Period Education: How to Use a Sanitary Pad

Posted by Harleen Kaur on April 29th, 2023

Menstruation is a sign of growth and good health. It is not something to be ashamed of but it is normal to have doubts when you first start getting your periods. With the right period education, you can have the right tools of knowledge at your disposal that can help you manage your cycle like a pro. 

If you have just gotten your first period, chances are that you are scared and do not know what to do. The first step you can take here is to ask for help from an older woman such as your mother, sister or a trusted friend who can guide you in this new journey. But you can also always take help from this comprehensive guide to learn how to use sanitary napkins to get started. 

But first, let’s learn about menstruation and why it occurs.

Menstruation Cycle and Menstruation

The menstruation cycle is a normal phenomenon that all women experience. It is a series of changes in the hormonal levels and your uterus and ovaries that repeats itself every month, hence the name ‘cycle’. It is usually 28 days long and has four stages, viz. menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation and the luteal phase. Your body goes through this process every month to prepare for a probable event of pregnancy. 

The most important part of period education is knowing about menstruation. It forms the first stage of your menstrual cycle and is characterised by the discharge of a bloody fluid from your vagina. More commonly called ‘periods’, this stage can last anywhere from 2 to 7 days and occurs every 24 to 32 days. The fluid discharged consists of the blood and tissues that lined your uterus to form a nesting place for a baby in case your ovarian egg gets fertilised by a sperm. However, if fertilisation does not occur this lining is shed out of the uterus and through the vagina in the form of menstrual blood. 

This first-period guide allows you to learn about menstruation and know more about your own body so that you can take better care of it. The best way to do that is to take care of your health with good hygiene practices and learn to use feminine hygiene products. So, let us learn about sanitary pads today which are the most convenient and widely used period products all over the world.

Sanitary Napkins

Sanitary napkins or pads are simple pads made of layers of absorbent fabric. They can quickly absorb the period blood and lock it inside which prevents its leakage and staining of clothes. They can usually absorb large quantities of fluid too hence helping to keep you dry and comfortable for a long time. However, you must always make sure to change them regularly, preferably, every 4-6 hours. Though, you can use an overnight pad while sleeping, which can protect you from staining for 10-12 hours as they have higher absorbing capacity.

Different pads have different absorbing capacities which are created for different levels of period flow, like light or heavy flow. 

Modern-day pads also come with odour-neutralising technology which helps to control foul smell and keeps you fresh. These pads are soft and comfortable to wear and very easy to use too making them an extremely popular choice of menstrual products. Most young women prefer to use them before moving on to other period products like tampons or menstrual cups.

Let’s see how to use a pad.

How to Use Sanitary Pad

It is very convenient and easy to use a pad. Just follow these instructions to begin using them.

  • First of all, wear your underwear, pulling it up knee-high.
  • Now sit on a chair or toilet seat to use a pad.
  • Take off the backing paper from your pad.
  • Stick it on the gusset area of your underwear, with its centre right under your vaginal opening.
  • If your pad comes with wings, remove their backing paper too and stick them around going under the gusset.
  • Pull up your underwear and you are ready to use your pad.

How to Remove and Dispose of Pads

Removing a sanitary pad is also simple enough. You just need to peel it off the panty to remove it. Once you do that, you can roll it up in the backing paper that you may have saved or tissue paper. Then throw it away in a dustbin.

Takeaway

With this important piece of period education, you can now be able to use sanitary pads with ease and be able to maintain better hygiene during your periods.

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Harleen Kaur

About the Author

Harleen Kaur
Joined: July 30th, 2020
Articles Posted: 52

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