MENSTRUAL CUP USAGE FOR SUSTAINABLE MENSTRUAL HYGIENE AMONG COLLEGE-GOING WOMEN IN SOUTH CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU

Menstrual health and hygiene play a pivotal role in the overall well-being of menstruating women. In the contemporary world where waste management is challenging, there is a growing concern for the disposal of sanitary napkins as well. The paper blends the theme of "Health and well-being" along with "Waste management and cleanliness" to arrive at one solution for the dual problem. The paper takes up a holistic approach to address challenges of menstrual health and waste management, thus promoting "Green menstruation". The core of the paper lies in carefully examining the issues faced by college-going women, in the South Chennai region, during sanitary napkins usage and tries to understand their perceptions on menstrual cups. In addition, environmental benefits revolving around the usage of menstrual cup are also explored. Quantitative method is used by the researchers to address the objectives of the paper. The findings obtained from the research method serves as a foundation for the suggestions and interventions proposed in the paper. Thus, the paper underscores sustainable and eco-friendly real-time solutions that improve the overall well-being of menstruating women while contributing to a cleaner environment. KEYWORDS: Menstruation, Menstrual Cups, Waste Management, Menstrual Health, Green Menstruation.