Puberty is an exciting but perplexing stage of life , it is a time of physical transition from childhood to womanhood. A rapid physical change goes hand in hand with psychological change, when the facts of puberty are explained and if the girl is encouraged to be confident about her body, she is likely to emerge from this crucial stage as a well-adjusted adolescent. Teenagers may think they know everything however, there is a lack of quality information available among teenage girls about their changing bodies, budding sexuality and what can happen to them during this period in their life.

Parents, especially mothers can do much to help their child during this stage. For a girl today her mother is probably her most important influence. A mother starts worrying when her daughter begins to blossom into a woman. She is aware that her daughter's body is changing. That means helping her buy the right brassieres, buying her sanitary protection and advising her on the use of feminine hygiene products. Older teens may feel comfortable to do this own. Either way, one needs to respect a teenager's privacy, her need to make her own choices, and be readily available to offer help along the way.

Girls have special hygiene needs due to the female reproductive anatomy. Every girl may at some time experience odour, vaginal discharge, itching and dryness. Questions on menstruation, breast size, as well as hygiene questions about vaginal discharge, wetness and odour, itching are some very common questions voiced by the teens. Sometimes the job of a parent means finding a health care professional she can talk to, someone she can feel comfortable with. That person could be a female family doctor or gynaecologist. Many experts believe that teens armed with good information are less likely to encounter problems both physically and mentally and can maintain ones hygiene.

Teenagers while going in for fashion trends often tend to wear tight clothes or Nylon undergarments. This prevents air circulation, which creates an ideal situation for sweat accumulation and dampness leading to irritation and yeast or bacterial growth. Tight clothes often have seams that rub and irritate the genital area. Tight or nylon underwear, tight pants, or pantyhose (most are available with cotton crotches that help increase ventilation) cause greater perspiration, which can allow bacteria to grow. Sitting around in a wet bathing suit can also contribute to bacterial growth, shared towels or common toilets can also pass along bacteria & related genital and vaginal infections.

The vagina produces a natural antiseptic called lactic acid; this Lactic Acid keeps the vagina healthy by preventing growth of harmful bacteria and maintains the natural pH balance, providing a defense against irritations, itching, soreness and infection. This delicate balance can be broken down by many factors including soaps, deodorants, perfumes, aromatherapies, sex, menstruation, anxiety, and even too much washing. It is thus imperative that a young teen is well aware of feminine hygiene and ways of maintaining the same.

On an everyday basis, a woman chooses various ways to cleanse herself. A research was conducted on over 300 teenagers in India it was highlighted 100% of them stated that they take a bath to stay clean, most use a face wash to keep their face clean and only 66% of the women actually think of washing their private part in particular. A complete lack of unawareness exists for a specific feminine hygiene product as most young girls recall using soap or a talcum powder to curb dampness and odour as a feminine hygiene product for the private part. More so brands like Lux or Ponds, Dettol etc are cited, teenagers are unaware that most of these products are too harsh for the sensitive skin of the genital area and can actually lead to stripping of the natural balance of the genital skin thus making the area susceptible to irritation, burning sensation & can lead to infections.

However during a survey in India, when a sample of feminine hygiene wash, which was especially formulated for the private area & had a balanced pH, was given to 305 girls for their daily use to be used during their bath, most of them expressed their complete satisfaction in terms of a fresh & comfortable feeling lasting throughout the day. Due to changing social parameters, teenagers are more receptive to the idea of a feminine hygiene wash rather than panty liners and feminine wipes. They were willing to continue using the lightly scented, soft lathering feminine wash, rating it better than their current/ last method of ensuring cleanliness of their private parts, which was usually soap or a talcum powder.

In the face of evolving times, the importance of a specific feminine hygiene product is an essential necessity especially amongst teenagers and it is not long before we adopt the practice of good feminine hygiene habits and products.

- Aparna

Read Comments.Add your views... Click Here

Post Comment

Name : Email : Password : Comments :