A new season – 5 important things that women want 0 838

Miyola Cia Fernandes, BDS, MSc (BootUp Health)

“A girl should be two things- Who and What she wants.” – Coco Channel 

Women’s basic requirements or necessities are quite simple. They do love wearing pajamas, cat walking in their high heels, glittering with diamonds or eating comfort food. But, more than these, there are other fundamental needs in their daily lives. Some are perceived as essential and the bare  minimum.  

Here are the top 5 things that every woman wants:

1.) Affordable access to menstrual hygiene products

An essential item to girls and women across the world but sadly it’s not accessible by all.  Shocked?  

A St. Louis University’s study in the US in 2019 found that 2/3^rd of the women surveyed couldn’t afford to purchase menstrual products such as pads and tampons. Women need these products monthly for their basic hygiene needs, like almost 4 to 7 days of every  month. At times, more often than that or even daily. They need menstrual hygiene products  to maintain good and safe menstrual hygiene. 

Why?  

Because poor menstrual hygiene increases the risk for physical ill-health along with  reproductive and urinary tract infections.  

In addition to inaccessibility, there is tampon tax or pink tax. This is the added sales tax on  menstrual products and still exists in many countries, even a few US states.  

Menstrual equity advocates across the globe are fighting to end period poverty and make  menstrual products more affordable. 

2. Mensuration with no taboo attached

Many parts of the world still consider women menstruating as unclean or dirty and, in need  of purification. Young girls are rarely prepared or aware of the menstrual cycle, leading to  apprehension and fear when they get periods for the first time. Quite often when they get  their periods while in school or at work tampons or pads are hidden under the sleeves while  walking to the bathroom in shame.  

The topic of menstruation is still difficult to be spoken aloud and often referred to as ‘Aunt  Flo’s Here’, ‘That Time of the Month’, etc. It inhibits the mention of words like ‘periods’ or  ‘Menses’ in public or private. 

Menstrual taboo acts as a constant barrier to sanitation, healthcare, social life and better  opportunities for girls and women. At times, some of these cultural practices surrounding  menstruation affect women’s physical and mental health due to poor menstrual hygiene practices. 

Ending discriminating practices and educating the population about the menstrual cycle  could help end the shame and discrimination that women undergo in many sectors of  society. 

3. Explore true mind-blowing pleasure

Why do women fake orgasms? It’s mainly due to two reasons. One, the cultural over importance of ‘penetrative sex leads to orgasm’ and the misleading media illustration of 

women achieving mind-blowing orgasm through penetration alone. Two, the ingrained  obligation to satisfy their partner or the urge to just get done with it. 

Faking orgasms has led to fewer women experiencing them. Ever heard of an orgasm gap?  The orgasm gap is the orgasm inequality or disparity between couples. Multiple studies  show that cis-women in heterosexual relationships experience far lesser orgasms during sex  as compared to bisexual and lesbian women, while in heterosexual relationships men  orgasm more than women, and women orgasm more when masturbating than when they  are with a partner. 

If you have been faking orgasms, don’t judge yourself. Not faking it can help form a deeper  relationship with your partner, have better sex and improve the quality of your sex life. The orgasm gap and faking orgasm can be dealt with by more frank and open conversations  about women sexuality, body parts and sexual needs.  

4. Go all the way without pain

Pain is a sign that something is wrong and needs attention or rectification. Pain during sex  can occur at the start of the intercourse or during it and is termed dyspareunia.

Painful  intercourse can be due to multiple reasons such as: 
• Lack of lubrication is caused due to not enough foreplay or hormonal changes.
• Injury to the pelvic or genital area 
• Infection or illnesses of the genitals, urinary tract or surrounding areas, like  endometriosis, haemorrhoids, ovarian cysts, urinary tract infection, sexually transmitted diseases. 
• Sexual abuse 
• Stress and anxiety 
• Lack of arousal  

It is important to communicate and get checked by your healthcare professional or women’s  health professional. The fear of associated pain with intercourse might lead to high chances  of avoiding having sex. 

5. Dodge come emergency pills

Although the most sought after method of contraception post unprotected intercourse is an  emergency contraceptive pill, it does not prevent acquiring a sexual transmitted infection or  disease. Additionally, it comes with added effects including nausea, vomiting, slight irregular vaginal bleeding, and fatigue. The side effects pass off in a while but they are extremely  uncomfortable. These pills only inhibit ovulation and aren’t 100% effective in preventing  pregnancy. 

For protection against sexually transmitted diseases and infections, always use a condom  (male/female) during vaginal and anal sex. For oral sex, use a dental dam or a condom. 

Gender discrimination and inequality deny women their fundamental rights and act as an obstacle to  overcoming poverty. Supporting issues surrounding equity is not just a means to end gender issues  but also create a healthy world.