Menstrual Health Action for Impact (MHAi)

18 October was #WorldMenopauseDay - a day dedicated to raising awareness about #menopause and of the options available to support health and wellbeing before, during and after menopause. MHAi was proud to be the knowledge partner at the Menopause Dialogue 2024, organized by DevUp Global and BleedEqual on 18 October in New Delhi. Here are our takeaways (and links to resources) from this rich exchange of knowledge, data and perspectives: 1️⃣ We need widespread clarity on: ➡️What #menopause, and associated phases of #perimenopause and #postmenopause are ➡️Natural menopause and surgically induced menopause 🔎 Read https://lnkd.in/dkj9GUfX for an overview; and the The Menopause Manifesto by Jen Gunter) 2️⃣ We need 📊 data to understand menopause in India - the trends, determinants, and links with other health outcomes (particularly non communicable diseases) 🔎Read this latest paper by Karan Babbar, M Sivakami on premature menopause in India: https://lnkd.in/gViyBpWN And check out MHAi's knowledge hub for 29 India articles on menopause: https://lnkd.in/gegT67Na 3️⃣ We need to hear about the lived experiences of perimenopause and menopause from women representing diverse communities in India. This is critical for us to frame a basket of responsive actions 4️⃣ We need to see and understand menopause from a life course perspective, and from a health promotion lens 5️⃣ We need menopause care, from awareness about what is happening to our bodies, reduced stigma and discrimination, social support, and access to health care, nutrition and lifestyle changes to manage symptoms and associated health conditions and morbidities 6️⃣ We need to inform and expand the menstrual health at work dialogue to include menopause at work. Simultaneously, we need to understand women's diverse needs during perimenopause and menopause, and what work settings can do to support them 🔎Check out this interesting article on what some Indian companies are doing to support their employees: https://lnkd.in/gMrek8ju 7️⃣ We need female friendly WASH facilities in communities, worksites, public spaces that respond to the needs of menopausal women 🔎Read Dr Amita Bhakta PhD's powerful work using photovoice on the WASH needs of perimenopausal women https://lnkd.in/gf4H_cGA 8️⃣ We need to break the stigma around aging for women, and change the narrative about women's "productivity" and "utility" in mid-life and beyond Thanks to Dr. Nalini Kaushik for championing menopause in India, and for believing in the power of collective action to advance the menopause agenda in India! 🌟 And lastly, we are delighted to share a blog by Arundati Muralidharan featured by WomenLift Health on menopause as a public health issue in India: https://lnkd.in/drwguyep Tanya Dargan Mahajan

On #WorldStandardsDay celebrated on October 14th, Menstrual Health Action for Impact (MHAi) reinforces its commitment to supporting access to safe #menstrualproducts for all through the creation and adoption of national and international standards. We have been contributing to this process in India in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Standards since 2017 and with the ISO - International Organization for Standardization technical committee 338 for menstrual products led by the Swedish Institute for Standards, SIS since 2022. If you are working on consumer safety, menstrual health, regulatory affairs etc. nationally or globally, follow these steps to inform yourself and engage: 🌟 Understand how consumers, industry, markets, Governments and MH champions will benefit from standards for menstrual products through - the Strategic Business Plan of the ISO TC 338: https://lnkd.in/duKwWND6 - this interview from the The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF)'s Adrian Dongus on why global standards for menstrual products matter 🌟Understand the status of standards in your country by accessing the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition database: https://lnkd.in/gWASRfUc Sumati Joshi Tanya Dargan Mahajan and this report by: https://lnkd.in/gCib3KV6 Lucy Wilson Paulson Kasereka Or connect with your National Standards Body (NSB) and find out more 🌟Check whether your NSB is engaging in the ISO standards creation process to ensure that the realities of your context are reflected in the international standard: https://lnkd.in/g6vHMNgd 🌟Build your knowledge on what quality for menstrual products means through Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition's - webinar series on standards for disposable and reusable sanitary pads and menstrual cups: https://lnkd.in/gU88crsw - Report on the development and compliance of quality standards for disposable and reusable menstrual health pads in LMICs: https://lnkd.in/gpXs-BM8 - United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-UNICEF-UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency's technical specifications on menstrual products: https://lnkd.in/gTDKXC2f 🌟 If you are working in a low or middle-income country, understand the challenges that have been experienced or are anticipated in the roll-out of standards at the country level e.g. low awareness amongst manufacturers, high cost of testing, lack of technical facilities and experts etc., by talking to your NSB and industry representatives. To learn more about our India roll-out experience, reach out to us at Menstrual Health Action for Impact (MHAi) Arundati Muralidharan Sarah Webb Adele Stewart, MPH Diana Thompson Nelson Jenny Acaralp Photo by Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition on Unsplash

