Menstruation- A Taboo In India

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Ever wondered why a shopkeeper gives you a pack of ‘Stayfree’ wrapped in paper? In India, one can openly buy alcohol and cigarettes, buying sanitary napkins still remains a shame.

It’s nothing but a natural process

Menstruation among women, despite being a natural phenomenon has always been encircled by secrecy and myths in many Indian societies. Menstruation, commonly known as periods, still continues to be a deep-rooted taboo in India. In a lot of places, menstruating women are made to abstain from any holy deed, religious or otherwise. They are not allowed to enter the temples and worship, because they traditionally assumed to be impure. The prejudice against menstruating women even goes to the extent of not allowing them to sleep on their beds, take bath or decorate themselves. More often than not, most women face an almost inhuman treatment every month for 4-5 days. The bias is ironical on many levels for a developing country like India where we talk about digitalization, women empowerment, reaching on the Mars and campaigns like “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao”.

How do we expect the nation to grow when in India, every year 23 million girls drop out of school as and when they start menstruating, according to report by NDTV. The report also says that 70% of girls remain unaware of menstruation until their first period. Most girls approach their mothers, but in rural areas, even the mothers, due to very limited knowledge of menstrual hygiene and its management, do not know how to explain it to their teen daughters.

Lack of awareness

Most women across India are unaware of the real reason behind menstruation. It has been instead treated as a taboo for generations together. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness continues to shadow young girls reaching their respective menstrual age. The taboo not just affects their social lives but chronically affects their health too. Surveys by the Ministry of Health in 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2012 found out that roughly 120 million menstruating adolescents experience menstrual dysfunctions which affect their everyday lives. Also, due to poor menstrual hygiene, nearly 60,000 deaths are reported every year from India. As a result of the unforgiving stigma, women are hesitant to seek medical help.

Sabarimala issue

One of the recently raised issues in Kerala, a high literacy rate in India burnt in a crimson red fire of period taboo for about four to five months. To contextualise, women between the age of 10-50 were strictly prohibited in the Sabarimala Temple owing to their menstruating bodies. The taboos which should have been vanished long ago are still prevalent due to some unsocial and unreasonable beliefs.

Time to break the myths

Breaking the wheel of poor menstrual hygiene may seem like a herculean task given the gripping clutch of the stigma that has manacled the society as a whole. Menstrual hygiene is a real deal because the lack of it can claim even lives. The deep-rooted stigma, myths and misconception have to be challenged in every household. Most importantly, menstrual awareness needs to be taught in school to everyone including boys. Mothers may need to realise that bleeding daughters are okay and their periods need not come in the way of their growth and education. The change needs to come from every mother who doesn’t tell her daughter “do not discuss your period to anyone”.

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September is Gynecological Cancer Awareness month. All women are at risk for cancers of the Cervix, Ovaries, Fallopian Tubes, Uterus, Vulva, and Vagina. Each gynecological cancer has different signs and symptoms and risk factors. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in Indian women.

Cervical cancer develops in a woman’s cervix. The cervix is the entrance to the uterus from the vagina. Ninety-nine percent of cervical cancer cases are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV). HPV is an extremely common virus transmitted through sexual contact and most people will be infected with HPV at some point in their lifetime. Though the majority of HPV infections clear up on their own and cause no symptoms, in some cases the infection can persist and develop into cervical cancer or other HPV-related cancer.

What is cervical cancer?

Cervix is a part of the reproductive system and is sometimes called the neck of the womb. Cervical cancer is cancer that’s found anywhere in the cervix. Cervical cancer usually grows very slowly and how serious it is depends on how big it is if it has spread and your general health.

Scientific medical illustration of female reproductive system illustration

Symptoms

In most cases, symptoms include, abnormal vaginal bleeding is the first noticeable symptom of cervical cancer. This can be during or after sex, between your periods, or after you have been through menopause. Other symptoms of cervical cancer may include pain and discomfort during sex, unusual or unpleasant vaginal discharge, and pain in your lower back or pelvis. Advance cancer symptoms may include frequent peeing or pooping, swelling in the legs, blood in the urine, and/or urinary incontinence.

Treatment for cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively. Cancers diagnosed in late stages can also be controlled with appropriate treatment and palliative care.

Survey says that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. “In 2018, an estimated 570 000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and about 311 000 women died from the disease”.

How can I prevent cervical cancer?

Get regular cervical screening done with PAP test and HPV tests is the best way to identify abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix at an early stage.
Get your cervical cancer or HPV vaccination
Avoid smoking
Practice safe sex

According to WHO, HPV vaccination and screening for and treating precancerous lesions will prevent most cervical cancer cases. Cervical cancer is preventable and curable, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively.

The global strategy for cervical cancer elimination by WHO

In May 2018, the WHO Director-General announced a global call for action to eliminate cervical cancer, underscoring renewed political will to make elimination a reality and calling for all stakeholders to unite behind this common goal.

In August 2020 the World Health Assembly adopted the Global Strategy for cervical cancer elimination.

On November 17, 2020, WHO launched a global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer, with a resolution passed by 194 countries.

About the vaccine

The HPV vaccine comes in 3 doses and each costs Rs. 2000 per dose. Anyone with a vulva who is between 9 to 45 years of age can get this vaccine. Apart from this regular screening and treatment of precancerous lesions are essential in prevention. If you haven’t got your cervical vaccine yet, speak to your physician and get one now.

If you are looking to spread Cervical Cancer Awareness within your community or organization, you can connect with CAPED INDIA at +91-9873162532. CAPED is an Indian NGO working in the area of Cervical Cancer Awareness Prevention & Early Detection for Cervical Cancer-Free Future.

Source: WHO & www.nhs.uk