The Deal With Feminine Hygiene

E.P. Ben-Joseph

Pads
Super, slender, overnight, with or without wings, deodorant, maxi, mini . . . what's the best one for you?
Once you begin menstruating, you'll need to use something to soak up the menstrual blood. Pads are made of layers of cotton, and they are sometimes also called sanitary pads or sanitary napkins. Some have extra material on the sides (called "wings") that fold over the edges of your underwear to better hold the pad in place and prevent leakage.
Some girls have periods with heavier bleeding, and others have lighter periods with less bleeding. Pads come in several different thicknesses for heavier or lighter menstrual periods or for day or nighttime use. Some pads come with a deodorant or deodorizing substance in them. All pads have a sticky strip on the bottom that helps them to adhere to your underwear.
Pads are easy to use: You peel off the strip that covers the adhesive, press the pad into the crotch of your underwear (wrapping the wings around and sticking them under the crotch if the pad you're using has wings), and you're done. It's best to change pads every 3 or 4 hours, even when you're not menstruating very much. Why? Because regular changing prevents buildup of bacteria and eliminates odor. Naturally, if your period is heavy, you should change pads more often because they may get saturated more quickly.
Once you've removed your pad, wrap it in toilet paper and put it in the trash can (or if you're in school, in a special disposal box that's found in most stalls). Don't try to flush a pad down the toilet - they're too big and may back up the toilet and make a huge (embarrassing! ) mess.

Douches and Feminine Sprays
Douches (from the French word for "wash") and feminine sprays (or deodorants) supposedly keep a woman's vaginal area smelling fresh and clean. Douching refers to washing out the vagina, usually with a prepackaged mix of fluids. For a lot of girls who are just starting to deal with menstrual periods and other vaginal secretions, these products sound appealing - many girls wonder if they smell or whether people will notice they have their periods. The truth is, under usual circumstances, no one ever smells any odors from a girl's vagina.
In fact, unless a family doctor says so, you never need to douche - and feminine sprays and deodorants aren't a good idea either. Feminine sprays and douches are often heavily perfumed and can lead to allergic reactions or even infections in the vagina. Your vagina has its own natural cleaning system that flushes out bacteria, so you don't need to add any chemicals to help it.
Some infections, such as bacterial vaginosis, can lead to an unpleasant fishy odor (again, if a girl has an infection, it's unlikely that people around her will notice a smell, even if she does). The treatment for odors caused by infections is not a spray, but a prescription medication that treats the infection rather than covering it up. If you think you may have a problem, see your family doctor right away. As far as your periods go, if you change your pads frequently and wear clean clothes, no one can ever smell that either.
It's easy to keep your vagina clean without making it smell like a flower shop. Washing every day with a mild soap and plenty of warm water will do the trick. Warm bathing rather than showering daily during your period may reduce menstrual cramps and give you reassurance about feeling clean. During your period, change your pads often and change your underwear if you happen to soak through your pad.
[AAFP]