WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE ORGANIC PADS YOUR ATTENTION

Feminine hygiene during menstruation is an essentiality for a woman during her active reproductive life spanning over 35 to 40 years. Sadly, a majority of women 

 in Nigeria are deprived of the basic means of menstrual hygiene management due to factors such as illiteracy, poor economic scenario, social and cultural compulsions.

How do you describe menstruation?

Menstruation is a natural biological phenomenon of procreation, in which a female goes through this cycle roughly once a month. The process is triggered by the pituitary gland in the brain which prompts the release of a mature ovum from the female ovary to lodge in the uterus for a fortnight waiting to be fertilized by a sperm. In the absence of fertilization, the ovum along with the primed inner wall of the uterus is discharged as menstrual flow from the genitals in the form of blood. This flow lasts for 4 to 5 days.

Description of available menstrual products

There are two basic types of menstrual products. They are 

1. Internal Products 
2. and External Products 

It is designed to collect the menstrual fluid within the body like Tampons or Cups and the latter as the name suggests, captures the flow outside the body like Sanitary Pads and Liners, which again have many variants.

What are organic, biodegradable pads?

Sanitary pads and liners that have an organic plant based top cover with a corn, bamboo, wood, banana, jute pulp or cellulose absorbent core and thus free from any plastics, chlorine, latex, rayon, chemical additives or dyes are classified as biodegradable pads. This makes them fully compostable and lessens the accumulation of plastic waste.

Benefits of biodegradable sanitary pads 

Organic sanitary pads can benefit you in many ways, first and foremost by directly helping in the management of menstrual hygiene and indirectly by impacting the society as a whole. Let us enumerate nine of them one by one:

1.Basic Hygiene: The organic, biodegradable pads have an efficient absorbent cellulose core which is better suited to keep you dry. The sensitive skin around the genitalia does not react, and hence the user is free from rashes as the material does not contain harmful chemicals.

2. Sterile: The organic pads are sterile. Frequent changes are part and parcel of menstrual hygiene; otherwise, the menstruating women face the risk of contracting severe bacterial and fungal infections.

3. Cleanliness: The organic pads are made from substances that are free from any contamination, and they do not harm the reproductive parts.

4. Plastic-free: By choosing organic, biodegradable sanitary padsyou have chosen a product that is free of any plastic. This makes it skin friendly and obviates health hazards originating from the rampant use such materials.

5. Eco-friendly alternative: Conventional sanitary pads are a source of plastic waste with billions of pads disposed of by women. It is well known that plastics do not decompose in nature easily and it is estimated that they may take up to 500 years to break down completely. Incineration is no solution to this environmental hazard as they release toxic fumes further polluting the air. Natural sanitary pads are biodegradable and decompose within 2 years of disposal.

6. Chemical free: The organic pads are free of harmful chemicals as it is not bleached in chlorine or contain dioxin that may cause dangerous diseases like cervical cancer, miscarriages, birth defects in offspring, and UTIs. It makes use of the pads safer for you in every aspect.

7. No Release of Dioxin: The polymer absorbent used in traditional pads release dioxin on contact with the air or when incinerated. The fumes of dioxin are toxic causing severe air pollution.

8. Animal-friendly: Organic sanitary pads indirectly impact animal life. These are free from any animal ingredient and they raw material is grown in organic environment precludes the use of any pesticides thus saving the lives of birds and animals in the fields.

9. Gynecologist recommended: Because of the absence of synthetic material, organic pads are recommended by gynecologists for use by the menstruating women to reap the benefits of hygiene free from the risk of infections, rashes, allergies and easy disposal methods.

Bottom Line

A new beginning has been made with the arrival of biodegradable sanitary pads and education about the product will help the category to emerge from a niche market. In the broader interest of Nigerian society, the spread of awareness, education about menstrual hygiene, easy access to such menstrual product options will surely usher a day where the benefits of biodegradable sanitary pads will change the life of every woman.