Access to menstrual products is an essential part of menstrual health. But access alone is not enough.
The products used by women and girls come into prolonged and repeated contact with sensitive areas of the body. Their design, absorbency, microbiological quality, raw materials, packaging and labelling therefore matter.
For menstrual health programmes in Nigeria, the discussion should move beyond one question — Are sanitary pads available? — to another equally important question: Are the products safe, appropriate and fit for purpose?
A sanitary pad is a carefully designed health product
Although a disposable sanitary pad may appear simple, it is a multi-layered product.
The technical specifications developed for humanitarian procurement by UN agencies describe a sanitary pad as consisting of a body-contact top layer, transfer layer, absorbent material, leak-proof backing and adhesive system. Wings are intended to help secure the product to underwear and reduce displacement during use.
Each component serves a different purpose.
The upper layer should allow menstrual fluid to pass through efficiently. The absorbent core retains that fluid. The backing helps prevent leakage onto clothing. And the adhesive helps maintain positioning during daily movement.
Product performance should therefore be assessed as a complete system rather than by appearance alone.
Absorbency must correspond to menstrual flow
Menstrual flow varies between individuals and across different days of the menstrual cycle.
A product that does not have adequate absorbency may increase the likelihood of leakage, discomfort and anxiety. This can affect mobility, concentration, sleep and participation at school or work.
The UN technical specification consequently establishes indicative absorbency requirements according to product size and expected flow.
It identifies regular pads of 180–220 mm with an absorbency of 15–20 ml for normal flow; large pads of 220–260 mm with an absorbency of 20–30 ml for moderate flow; and extra-large pads of 260–300 mm with an absorbency of 30–40 ml for heavy flow.
Importantly, absorbency should be tested, not simply claimed.
The specification calls for absorbency values to be provided and indicates that testing can assess whether fluid placed at the centre of the product appears through its bottom or sides. It also calls for adequate fluid retention under pressure.
For consumers, procurement agencies and regulators, verified performance provides greater assurance than packaging claims alone.
Microbiological safety matters
A menstrual product is worn close to the skin and external genital area, often for several hours.
Good manufacturing and microbiological controls are therefore important.
The UN specification sets a total viable bacterial count limit of no more than 1,000 colony-forming units per gram and requires products to be free from specified organisms, including Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The specification further notes that products coming into close contact with skin and mucosa should not harm vaginal flora or contribute to reproductive tract infections through the growth of harmful microorganisms.
This reinforces an important principle: menstrual product quality should be based on measurable safety requirements.
Chemical safety should also be considered
Materials used in sanitary products may undergo several industrial processes before reaching the consumer.
Where materials are bleached, for example, the technical specification calls for the bleaching process to be identified and supporting safety information to be provided. It refers specifically to processes such as Elemental Chlorine-Free and Totally Chlorine-Free bleaching.
The specification further states that products should be free from substances including formaldehyde, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, dioxins, acrylic monomers, reproductive and developmental toxins and other carcinogens.
These provisions show why raw-material controls and quality assurance are important parts of menstrual health.
Fragrance is not necessary for menstrual hygiene
Menstruation does not require masking with perfume.
The UN specification explicitly states that disposable sanitary pads supplied under its requirements should be unscented.
This is more than a product preference. It reflects a wider principle of avoiding unnecessary ingredients in products that remain in prolonged contact with sensitive skin.
It can also help challenge the harmful idea that normal menstruation is inherently dirty or must be disguised.
Menstrual health education should reinforce a straightforward message: menstruation is normal, and menstrual products are intended to manage menstrual fluid safely and comfortably—not to conceal the fact that menstruation exists.
Packaging and information are part of safety
A high-quality pad can still be compromised by poor packaging or unclear instructions.
The UN specification requires primary packaging with adequate seal integrity to protect pads against moisture and contamination during transportation and storage.
It also calls for important information on packaging, including the manufacturer’s details, product name and size, batch number, manufacturing date, expiry date, number of pads, instructions and caution statements.
Users should also receive information on correct use, wear time and disposal, including a warning that used disposable pads should not be washed, reused or shared.
Clear information enables women and girls to make informed choices and use menstrual products appropriately.
Quality should accompany affordability
Nigeria’s period-poverty challenge means affordability cannot be ignored.
The 2025 Nigerian policy commentary describes substantial economic barriers to menstrual-product access and argues that affordability should form part of a wider national menstrual-health response.
But efforts to lower prices should not result in reduced product safety or performance.
The objective should be affordable quality.
This requires clear national standards, effective regulatory oversight, responsible manufacturing, transparent product information and procurement systems that evaluate products against measurable specifications.
Women and girls should not have to choose between affordability and safety.
As Nigeria expands menstrual-health programmes, product quality must remain central to the conversation. A menstrual pad is not simply a commodity. For the person wearing it, its quality can influence comfort, confidence, mobility and the ability to participate fully in everyday life.