Almost all women choose to use sanitary pads during menstruation. That's because pads have ease in use, maintenance, and storage. 

Since sanitary napkins are disposable items, which must be disposed of after use, this becomes a trigger for whether sanitary napkins must be washed before being thrown away or can be thrown away immediately. 

Some myths say that if you throw away sanitary napkins without washing them first, it can invite unwanted things. Despite this myth, many people think that washing pads before throwing them away is a hygienic act. 

In this case, of course, we will refer to religious and health views. So far, the act of washing sanitary napkins before throwing them away is solely because we are afraid of the myths that develop in society. 

Then actually, do we need to wash pads before throwing them away? 

Washing Sanitary Pads Before Disposal 

As we know that pads are disposable items, thus we can throw them away after the pads collect blood due to menstruation. 

In general, there is no prohibition on washing pads before throwing them away since some people think it is a form of cleanliness. When we wash sanitary pads before throwing them away, they won't leave a bad smell. 

If you look at it from a religious perspective, in terms of Islam, in 2016, the Indonesian Ulema Council issued guidelines on menstruation and health according to Islamic teachings. The guide states that there is no obligation to wash sanitary napkins thoroughly after use. However, in Islam it is only recommended that women clean the impurity of menstrual blood that sticks to their bodies and clothes when they are about to pray. 

Meanwhile, from a health perspective, health experts say there is no obligation to wash sanitary pads when they are finished. according to dr. Dinda Derdameisya, an obstetrician for women and children in Brawijaya, said that there is nothing wrong with the habit of washing sanitary napkins before they are thrown away. Because in the world of health there is no relationship between pads that must be washed first or not before being disposed of.

There are several reasons why washing pads before throwing them away is inappropriate. These reasons include: 

• Sanitary pads do not need to be washed before being disposed of because our hands will come into direct contact with the blood, making hands unhygienic and washing them will require a lot of water. 
• Burying pads in the ground will pollute the environment, because pads are non-biodegradable materials. 
• Throwing pads in the toilet or toilet will cause a blockage in the channel. 

However, if you still want to wash your pads before throwing them away, there are a number of things you need to pay attention to. According to Prof. Dr. dr. Dwiyana Ocviyanti, administrator of the Indonesian Obstetrics and Gynecology Association, reminded women not to forget to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after washing sanitary pads. 

Menstrual blood can be a place for bacteria to multiply which can cause health problems. For that, don't forget to clean your hands, intimate areas and surroundings properly. And after washing it, don't forget to put the pads in a plastic or paper bag. Then throw it in the trash that has been provided. 

So, actually there is no specific recommendation to wash sanitary napkins before they are thrown away. It all depends on the comfort of each. If you still want to wash it, make sure you know how to wash it properly and correctly. 

References: 

https://www.suaramerdeka.com/gaya-hidup/pr-043914468/benarkah-pembalut-harus -dicuci-sebelum-dibuang-cek-faktanya 

https://www.merdeka.com/sehat/perlukah-pembalut-yang-telah-digunakan-dicuci-terl ebih-dahulu-sebelum-dibuang.html