In menstrual health matters, access to information makes a difference
Student leader and mental health advocate Antonet shares how using the Oky period tracker app has been instrumental in helping her debunk period myths and learn more about sexual and reproductive health.
Nineteen year-old Antonet grew up in Catbalogan City, Samar with seven siblings. Currently, she is in the 12th grade and is a mental health advocate. In August 2023, Antonet attended a national learning summit for students called “Learners’ Convergence”. As she explored the different activities and booths set up, she was introduced to the Oky period tracker and menstrual health app. She quickly found it engaging and interesting and decided to try it for herself.
Hearing period myths
With a period tracking feature and an encyclopedia of information on sexual and reproductive health, Oky became a tool for Antonet to debunk the period myths she learned early on in life. Back in elementary school, she distinctly remembers being told by her mum to avoid taking a shower when her menstruation came, and avoid eating sour foods to prevent cramps. Antonet, however, knew that taking a shower was part of proper hygiene and so, she decided not to follow her mother’s advice and observed that nothing bad happened as a result.
“After [trying out] Oky, it felt good because I realised that most of what I heard about menstruation when I was still a child was false information. After I participated [in the summit], I learned a lot of facts instead of myths,” shared the young student.
Nowadays, Antonet uses the Oky app three times a week to track her menstruation and her daily mood. She also expressed her hope to introduce the Oky app to help more girls gain access to menstrual health information.
“Let us use our voice so that more young people and girls will know about the Oky app that is designed to support us,” called on Antonet.
Coming from a community that views girls as weak and moody when they show the slightest emotion during menstruation, Antonet hopes that girls would no longer feel the need to mask their true emotional wellbeing whenever menstruation comes around.
About the Oky app
The Oky Philippines app, supported by the Australian Government, is a joint product of the Department of Health, Department of Education, Commission on Population and Development, the National Youth Commission, and the Bangsamoro Government, together with UNICEF and in partnership with Plan International.
Categories: Sexual and reproductive health and rights
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