"Stop stop Stop.
You have stained your pants”.
The comment that
Georgina Barbarossa
made on the air of her program to
Sofía "Jujuy" Jiménez
referred to what even today seems difficult to put into words: menstruation.
While the young guest stopped her dance and mentioned being embarrassed by the situation, the host tried to calm her down after assuring that it is something that "
happens to all women
."
"
Oh, I'm shaking
," Jiménez said as an answer.
What is so bothersome about a cycle that is as natural as it is to be expected in the lives of women?
From the
Argentine Society of Child and Adolescent Gynecology,
they assured that
around menstruation there are still many taboos and ignorance
, to such an extent that a large number of girls reach the first period without the necessary information, which can expose them to fears, unwanted pregnancies and bodily changes that cause insecurities.
It is very important that women know their bodies from childhood, so that when they reach puberty they are informed of the changes that are going to occur and can talk freely about this process.
Doing so will also make it possible to optimize the
bond with the women in the family
so that all of them can share their experiences and thus convey the appropriate information, such as that from that moment on the body will experience some changes and the woman becomes fertile.
girls and menstruation
A study by the Argentine Society of Pediatrics (SAP) in healthy adolescent women shows an average age of menarche -first menstruation- of 12 years.
But it is not something that appears suddenly from one day to the next, rather the body is giving signs, such as breast growth, the appearance of pubic hair and vaginal discharge.
"At SAGIJ we focus on the importance of the mother/father-daughter duo, to remove myths and fears that still exist. We hear how some daughters are afraid to tell their mothers that they had their first menstruation, since they never talked about it The need to discuss these issues at home, together with the importance of teaching
Comprehensive Sexual Education
(ESI) in schools, will be key for girls to access information,"
said Vilma Rosciszewski
, a gynecologist .
The naturalization of menstruation is still a pending account.
Photo Shutterstock.
Myths and taboos around menstruation
Menstruation represented a taboo for many years in our culture and around the world.
Menstruation was not named and, as evidenced today on television, staining clothes meant
shame
.
Menstrual blood in advertisements was -many times it still is- blue, and it was a subject that was only discussed in secret and between women.
Myths
such as not washing your head with cold water or not drinking lemon because menstruation "cuts off", not touching plants because they dry out, not touching babies because they cry, not bathing, not doing physical activity, not dyeing your hair, not walking barefoot prevented them from living their menstrual cycle normally, paying attention to what is truly important: education for body care.
"Today, menstruation and many other words related to the feminine are no longer something that is not talked about. There is still a lot to do, but let's remember that adults are the first to learn to have a healthy relationship with menstruation to be able to transmit it correctly," said Sandra Magirena, a doctor specializing in gynecology and sexology with a gender perspective and a member of the Argentine Society of Child and Adolescent Gynecology.
A large number of girls arrive at the first period without the necessary information.
Photo: Illustration Shutterstock.
Menstruation: recommendations for mothers and fathers
Explain what it is, why and why it happens.
Talk honestly about the
bodily changes
that will occur.
Name all the parts of the body and explain what they are for and how to care for them.
Naming all the parts of the body and explaining what they are for and how to care for them is essential.
Photo: Illustration Shutterstock.
Facilitate all the product options so that the girl can choose which one is more comfortable and effective for her to carry out her daily activities without discomfort and worries.
Some options: absorbent underwear, cloth pads, disposable pads, tampons, and menstrual cups.
When girls begin to menstruate, they have to know their anatomy, touch their vulva, put their fingers inside the vagina, and the necessary training to place the cup is very appropriate for this purpose.
From the point of view of health, the menstrual cup is healthier since it is made of medical silicone and does not contain additives or endocrine disruptors like tampons.
From the Argentine Society of Child and Adolescent Gynecology (SAGIJ) it is recommended that after menarche, or first menstruation,
consultations with him or the gynecologist begin.
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