By Aishat Ibrahim
Every month, the female body prepares itself for pregnancy. The absence of that is followed by the womb shedding its lining in form of blood which passes out through the vagina. This blood is called menstrual blood.
Choosing the perfect product to soak up the menstrual blood has always been a nightmare for young girls. Here are some of the products needed during your menstrual period.
• Sanitary pads or napkins
These are rectangular absorbent materials that can be attach to the inside of a girl’s pants to soak menstrual blood. It has wings over the edges of the pant to hold the pad and prevent leaking.
Depending on girl’s flow, there are different pads for every flow and situation. So you decide which to use.
Regular: It’s a medium absorbent pad for flow in mid-range between light and heavy.
Maxi & Super: It accommodates medium or heavy flow.
Slender: This is a narrow pad that best suit people that wear small clothing size.
Thin/ultra thin: It’s best for light days.
Overnight: The biggest of all pads which is longer and thinner to protect the underpants and bedspreads from leaks and stains.
• Tampons
These are absorbent material compressed into a small tube to absorb blood from inside the vagina. The tampon usually comes with applicator and a string. The applicator guide the tampon into the right place while the string stays outside girl’s body for easy access when removing the tampon.
Though ladies worry that the tampon might get lost inside their body but it is impossible because the opening of the cervix is too small for tampon to get through while the vagina also holds the tampon in place.
It is also important to change tampon often. Failure to do so could put girls at risk of being infected with Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).
• Menstrual cups
These are flexible rubber materials that are inserted into the vagina to catch blood before it flows out of the vagina. Though menstrual cups look like diaphragm, they however do not prevent pregnancy.
All in all, the type of period protection girls choose depends on their situation, body reaction, their menstrual flow and at times where they go.
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