#WorldContraceptionDay (26 September) highlights the importance of #contraception and #reproductivehealth, and supports efforts to promote safe and effective contraceptive methods, enable informed choice, prevent unintended pregnancies, and improve the health of millions. Menstrual Health Action for Impact (MHAi) supports #WorldContraceptionDay! We believe that contraception is relevant for the #menstrualhealth community of practice. Here's how - ➡ Menstrual health and hygiene education and awareness can lay the foundation to build awareness on fertility, family planning, contraceptive use, and pregnancy ➡In sensitive contexts where information on SRHR, family planning, contraceptives cannot be delivered easily, menstrual health and hygiene sessions can be a foot in the door, imparting essential body literacy to girls and women ➡ Hormonal contraceptives can cause changes to the menstrual cycle and bleeding patterns (contraceptive induced changes to the menstrual cycle). Ensuring that women have information on the potential effects of hormonal contraceptives can overcome some barriers to uptake and adherence to contraceptives methods, averting unintended pregnancies ➡Certain hormonal contraceptives are used to treat menstrual concerns and disorders ➡Service delivery points for contraceptives and family planning counseling can double up as platforms to provide information on menstrual health, support symptom identification for menstrual problems, and even provide menstrual products to adult women ➡Supply chains for contraceptives and menstrual products need to be gender responsive and person-centered to fulfill unmet needs and promote good health ➡Both contraceptive use and menstrual product use should be based on informed choice - and reinforcing informed choice in both areas can support bodily autonomy 📚 A small yet growing body of literature highlights the interconnections between contraceptives, family planning and menstrual health. Our suggested reads are: ⬇ 🔵 Missed Opportunities: Menstruation Matters for Family Planning by Dr. Julie Hennegan, Marni Sommer and Amy Tsui (https://lnkd.in/gXhQNV7P) 🔵Strengthening Integrated Approaches for Family Planning and Menstrual Health by Emily Hoppes, Kate Rademacher, Lucy Wilson, Tanya Dargan Mahajan, Marni Sommer, Katrina Wilson, Marsden Solomon, Eva Lathrop (https://lnkd.in/gxwrkPbm) 🔵Integrating Menstrual Health and SRHR in India by WaterAid India, Arundati Muralidharan, Anjali Singhania, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) India (https://lnkd.in/gzcYk5qq) 🔵The Way Forward: Gender, Equity, and Social Inclusion (GESI) for client-centered supply chains by Hannah Pandian (she/her), Jodi DiProfio, Tanya Dargan Mahajan, Carmit Keddem, Pamela Steele (https://lnkd.in/g7kwk9AS) Share your thoughts, comment below!

What do companies and organizations gain when they support #menstrualhealth at work? Join the Period Positive Workplace on 25 September to hear from companies who have prioritized menstrual health! register here: https://lnkd.in/eXTYt_nK Tanya Dargan Mahajan Arundati Muralidharan

Why does a period positive workplace matter, and what can we do to make workplaces responsive to menstrual needs? MHAi is delighted to partner with PadCare for this webinar on the "Why & and How" of period positive workplaces. We will highlight three simple steps companies can take to get certified through the Period Positive Workplace initiative! Webinar details: 📅 Date: 28th August 2024 (Wednesday) 🕒 Time: 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM ⏳ Duration: 60 minutes 💻REGISTER NOW a ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dXD_ZPDN Tanya Dargan Mahajan I Arundati Muralidharan I Aasawari Kane I Ajinkya Dhariya I

