 Now we have our special guest, our expert of the day, a wonderful lady who is all about women reproductive health, Dr. Minu, Minu, yes, Dr. Minu Singh. She is an obstetrician, gynecologist and I'm going to let her introduce herself further. Heribu, welcome. Thank you so much. Yes. I am Dr. Minu Singh. I'm gynecologist and obstetrician working in Mediheal group of hospitals, Parkland, Nairobi and I'm really great to be here on your show. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for honoring us with your presence. We really appreciate. So I was having a conversation, you know, about reusable pads and I know your area goes on and on and on and on, babies and everything, you know. And I'd like to have your take. What do you think of reusable pads? See, there are a lot of commercial items which the women are using nowadays to maintain their menstrual hygiene. Like we'll go from sanitary pads, tampons are there and vaginal cups are there. But yes, if you'll consider the financial ground, every year a female is around spending 100 pounds on these commercial items. So definitely, if we are having something which can be reused, but yes, at the same time hygienically safe, then yes, it's a good option. Absolutely. Yes, especially in her case, she's looking at the girls who really can't afford pads. And I'm thinking, it's 2021. I know there was a bill in 2017 where we were supposed to have the government contribute pads to children, to basically girls, especially in school. And that's not happening. And I feel like especially women, political representatives are not doing enough whereby condoms are free, yes, and pads are actually quite expensive. And not just that, but because it's a choice to have sex, but it's another to not delay your period unless you're pregnant, which is unfortunate, because in this case what's happening is the girls who can't afford these pads end up being exposed to doing something for men to give them pads and they end up being pregnant, all right. And so when it comes to sexual health, administration, health, education, do you feel like our boys are being left out? See, what I feel is sex education is considered as a taboo, you know, in most of the societies. Even our parents, they don't feel comfortable and they feel embarrassed to talk about sex even to their children. So what I feel is sex education should be imparted to both girls and boys at an early age. But at an age when this starts with the act, actually, so like if I'll quote you an example, like in the country of Holland, right, this starts this sex education from very beginning at the age of four or five. So they have brought down the incidents of teenage pregnancy, abortions, STDs in their country. Right. So I think we can also do that, no? Exactly. It should not be considered only a part of the school responsibility, it should start from the home. Exactly. Okay. Yes. So the parents should be felt responsible apart from the teachers or proper sex, trainers should be there in the schools, right, to guide them what exactly they have to be trained for, like the correct knowledge and the essential knowledge about sex. Absolutely. So this is what is actually needed, you know? That's the thing. That's the thing. I think I grew up in a very lucky time, or maybe the government was doing right then, because like you were telling me earlier, they will come and bring the pads, or the girls are called. If you're under the age of nine, you're needed. So it's even embarrassing. Exactly. And you're taken to a room and you're told here the pads do this, but then we got lucky enough to be shown even how to use them. And at the end of the day, with any kind of issues that we have as a country, it all boils down to ignorance, whereby if we only educate one person and we live out the other, we are actually, we are quite existing, but we're not quite existing properly. That's why you find the boys will be doing things. That's why you're finding girls losing out a lot. I read a case whereby a girl got her period. It was her first time. She was 14 in class eight, and she went to the teacher. The teacher told her off, like your daddy, go and do something. And she went home and she told the mum. And I think the mum, again, when we were saying parenting and this education should start, the mum didn't do anything. She actually went to fetch water. Unfortunately, the girl killed herself. Can you imagine? So it's really extreme in this matter. And I think with education, with a conversation, I mean, period has been there since time immemorial. Right. But why are we still losing out? And you know, in your case, now let's sort of bust the myths. When you're in your period, you're told, you should not take this. I remember when I was in high school, I was told, first of all, if you wanted to come quick, it suits. These other things. Chocolate. Chocolate suits. I look back and I'm like, wow, that was not the correct information for my peers. So they are made in terms of administration when a woman is going through this period, that they're supposed to eat certain foods. See, definitely, certain foods, they are aggravating. What do we call premenstrual syndromes or some abdominal cramps or the symptoms of periods, actually. So apart from these foods, we can take everything. The list is very few, actually. Very short. Like, we should restrict taking extra salt. Because as we know that medically salt causes water retention. And basically, periods they are governed harmonically. So they themselves are causing bloating. So if you take something, which adds up this bloating, the symptoms aggravate. So better not to have extra salt, some coffee, sugar, sugary foods, alcohol, and like these, you can have them in moderate amount, but initially, for the first two or three days, when the flow is heavy, actually. So you can avoid these foods. Everything is okay, you know. They can go and party, you know. Exactly. And as a doctor in your field, it all boils down to basically a healthy life with a healthy diet from Monday to Monday. It doesn't mean only when you're in your period. Yeah, exactly. Right. So I'm going to ask you quickly, like, what