MENSTRUAL HEALTH CULTURE: MEDICAL, SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS

Menstrual health is an essential component of women’s and girls’ general health, dignity, education,social participation and psychological well-being. Although menstruation is a normal physiologicalprocess, in many societies it is still surrounded by silence, stigma, misinformation and culturalrestrictions. A healthy menstrual culture means more than access to menstrual hygiene products; itincludes correct medical knowledge, safe hygiene practices, psychological support, respectfulcommunication, social acceptance and timely access to healthcare. According to UNICEF, around1.8 billion people menstruate every month worldwide, yet many of them cannot managemenstruation in a dignified and healthy way because of poverty, lack of information, inadequatesanitation, stigma and limited access to healthcare. WHO has emphasized that menstrual healthshould be recognized not only as a hygiene issue, but also as a health, human rights and genderequality issue. This article analyzes menstrual health culture from medical, social and psychologicalperspectives and highlights the importance of education, stigma reduction and healthcare-basedsupport.