Srinagar, Jul 17 (KNO): Despite growing awareness, a significant percentage of women in Jammu and Kashmir continue to use traditional cloth for menstrual protection, exposing themselves to the risk of infections that may lead to long-term health complications, including infertility.
Doctors and public health experts say that menstrual hygiene remains a neglected topic, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, where stigma, misinformation, and cultural taboos still dominate conversations around menstruation.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Dr Rukhsana Akhter, a gynaecologist posted in north Kashmir, said that unhygienic menstrual practices can result in urinary tract infections (UTIs), reproductive tract infections (RTIs), and even severe conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), all of which may affect fertility
She emphasised the importance of proper hygiene, including regular changing of menstrual products and maintaining genital cleanliness. “Girls and women must not feel ashamed to purchase sanitary pads—it is a matter of health, not embarrassment,” she added.
Dr Barjasta Bahar, a gynaecologist posted in south Kashmir, said that poor menstrual hygiene can have wide-ranging consequences—from rashes and itching to serious infections that can hinder reproductive health.
“Lack of awareness, more than affordability, remains a major issue. The stigma surrounding menstruation leads to silence, which prevents girls from learning how to manage their periods hygienically,” she said.
Dr Bahar warned of conditions like toxic shock syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal condition, and vaginal yeast infections that can occur if sanitary products are used improperly, such as wearing a single pad for extended hours.
“Good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is not just a health issue—it plays a fundamental role in enabling women and girls to live with dignity, go to school, and achieve their full potential,” she stressed.
Doctors noted that even among those who use sanitary pads, many women are unaware of why hygiene is important. “They use pads simply because they are available, not because they understand the risks of unhygienic practices,” said one health official.
Medical experts urge the need to break societal taboos, promote open discussions, and provide comprehensive menstrual education to all sections of society. “No woman should suffer from infections or infertility simply due to lack of awareness,” they said.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), nearly 60 per cent of women in J&K still use cloth for menstrual protection. The survey (2019–21) found that only 50.5% of women aged 15–24 years use sanitary napkins—an improvement from 48.8% in NFHS-4 (2015–16), but still far from ideal.
To address this, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched a scheme promoting menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls (aged 10–19) in rural areas. Under the programme, sanitary napkin packs branded as “Freedays” are distributed at affordable rates through community health workers—(KNO)