Your period rolls around every month, but that doesn’t mean that you have to look forward to it! From managing cramps and fatigue to making sure you’re stocked up on period supplies, managing your menstrual health and hygiene can sometimes feel overwhelming.
But don’t worry—with the right habits, access to information, and hygiene supplies, you can stay comfortable and in control throughout your cycle. We’ve put together this guide on the best ways to manage your menstrual health and hygiene to help you stay fresh, healthy, and confident.
What is Menstrual Health
Menstrual health refers to your overall well-being throughout the menstrual cycle, including physical, emotional, and hygienic care. It encompasses having a regular, pain-managed cycle, having access to safe menstrual products, and the ability to manage symptoms like cramps, mood swings, and fatigue.
The Importance of Menstrual Health and Hygiene
While menstrual hygiene management is considered an issue of public health, the reality is that it’s an issue that is often kept behind locked doors. However, maintaining good menstrual hygiene is essential for both the comfort and health of women, girls, and menstruating people around the world.
Poor hygiene can lead to irritation, infections, and discomfort, which can snowball into physical and social issues. Changing menstrual products regularly, washing with mild soap and water, and wearing breathable underwear help prevent bacterial growth and adverse health risks.
Beyond health benefits, good hygiene boosts confidence, allowing you to go about your day worry-free. By prioritizing hygiene, you can manage your period with ease and stay comfortable throughout your cycle.
Ways to Manage Your Menstrual Health and Hygiene
The good news is that with modern access to information and supplies, managing your period is easier than ever. To stay on top of your menstrual health, here are some ways to manage your cycle:
1. Track Your Menstrual Cycle
It seems simple, but knowing when your period is coming is a huge step in staying prepared. Whether your cycle is regular or not, tracking can help you predict periods, recognize irregularities, and understand hormonal patterns.
If you’re not sure where to start, our Menstrual Cycle Tracking Guide is a great first step. And if your cycle is not as predictable as you’d expect, our Regulate Your Cycle protocol can help you support cycle regularity, naturally.
2. Choose the Right Menstrual Health and Hygiene Products
Finding the right menstrual products can make all the difference in comfort and hygiene. Options like pads, tampons, menstrual cups, period underwear, and reusable cloth pads offer different benefits depending on your lifestyle and flow.
It’s important to choose products that feel comfortable, provide adequate protection, and align with your lifestyle and preferences. Whatever you use, be sure to change or clean as directed to prevent irritation and maintain good hygiene throughout your period.
3. Prioritize Personal Hygiene
Hygiene during your period goes beyond simply changing out a pad or tampon every few hours. It also includes gently washing your intimate areas to maintain a healthy pH balance, prioritizing breathable cotton underwear, and cleaning menstrual cups thoroughly to avoid bacterial growth. But remember – never wash the inside of the vagina. This can disrupt the healthy vaginal environment and lead to more problems.
Good menstrual hygiene helps prevent irritation, infections, and discomfort, and can help prevent more serious conditions like UTIs or Toxic Shock Syndrome.
4. Relieve Menstrual Symptoms
You can’t feel your best if you’re dealing with cramps, bloating, fatigue, and mood swings. Thankfully, simple remedies can help ease discomfort. A heating pad applied to the lower abdomen can relax muscles and reduce cramps, light exercise or yoga can improve circulation and relieve tension, and staying hydrated can help support your body.
It’s also important to prioritize nutrient-rich foods, or consider supplements to help reduce cramps.
5. Don’t Forget Your Mental Health
Your menstrual cycle doesn’t just affect your body—it impacts your mood and emotions, too. Hormonal shifts can lead to irritability, anxiety, or mood swings, so it’s important to prioritize self-care during your period.
Make sure to get enough sleep, try relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation, and prioritize activities that bring you joy—these can all help regulate your mood. And if you experience PMS, it may be worth trying to balance your cycle.
6. Supplement for a Smoother Cycle
While some physical and mental symptoms can be expected throughout your cycle, healthy menstruation shouldn’t get in the way of a balanced life. If irregular periods, painful symptoms, or confusing mood swings are affecting your day-to-day, consider natural supplementation as part of your menstrual health and hygiene plan.
Crucial vitamins and minerals—such as magnesium, iron, and vitamin B6—can all play a part in supporting a healthy, balanced cycle.
Support Menstrual Health and Hygiene with Wave Bye
Managing your menstrual health and hygiene doesn’t have to be a struggle. With the right habits and support, you can feel more comfortable and in control throughout your period.
At Wave Bye, we believe that every woman has a right to menstrual health. We harness the power of natural, effective ingredients, and have formulated period supplements that support you at any time of the month. Our science-backed supplements are designed to support menstrual health, ease PMS symptoms, and promote cycle regularity, to keep you comfortable, healthy, and confident.
Discover unique protocols featuring our Bye Irregularity, Bye Cramps, and Bye Bad Cramps formulas, and take control of your period health!