is the one thing you've been told about your period? And you're like, really, guys? Because I know you've been doing a lot of research on that. Yeah. So number one, they told us, they don't take a lot of chips. Yeah. Then again, I think it's salt. This is the medical reason behind it, you know. Yes. Because they are salty and salt is aggravating the bloating. True. So this is the reason. Otherwise, of course, you can have chips, chocolates, you know. They are mood elevators, basically. True. First thing, what I had from the interior, you don't take chips. Just a bunch of chips. Yes. Right? It's actually because of salt. The doctor has said it. So now you have something to take back to the girls, you educate. Yeah, I have something to take back. Yes. And then another thing, when you're having, you don't let anyone see. Because when they see, it is like, they will kill you for tilt. Oh, wow. Yeah. Okay. No, this is a myth. Yes. That's a myth for you. Yeah. So you ensure that you just hide yourself until you are done. And when you are done, if you are using the disposable, ensure you throw them in the pit latrine. Oh, yeah. If you just throw them anywhere, someone is going to pick it. A witch. And you reach yours with it. Yeah. Myth, right? Exactly. Exactly. So you ensure you just hide them. Yes. And then another thing, they say that when you're having, I mean, crumbs. Yeah. You just have to go, maybe you go and then you sleep with your belly down. Okay. Yeah. All right. I think that's a good point. Yeah. So this is for what we should have sex education. See, we are imparting reproductive information to all the students in school. But reproductive information is not the same as sex education. Exactly. Right. Yeah. So this is exactly happening. What is the normal anatomy or physiology of the body? But we are not telling what changes occur at what age and how they should, you know, take care of themselves. Right. What is their sexual responsibility or to make them responsible for their future life? Absolutely. Okay. So this thing, it comes in the sex education, basically, to make our future generation, the students, the children, to be more responsible. Absolutely. Having sexual ethics, sexual responsibilities. Yes. Yes. So this is more important, I think. I agree. And it should not be like a bookish knowledge, no? Right. What we are giving our children is the bookish knowledge. We are not giving them the practical knowledge. Yes. So that's why there are a lot of myths. They are, you know, revolving around the incorrect information. And this is our moral duty to correct them at that point. Exactly. As she said, that yes, they should not, you know, go out or be in contact with people. It's a myth, no? As a matter of fact, there is a village in Kenya, a community actually, that tells girls the minute your period arrives at whatever age, 9, 10, 11, you're not supposed to sleep in your mother's house anymore. I'm telling you, they are taken out and they are most likely married off because they've come off age, and it's actually quite a sad state of affairs because period and menstrual health and everything about it, it goes on and on and on. It's deeper and deeper and deeper. With it comes, like now, with the luxury of a woman like yourself, you and myself, we have the luxury, we have like a box of tampons, a box of panty liners and pads for each use, but now we are dealing with menstrual pain. For instance, we are dealing with heavy flow. You see, it's layers after layers. And talking of menstrual pain, like she was saying that you're supposed to lay on your stomach. What home remedies can one have other than going to a pharmacy and getting some painkillers? See, beside painkillers, which are there available on the counter, no? Right. Menstrual cramps, they are very common. Right. And they are just because the uterus is trying to expel whatever is there inside. Yes. The menstrual blood as well as the tissue which has to be shed every month. Yes. It has to come out of the body. Yes. So, there are like different things we can do at home. First, and the foremost is rest, then and the support of the family. Okay. They should not be neglected. They should not be put to the other room or just out of the house, no? Yes. Because it's something which is associated with emotions also. It should be true. The females have mood swings, no? Yes. Mood swings. Yes. Then irritability and definitely they are bleeding at that time, no? True. Fatigue, headache, bloating, sore neck, you know? Yes. There's so a list of symptoms they can have. Absolutely. At that time they need a sympathetic environment basically at home. Yes. They should take rest. Yes. They can take hot water bottle to soothe the area. Then they can have a hot bath. Okay. And that's it I think. Okay. And good food. Oh yes. Oh yes. And wait it out. Yeah. Wait it out. Yeah. Yeah. Did you want to add something? Two questions. Okay. One is that when you're having the cramps and then you take pain killers like maybe Brufen, you come across Panadol, they normally kill your fertility. And the number two, what can you do? I mean when most of the girls they are about to approach their periods, we have those big pimples that they normally have. Oh yeah. I have a good one here. I felt it last night. Yes. I was so impressed. Yes. And then you touch the other part of the face. Yes. Just come from that again. Oh. Come on. Me. I'm not even a doctor but I am sure I can see. I can see doctor singly like yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. The Girls with the Women, they have this syndrome in one or the other form. Okay. Okay. So, like she said yes they can experience the occurrence of the pimples on their face. Right. Right. Again it is indication that yes, you are about to get your periods. Okay. Inputed. Right after. Yeah. Yeah. And they are not basically procedure kind of things. Yes. So, they are basically the eruptions, they are painful and they go away once you start with the periods and they never leaves marks. It's true. Okay, these pimples, they never leaves marks. The one which are leaving marks, they are actually Akinese