Several obstetrician-gynecologists in Kabul say that poverty and lack of awareness are forcing many girls and women to use low-quality and expired sanitary pads. They note that in recent years, the number of women seeking care for skin irritation, infections, and inflammation linked to unhygienic products has been rising. According to these doctors, many women focus solely on price when purchasing such products and remain largely unaware of the health risks involved.
Speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, the doctors warned that using expired or substandard sanitary pads can pose serious health risks. They explained that the materials in these products, once past their expiration date or stored in poor conditions, can become contaminated and trigger severe infections. Prolonged use of such products, they added, can lead to lasting health complications.
The doctors stressed that the lack of rigorous market oversight for women’s hygiene products has allowed substandard goods to circulate freely. They also noted that the stigma and silence surrounding menstruation often delay girls from seeking medical attention when problems arise. In their view, menstrual health education and quality control of hygiene products are urgent and unmet needs for women across Afghanistan.
Benafsha Arefi, an obstetrician-gynecologist, said that poverty and financial hardship in Afghanistan have left many women with little choice but to buy cheap, low-quality, and sometimes expired sanitary pads, a practice she warned can carry serious health consequences. She explained that reduced absorbency in these products creates an environment where germs thrive, increasing the risk of skin irritation, fungal and bacterial infections, itching, and genital inflammation.
“When sanitary pads are expired, or of poor quality, their absorbency drops and conditions become ripe for germ growth,” she said. “Using such pads can cause skin irritation, itching, inflammation, and fungal and bacterial infections in the genital area. When expired or low-quality pads hit the market at lower prices, many women buy them out of financial necessity, without realizing the serious health risks they carry.”
Najm-ul-Sama Shafaju, another obstetrician-gynecologist, said menstruation is one of the most physically sensitive periods for women, making hygiene during this time especially critical. She explained that the body becomes more susceptible to infection during menstruation, and that using unhygienic pads or cloths significantly raises that risk. Regular pad changes, proper washing, and bodily cleanliness, she added, are all essential to preventing the spread of germs.
“During menstruation, the cervix becomes more open, leaving that area of the body more exposed to germs, much like an open wound,” she said. “If germs enter the body, they can cause serious complications, including uterine inflammation, infection throughout the reproductive system, and even systemic spread. This period demands serious attention, as the body’s overall resistance is also lower at this time.”
Shafaju recommended that women and girls change their sanitary pads or cloths every two to three hours. For those using cloth, she advised washing it thoroughly and drying it in direct sunlight to kill germs.
“Some people believe girls should not bathe during menstruation, but bathing and staying clean actually prevent germs from accumulating and multiplying,” she said. “Pads or sanitary cloths should be changed every two to three hours. It is also advisable to use standard pads with absorbent and antibacterial properties.”
Maryam Rasa, also an obstetrician-gynecologist, said expired sanitary pads can have serious consequences for women’s health. She explained that once a product’s expiration date has passed, its absorbent layer breaks down, creating favorable conditions for bacterial and fungal growth. This, she noted, can result in vaginal infections, skin irritation, and, in more severe cases, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
“When expired sanitary pads are used, they create an environment where microbes can thrive,” she said. “This can lead to vaginal infections, itching, burning, and even the spread of infection into the internal reproductive organs. Left untreated, such conditions can carry grave consequences, including infertility.”
Rasa also emphasized that nutrition during menstruation deserves as much attention as hygiene. A balanced diet, she noted, can help strengthen the body and ease the symptoms associated with this period.
“During menstruation, the body loses blood, increasing its need for iron, fluids, and nutritious food,” she said. “Eating well, including meat, legumes, vegetables, and fruits, can help the body recover and reduce discomfort.”
In Afghanistan, sanitary pads are sold on roadsides, in pharmacies, and in shops stocking tissues and other hygiene items, with prices ranging from roughly 30 to 230 Afghanis. Manufacturers use a range of chemical materials in their production, and the products are typically sold in plastic packaging.
In many rural areas, however, access to standard sanitary pads remains limited. For a significant portion of women, these products are either unfamiliar or simply out of reach. As a result, many are left relying on reusable cloths to manage their periods, a practice doctors say can be hazardous if basic hygiene is not observed. Reports suggest that reproductive health problems are more prevalent in rural communities than in cities, largely due to economic constraints and inadequate sanitation infrastructure.
Rising poverty and shrinking purchasing power have also pushed many women in urban areas toward cheap, substandard pads. Doctors warn that these products are, in some cases, expired or non-compliant with safety standards, and continue to pose a real and underacknowledged threat to women’s health.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
نوارهای بهداشتی بیکیفیت و تاریختیرشده؛ تهدید پنهان سلامت زنان در افغانستان
