling the packet to me. And this was not just limited to that place but even in Delhi where shopkeepers shy from handing the packet normally to you. There is so much stigma around that packet. Sanitary pads are liable to 12% GST while there are products like sindoor, bindi, kajal that are free of tax. The government argues that if they remove the tax from pads then they would end up taking a massive hit on the domestic market and on imports. They are only concerned about AA, availability and affordability while we are focusing our attention on a third A-- awareness as that is missing. GST is not a problem when you teach the importance of hygiene. People won't shy off from paying one or two rupees more. Also, the government can make pads tax free and not make losses as the spending on women's personal health will then come down if awareness is prioritised. They can even end up saving double. In India, 93% women can't afford sanitary napkins. What do you hope to achieve? Our mission is creating rural employment for millions of women in India and converting India into 100% sanitary napkin using country from the current level of less than 10%. The film will help us to achieve this mission. In 2014, Arunachalam was named by Time's magazine as one of the most influential people on the planet while also being awarded by the Government of India the prestigious Padma Shri.

WION Exclusive: Meet the real 'PadMan' Arunachalam Muruganantham

With an aim to educate and empower women around the world, three graduates of the National Institute of Design in India came together to create The Menstrupedia. It is a comic book that breaks myths around menstruation and encourages dialogue in a lighthearted manner.&nbsp;

Aditi Gupta, Tuhin Paul and Rajat Mittal co-founded Menstrupedia in September 2016.&nbsp;The Menstrupedia: The Friendly Guide To Periods For Girls&nbsp;is a collection of cartoons that help girls understand menstruation and what happens to their bodies during puberty. The comic takes a scientific approach, rather than a social or cultural one, in order to promote knowledge.&nbsp;

<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="480" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMenstrupedia%2Fposts%2F1134605236652293%3A0&amp;width=970" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="970"></iframe>

The idea came to Aditi when she felt that the society around her was conditioned to never talk about menstruation. She felt that every conversation around the topic of menstruation was in hushed tone, from advertisements to asking for a sanitary pad over the counter. Sharing her story on HerStory, she said, &ldquo;We learn to deny our own body -- our own self-right -- from the time we started growing up, and then everything surrounding it, be it child molestation, periods, pregnancy, and intercourse. Even touching and hugging becomes shameful and embarrassing.&rdquo;

With The Menstrupedia, her team of three (one girl and two boys) started a campaign which emphasised the need to talk about periods, to stop the culture of shame and to come out in the open.

<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="480" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMenstrupedia%2Fphotos%2Fa.1014112515368233.1073741892.277577839021708%2F1014113448701473%2F%3Ftype%3D3&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="970"></iframe>

They started by taking the comic to schools and NGOs across the country. As of now, The Menstrupedia has been circulated in around 75 schools and 25 NGOs. It is available in different languages, being reprinted in Nepalese, Spanish and South American languages. The team also plans to launch the comic book in different Indian languages so as to widen its reach across the country.&nbsp;

Emphasising on the need to include men in this dialogue, she said in her interview to HerStory, &ldquo;Involve men at home. Our husbands, brothers and sons love us, they care about us, they are compassionate. They will be supportive and glad if we include them.&quot;

Her team also focuses on giving practical know-how around menstruation. They organise workshops where they train girls about menstruation, teaching them about safe usage practices for sanitary products. They also install insinuators in villages for easy access of these.&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="480" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMenstrupedia%2Fvideos%2F392951360817688%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="970"></iframe>

Aditi and her team aims to use Menstrupedia to open a broader dialogue within society at large. She wants people to rise above their discomfort and talk about issues related to menstrual hygiene. She is hopeful that there will come a time when people won&rsquo;t have to wait for any NGO or school to start a conversation about female health.&nbsp;

Currently, they are working on building educational infrastructure for menstrual education. They have an existing audio-visual comic book, that is desktop compatible. They are now working on making their product mobile-friendly so as to ensure complete digitisation.

(Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

Menstrupedia is a fun comic aimed at creating awareness and encouraging conversations around menstruation

With an aim to educate and empower women around the world, three graduates of the National Institute of Design in India came together to create The Menstrupedia. It is a comic book that breaks myths around menstruation and encourages dialogue in a lighthearted manner. Aditi Gupta, Tuhin Paul and Rajat Mittal co-founded Menstrupedia in September 2016. The Menstrupedia: The Friendly Guide To Periods For Girls is a collection of cartoons that help girls understand menstruation and what happens to their bodies during puberty. The comic takes a scientific approach, rather than a social or cultural one, in order to promote knowledge. The idea came to Aditi when she felt that the society around her was conditioned to never talk about menstruation. She felt that every conversation around the topic of menstruation was in hushed tone, from advertisements to asking for a sanitary pad over the counter. Sharing her story on HerStory, she said, “We learn to deny our own body -- our own self-right -- from the time we started growing up, and then everything surrounding it, be it child molestation, periods, pregnancy, and intercourse. Even touching and hugging becomes shameful and embarrassing.” With The Menstrupedia, her team of three (one girl and two boys) started a campaign which emphasised the need to talk about periods, to stop the culture of shame and to come out in the open. They started by taking the comic to schools and NGOs across the country. As of now, The Menstrupedia has been circulated in around 75 schools and 25 NGOs. It is available in different languages, being reprinted in Nepalese, Spanish and South American languages. The team also plans to launch the comic book in different Indian languages so as to widen its reach across the country. Emphasising on the need to include men in this dialogue, she said in her interview to HerStory, “Involve men at home. Our husbands, brothers and sons love us, they care about us, they are compassionate. They will be supportive and glad if we include them." Her team also focuses on giving practical know-how around menstruation. They organise workshops where they train girls about menstruation, teaching them about safe usage practices for sanitary products. They also install insinuators in villages for easy access of these. Aditi and her team aims to use Menstrupedia to open a broader dialogue within society at large. She wants people to rise above their discomfort and talk about issues related to menstrual hygiene. She is hopeful that there will come a time when people won’t have to wait for any NGO or school to start a conversation about female health. Currently, they are working on building educational infrastructure for menstrual education. They have an existing audio-visual comic book, that is desktop compatible. They are now working on making their product mobile-friendly so as to ensure complete digitisation. (Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

#BeTheChange: Breaking the taboo around menstruation with comics

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