Indian mountaineer Yogeshwari Bohare has brought focus on high altitude menstrual hygiene by making herself a sanitary pad using tissue paper and medical tape amid her expedition at an altitude of 16,000 feet.
With her period catching her unaware and several days left for the conclusion of her trip, Bohare was the only woman in her team and could not afford any commercial pads.
A video posted on Bohare's Instagram account reveals the step-by-step process of improvisation in the absence of commercial menstrual hygiene products.
Layering of tissue paper: The tissue paper was arranged in layers to make a thick center core.
Outer layer: It was ensured using the medical tape to provide her with a barrier to absorb the menstrual fluid.
Testing her invention: Bohare lifted the invention in the video to show that she still had to check if it could work in high-altitude, mountainous terrain.
Menstrual health is an issue that is never spoken of among those involved in extreme sports owing to the unpredictability of the physical stress that disrupts menstrual cycle regularly.
"Mountains teach us more than just climbing—they force us to adapt, survive, and find immediate solutions when things go wrong," Bohare shared in her post caption.
It is important to remember that biological phenomena such as menstruation do not take into account difficult terrain and multi-day climbs, so it is essential to be adaptable when climbing as a woman.
The video was received very well, attracting a lot of admiration among fans of outdoor adventures for the attention it drew to menstrual hygiene among extreme athletes.
Commentators noted the resilience needed when trekking alone, while outdoor adventurers praised Bohare for breaking the taboo of periods when climbing mountains.
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