Menstruation or periods; it is something which is experienced by every woman for a large part of their lives. Most of the girls start menstruating at the age of 11 or 12 when they hit puberty and they undergo at least one cycle of periods every month. This continues until the women reach menopause much later in life.

Now, this is enough to remind us that menstruation is one of the most important and critical biological process experienced by half of the world population. With menstrual bleeding, there also arises a need of maintaining appropriate hygiene, or else, it may cause diseases which can also be life-threatening.

Even when menstruation is a basic natural bodily process, women have faced a hard time over the decades because of the age-old myths associated with it. There is a myriad of myths associated with periods across the cultures, communities, and religions. There might be various reasons for the origination of these myths, but the current reality is that we are living in a modern society, and this requires us to challenge these myths with scientific enquiry.

Here are some of the myths associated with menstruation:

Period blood is impure

The blood that is shed during menstruation is the same blood that travels throughout the body. Women expel tissue from the uterus’ inside along with some blood. Additionally, the hue might be anything from pale crimson to dark brown. The blood’s interaction with oxygen causes it to turn a colour other than the usual red.

Women should not cook during menstruation

There are cultural myths associated with period which force the women to be isolated and not touch the food that is being cooked for others. There is no scientific reason to explain why women should not cook for others or remain isolated during their periods. This myth is baseless.

Women cannot get pregnant during periods

This is a dangerous myth because it may lead to unwanted pregnancy. These are no guarantee that women cannot get pregnant when they are on periods. While it is less likely to happen, there is still a small possibility. Therefore, it is extremely important that you use protection during intercourse. It is also important to avoid getting any STDs or STIs.

Using tampons or menstrual cups leads to loss of virginity

Women’s virginity has always been a contentious issue. There are many myths associated with the hymen, bleeding during sex, and periods when it comes to virginity. Contrary to what many may believe, use of tampons or menstrual cups does not affect women’s virginity. Only having a sexual intercourse with someone means that you lose your virginity.

Women cannot work during periods

While women experience pain and exhaustion during their periods, it does not mean that they cannot perform any physical task during this time. In fact, exercise can actually help with improving the blood flow, relieving pain, and helping you feel more energetic.

There is a fixed duration and cycle for every woman

Although a cycle typically lasts 28 days, it can last anywhere from 21 to 35 days. It is likely that as you age and your cycle alters, the length of your period could also alter. There are numerous factors that might affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, blood flow, and period length.

These are some of the myths associated with menstruation because of which women have to face many challenges. With time, many of these myths have now become obsolete. However, many still survive and continue to grow.

Also Read: Healthy menstruation – foundation for healthy progeny 

Amar Tulsiyan, CEO & Founder, Niine.

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