#MenstrualWasteManagement Read reflections by Arundati Muralidharan on person-centered design after her recent field trip to explore the potential for a deep burial pit for menstrual waste in schools. Tanya Dargan Mahajan

🌟Ensuring quality of menstrual products in India🌟 The Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, issued an order 'Medical Textiles (Quality Control) Order 2023' for the mandatory adoption of the BIS standards IS 5405:2019 for disposable sanitary pads and IS 17514:2021 for reusable sanitary pads and period panties, with the deadline of 1st October 2024. The Bureau of Indian Standards, with support from Menstrual Health Action for Impact (MHAi), is organizing an informational webinar to disseminate details of these two standards and the QCO, and to address any queries related to certification. The webinar is intended for the following companies and organizations based in India: ➡ Manufacturers, including MSMEs of single-use sanitary pads, reusable cloth pads and menstrual underwear who are engaged in manufacturing, distribution and sales of these menstrual products ➡Government and other organizations who are engaged in the procurement, distribution or sales of menstrual products through public or private channels ➡Development sector agencies providing technical support to Government departments Webinar details: 📅 8 August, 2024 🕚 11:00 am Link: Webinar Link: https://lnkd.in/gKZaVz5W Webinar ID:  2511 839 2765 Webinar Password:  Sgg2j5taMm5 Tanya Dargan Mahajan Arundati Muralidharan

🔔 Publication alert! #MenstrualHealth and #HormonalContraceptives A newly published systematic review assessed the impact of hormonal contraceptive use on menstrual health in women of reproductive age. An excerpt from the paper: "Hormonal contraceptives significantly reduce pain, symptom severity, and abnormal bleeding patterns associated with women who suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids. Findings can inform clinical practice and policy decisions to ensure that women have access to safe and effective contraceptive options that promote both reproductive and non-reproductive health" This systematic review is relevant for several reasons: 🔴Presents evidence that hormonal contraceptives can be beneficial for certain menstrual problems and disorders (the paper focuses on dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis, anaemia, menstrual irregularities, uterine fibroids, and amenorrhoea) - this is important because..... ⬇ 🔴Subtle spotlight on menstrual concerns and disorders and need for these conditions to be understood, diagnosed and treated appropriately (we lack data on prevalence of and insights on these conditions in LMICs settings) 🔴The promotion of hormonal contraceptives for family planning must be accompanied by information and support to help women understand contraceptives induced changes to the menstrual cycle and bleeding patterns - this is key to adherence to these methods, and vitally important for women's #BodyLiteracy and #BodilyAutonomy! 🔴Towards the end of the paper - be sure to read the limitations, implications for research and clinical practice. The studies included in the review did not look at the long term side-effects of hormonal contraceptives and the implications for women's health. While hormonal contraceptives offer promise for the treatment of menstrual disorders, evidence is needed on the long term ➕benefits and ⚡risks. 🔴The paper has important implications for policy and practice on the integration of menstrual health and #SRHR 🔴Striking gap in representation of #LMICs in the systematic reviews - we need evidence on the use of hormonal contraceptives to address menstrual concerns and disorders in LMIC contexts Tanya Dargan Mahajan Arundati Muralidharan Sarah Webb Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition Shobhana Boyle Kalpana Yadav Ben Bellows Nivi, Inc. Dr Abhijeet Pathak Navneet Kaur Mayank Sharma https://lnkd.in/gfsuVUAb

In the last week of June this year, our co-founder Tanya Dargan Mahajan had the privilege to be a part of the week-long deliberations of the ISO - International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee 338, led by Swedish Institute for Standards, SIS on #menstrualproduct standardization in Copenhagen. Read about our #standards journey and how this has strengthened our belief that collaboration is the key to achieving #menstrualhealth for all! Arundati Muralidharan