and that is completely a different entity. Yes. Yes. Yes. So, yes. I agree. I agree. Because mind pops disappears. Yeah. Like this one. So, they are both right after my period and it will just disappear on its own, not a mark. And they always, is it true, they always come below this area. Exactly. Yeah. So, this is hormone of pimples are down here. Yeah. And they are perfectly okay. So, talking of steel, and I think this is going to go to a level of even contraceptives. Yeah. What period is too heavy? What is too heavy? See, to know what is too heavy period. Okay. So, to know what is actually a normal period, okay. I think everybody knows what is period, no? Right. When a woman is in her reproductive age group, that is between 13 to 49, uterus prepare every month for pregnancy and when this pregnancy doesn't happen, it has to shed its lining. Yes, yes. Okay. Yes. Which comes as a monthly period. So, the bleeding, anything between 10 to 35 ml is considered as normal. Okay. So, in terms of like throughout your periods, if you are using 2 to 7 pads, sanitary pads or tapnoons throughout your period. Okay. Yeah. So, it's considered normal. Okay. We should know what is normal, then we can, you know, progress further to consider what is heavy. Absolutely. If a woman is having need to change pad every 2 hours or less, then it is considered heavy. Okay. She should go and see her. Okay. Absolutely. Okay. And there's always a solution. Yeah. Right. Yeah. I'll give my own personal experience. I was on IUD, the copper team for a year, a year, you know, 2 years actually, 2 years. Okay. So, coming, it wasn't heavy, but it was too, it was too prolonged, light and prolonged. And I think I was starting to feel weak and all that. I went to my gyna and she was like, would you consider something else? And I told her what, as long as it's not super, super common, because of course you will lose everything. Exactly. And she suggested a mirana, which I put 2 months ago and my goodness. So I had my first period and then obviously it was very heavy to everything was shedding out. And then the second time, I thought I was just fighting, but it was my period. It's so light. And I know I feel very happy and I'm looking forward to that. And I think, again, it goes deep and down to also self-education and where people fail to do that. I think the greatest mistake is to seek opinion from peers because what I know is not what you know. You have a different perspective. Yeah. But if you go to, for instance, Dr. Singh, it's very simple. I will tell you, ABCD, and true enough, I've never gone wrong with seeking advice from an actual doctor. So I think that should be, at the end of the day, something that we should concentrate on other than listening to the peers and also self-education, whereby you do your research and see what's happening. Because regardless, regardless, the children still, you know, they'll get the knowledge either from the peers, from the internet, there's so many things. But the thing is that we should impart the correct knowledge. That's the thing, so that they're confident enough to say that's the correct information. That's not the correct information. So we're just about to wind up our show and I'm going to let you say your final words to our audience about our today's topic, which I wish we can go on and on and on. Everything good has an end. Yes. So this is what I'd like to say. Let us just do also male involvement, because it is men's treasure, so we begin with men. You heard. Yes. And then let us also like work together, let us have with the stigma, let us have with the myth. Let us just be positive, because just as you said, the government have policy makers. Absolutely. That is department for gender. So the policy makers let them also do their work. Absolutely. And see to it. And see it. So that is all I can say. All right. Yeah. And then a good support. Yeah, if we get the good support like us, the Angaza team in Kilefi, we are ready to go more interior and explore this. Like for example, to have lunch today, I'm going to share out. Exactly. And then when I become a period from Posador, I'm Posador for periods. Yes. And then I can do more. I feel like you already are with what he's doing. I saw you doing a lot. All right. Because the future is female. Absolutely. That is all. She's throwing very good quotes, you know, administration, men, and the future is female. Yeah. And Dr. C, what are your final words to anyone who would be watching us tonight? See, even the, beside the females, yes, as she said, men should be involved. Because we need to tell them to be more considerate, more empathetic towards female during that period. Absolutely. Because yes, we are giving knowledge to both of them. But they should consider, because this entity is only with females. Absolutely. They should not really know what exactly the female is going through. Exactly. So they should be more considerate towards the female during that period. Absolutely. So this is my, the thing or the, this should be our approach basically towards our youngsters. Absolutely. So that's what I want to say. Thank you. Thank you so much for the few lovely ladies for, you know, honoring us with your presence. Thank you so much. And for that gem of wisdom, I've learned so much from you. And we hope to have you again. All right, guys, like we say, everything good has an end. I will not add any more than menstruation. Men, future is female. And as Dr. Singh says, let's involve everybody. Let's educate, educate, educate both men and women because this is not just a female problem. It's a societal problem. And we can do so much with it. We can kill all the myths. We can get rid of the stigma that comes with it. Should you have any more information or see how you can support the Angaza Foundation or anyone who comes on board? Kindly reach us out on our social media pages at Y254 TV on social media pages. And my page, Maureen Waititu, and we'll get back to you so that we can have you on board and we'll solve these matters of reproductive health, which brings parenthood and the issues that come with it. Until next time, have a good night.