The Women’s Cell of Don Bosco College, Panjim, organised an online session on ‘Reproductive health concerns in young women’ for the female staff and students of the college on 31st December 2020 from 6pm to 7:30pm. Dr. Tanya Chodankar who works for the Voluntary Health Association of Goa [VHAG

Assistant Professor Anaita D’costa, convener of the session, introduced the guest speaker. Several important topics like Menstrual cycles in women, Ovulation and pain associated with ovulation, PMS (Pre Menstrual Syndrome), Painful periods, Menorrhagia (Heavy bleeding and its causes), Cultural taboos associated with menstruation, Menstrual Hygiene, Sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), Medical Termination of pregnancy (MTP), Menstrual abnormalities, Causes of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome [PCOS], and cervical cancer were covered in great depth during this session.

The session concluded with Dr. Tanya providing the participants with essential takeaways pertaining to sexual health practices and the laws and schemes to promote reproductive health care so that girls and women know how to deal with these issues if they crop up.

Salma Fernandes of FYBAMC and Priya Prabhu of MSW were among the students who raised questions about several related health issues – all of which handled with in-depth responses.

At a time when health and hygiene are of paramount importance to everyone, this session helped young people and those who attended obtain a clearer idea of how they can maintain and promote their health.