1. What attention should be paid to women having their menstrual period during current COVID-19 epidemic?

(1). Pay attention to your menstrual cycle and prepare for common articles such as sanitary napkins or tampons in advance.

(2). Use clean, soft sanitary napkins or tampons and replace them in a timely manner. It is recommended to replace them every two to three hours. Please wash your hands before and after replacement.

(3). Keep the vulva clean and hygienic, wash the vulva with clean, flowing warm water every day and replace the bathtub with a shower. If there is no opportunity to clean the vulva every day because of the need for epidemic prevention and control, you can use a clean and hygienic external wipe.

(4). Sexual intercourse is forbidden during menstruation.

(5). Keep warm and avoid cold irritations.

(6). Relax your mentality and relieve tension to avoid worsening dysmenorrhea.

(7). Ensure a reasonable and balanced diet without excessive nourishing food.

(8). Combine work and rest, ensure enough sleep, don't stay up late.

(9). Do some moderate exercise or do some housework within your ability; avoid being sedentary.

2. Will menstrual women be more susceptible to COVID-19 pneumonia because of reduced immunity?

The immunity of women during menstruation is indeed lower than usual. However, as long as personal protective measures are taken, face masks are worn when they go out, public transportation is avoided, close contact with people is reduced, colds are avoided and there is sufficient heating in the home, hand washing is frequently carried out and hand hygiene is maintained, there is no need to worry about COVID-19 infections.

3. How to deal with dysmenorrhea during the epidemic?

(1). Keep warm, especially in the abdomen. Abdominal warmth, such as a hot compress on the lower abdomen, can increase local blood circulation and reduce the discomfort of lower abdomen swelling and pain.

(2). Massage the lower abdomen and lumbosacral areas and try to massage the acupoints to relieve dysmenorrhea.

(3). Follow a reasonable diet, with no excessive consumption of raw, cold and spicy food. Avoid drinking, strong tea and coffee and the diet should be light and easy to digest.

(4). Exercise properly, maintain a balanced combination of work and rest, avoid strenuous exercise, avoid sitting at home for long periods, which can aggravate pelvic congestion and discomforting abdominal distention and pain.

(5). Relax and relieve tension to avoid worsening dysmenorrhea.

(6). If there are common non-steroidal antipyretic analgesic drugs (such as saridon, fenbide) at home, these can be taken orally according to instructions, to effectively relieve dysmenorrhea.

4. How to deal with menstrual disorders during the epidemic?

As a stressful event, the epidemic will affect everyone's lives and work. Due to the influence of environment, lifestyle, emotional changes and other factors, women may have menstrual disorders, including changes in cycle, menstrual periods and menstrual volumes. In general, there is no need for special treatment, but we need to pay special attention to several situations.

(1). First, determine whether you are pregnant. For women of childbearing age who have a normal sex life and do not strictly carry out contraception measures, a pregnancy test paper should be used to determine if there is a pregnancy. It is suggested to retest every three to seven days.

For women who do not want to get pregnant in the near future, it is suggested that strict contraceptive measures should be taken.

(2). When the pregnancy situation is excluded:

a. If the menstrual volume is especially large, the estimated total volume is more than 100ml, or there is dizziness, fatigue and other symptoms, it is necessary to take preventive measures against COVID-19 and see a doctor soon.

b. If the menstrual volume is small and there is tension, which may be related to recent obvious changes in lifestyle and mental and emotional factors, without special treatment.

c. If menstruation is delayed for one to two weeks and there is no discomfort, you may not go to the hospital temporarily. In principle, if menstruation is delayed for less than one month, it is acceptable. If your menstruation still doesn't come after the epidemic passes, then go to hospital for treatment. 

5. What should I do if my child has her first menstrual period at home during the epidemic?

This can become a stressful event, especially during the epidemic period, when children and parents are also suffering from tension, anxiety and other emotions brought about by epidemic prevention and control measures and can't communicate with their peers. So parents need to pay enough attention to it.

Parents (especially mothers or close female relatives) should teach their children the knowledge of menstruation in time to avoid panic or embarrassment.

Teach children to use sanitary napkins and other items correctly and teach children to develop good menstrual hygiene habits.

The first menstrual period does not mean that the ovarian function is mature. Within one year after it, menstruation may be irregular. As long as it does not affect the normal life and learning of children, it is not necessary to be too nervous, nor to go to the hospital immediately.

If the amount of menstrual menarche is more than 80 ml, or the time is more than two weeks, and the child has obvious malaise such as fatigue, dizziness and pale face, you can take her to a nearby hospital for treatment, so long as it has good protection from COVID-19.