HIV/AIDS and menstruation: what are the minimum steps that must be taken in order to ensure that the bloodied rags are safe for reuse

Q: We have been told some conflicting information regarding safety precautions. On the one hand, some folks/guidelines recommend that a woman should wash the rags with soap and water, dry, and reuse them. Others, however, say that due to the highly infectious blood – particularly with women in stage 3 or 4 of the illness -the rags should be soaked in a bleach solution, boil them and wash them with soap and water.

We need to know what are the minimum steps that must be taken in order to ensure that the bloodied rags are safe for reuse, while placing as little strain and effort on women living with HIV/AIDS. (Beviour change specialist, USAID/HIP- Hygiene Improvement Project)

Answer: We don’t know the answer.
We do know that the HIV virus itself would not survive more than a few seconds of washing with water with or without soap, so even just well rinsed menstrual cloths wouldn’t be HIV-infectious to anyone else. However, for re-infecting the user with other illnesses, we are not sure.

You may want to contact the HIV/AIDS programme of the Royal Tropical Institute.

Comments and additions on this important topic are very much welcome!