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WHO: Meenakshi Bharath, Bengaluru-based gynaecologist and campaigner of "Green the Red" initiative that promotes sustainable menstrual practices

WHAT: The taboo associated with menstrual health, which doctors too believe in, is directly connected to cultural beliefs.

WHY: We need to look at newer sustainable methods, like cloth pads and menstrual cups. At the same time, we should try to do away with undue societal pressure. As women did most of the chores two generations ago, they were asked to rest during their menstrual cycle. This later became a taboo when the break turned into a restriction. If people consider a cloth pad hanging out to dry as an apshagun (bad omen), why isn't semen discharge treated the same way? While conducting a session for doctors over menstrual cups, one of them exclaimed, "How can we ask our patients to insert something in their vaginas?" To this, I replied, "While examining your patients every day, you insert your fingers in their vagina, so what's the problem with this?"