Taking care of the monthly visitor

TAKING CARE OF THE MONTHLY VISITOR
TG/1.2.3

• Menstruation
All women menstruate except during pregnancy, nursing a baby, is very
underweight, ill or having problems with the reproductive system. Women start to
menstruate between the ages of 9 to 18 years, and continue to menstruate till
about age 45 to 50 years. Most women menstruate regularly every 21 to 40 days.
However, some women menstruate irregularly.
Girls should obtain information about menstruation from parents, sisters, peers or
teachers in school. This is to enable them to be prepared for their first
menstruation. Taking care during menstruation is very important to maintain
cleanliness and health.
∼ Feelings about menstruation

Some girls may feel embarrassed while others have mixed emotions. There are
girls, who have negative feelings after being teased by friends, or feel ashamed
and consider menstruation as dirty. Getting menstruation is normal, healthy and
very positive.
∼ Some attitudes towards menstruation

These are some attitudes people have regarding menstruation:
− Menstruating women are unclean.
− Menstruating women are not allowed to participate in festivals or religious − Menstruating women are sent away and isolated. − They are not allowed to touch certain objects for fear of spoiling the objects.
∼ Predicting the menstrual cycle
Some ways of knowing when menses is due:
− Keeping a calendar of menses for 6 months – count day one of one cycle to
day one of the next cycle. Add them up and divide the answer by 6 to get the average cycle length. However, if the variation is too great, this calculation will not help. − Observe body signs – at ovulation a woman may feel pain or cramping on the back or abdomen. Menses may come 2 weeks later. − The breasts feel bigger, heavier and lumpy after ovulation and before menses. Mark this change on the calendar and note when menses actually comes. − Headache or backache may be experienced just before menses. There may also be inability to sleep (insomnia), eruption of pimples and feeling depressed or cranky. − Appearance of thin and watery vaginal discharge (mucus) during ovulation, is followed by menses 2 weeks later. Then nearing menses, the vaginal mucus becomes thicker and dryer. This feeling can be felt, if not she can insert a finger into her vagina.
∼ Side-effects of menstruation
No side-effects in some women, others may be just slight and a few.
− Headache, cramps, skin problems, cramps and puffiness and heaviness
− Feeling of heaviness or extra tired before menses and then feels well once
∼ Taking care during menstruation
Some tips on self-care during menstruation:
− Observe own body signs so as to plan schedule accordingly. For example,
watching the diet: • Reduce intake of salty foods such as fries, chips, nuts, spicy foods and soy sauce before and during menses to reduce water retention. • Reduce intake of sugar, white flour and caffeine. • Reduce intake of fizzy drinks, chocolate, coffee, cakes, pies and bread. • Drink plenty of fluids – plain water, herbal tea and fruit juices. • Take calcium tablets and vitamin C one week before menses to help • If menstrual flow is heavy, iron tablets may be prescribed to avoid > Lie down and relax both mind and body. > Breathe deeply and slowly while in a completely relaxed state. > Gently massage the abdomen / back while breathing deeply. > Apply hot water bottle / heating pad on the abdomen / back. > Adopt the knee-chest position while applying heat on the back. > Take medication to relieve pain (cramping) – get advice from a doctor > Exercise regularly and get enough sleep. ∼ What causes the cramps?
Theoretically, it is said that menstrual cramps may be due to:
− Uterine and cervical muscle contraction to expel endometrial lining. − A fall in level of oestrogen and progesterone just before menses. − Production of prostaglandins from the endometrium, causing the uterus to
∼ Feelings during menstruation

There are women who feel good during menstruation. There are women who feel
tense and depressed. Women are more likely to fall or hurt themselves during
menses.
• What to use for the menstrual flow?

∼ Sanitary napkins

These are rectangular pads of cotton layers with plastic outer lining worn inside
the underwear (panties) to collect and absorb the menstrual discharge.
− Change when nearly soaked through.
− Change several times a day to prevent stale odour that occurs when − Wrap used napkins in paper and dispose into a proper disposal bin. − Do not flush used napkins down the toilet.
∼ Tampons
Tampons are thin rolls of soft cotton pressed together and a string is attached at
the outer end and extends through the vagina and hangs outside the vulva. It is
inserted into the vagina to soak up menstrual discharge. Tampon use does not
harm a virgin woman. Women using tampons are advised to watch out for toxic
shock syndrome (TSS).
− Push tampon into the vagina with an applicator at an angle upwards and
− Pull the string to remove the tampon after use. − Tampons require less changing since there is no odour. − If menstrual discharge is heavy, tampons must be changed frequently. − Swimming becomes more comfortable when using tampons. − Tampons cannot “travel” to other parts of the body since the cervical os − Wrap used tampons in tissue / newspaper and dispose into proper disposal − Do not throw used tampons into the toilet bowl. • Toxic Shock Syndrome
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) was first recognized in children in 1978. In adults it
was found that TSS occurs in menstruating women using very high absorbency
tampons. These hogh absorbency tampons contain polyester foam and
polyacrylate rayon that soak up magnesium from the vaginal discharge. Reduced
magnesium level cause staphylocossus to produce large amount of toxin and
causes TSS. The incidence of TSS is highest on the 4th day of menses when the
menstrual becomes lesser. Certain women have the tendency to be highly
susceptible to this toxin.
∼ Signs and symptoms of TSS:
− Fever (with body temperature above 38.8OC / 102 OF).
− Desquamation (peeling of skin) of palms and soles occurring 1 – 2 weeks − Myalgia (pain in the muscles).
∼ Preventing TSS
− Avoid use of tampons.
• Alternate tampons with sanitary napkins. • Should be monitored for possible recurrence. • Doctor may prescribe antibiotic therapy during subsequent menses to prevent or reduce the possibility of recurrence.
∼ General care during menstruation

− Bathe frequently and thoroughly cleanse the genital area.
− Bathe using warm water if possible to reduce discomfort and cramps. A warm − Exercise appropriately and regularly can speed up blood circulation and gives − Drink plenty of water to aid digestion and prevent constipation. − Get extra sleep during the days before and during menstruation.

Source: http://www.kpwkm.gov.my/E-Rham/taking%20care%20of%20the%20monthly%20visitor/takingcare%20of%20my%20monthlyvisitors.pdf