7 Common Myths Around Menstruation: Busted
Menstruation is a regular bodily function that most people with a uterus go through. Unfortunately, it’s still considered taboo to talk about it openly thus allowing several ridiculous myths about it to be floated as facts over the years. Did you know that the world won’t stop spinning around the sun if you touch a jar of pickles while you’re on your period, unlike what your grandmother believes? We’ve rounded up some of the most common myths around menstruation and busted them one by one because, in Lizzo’s words, it’s about d*mn time.
READ: Are Period Blood Face Masks The Secret To Glowing Skin?
Foods like curd, tamarind, and pickles will disturb your flow
While many experts recommend giving salt and caffeine a break while on your periods because they can worsen the bloating that most menstruating people experience, there’s no evidence of foods like curd, tamarind, or pickles doing any harm to your body while you’re on your period. In fact, curd has probiotic properties that can really help with bloating and make you feel better. However, it’s best to consult your doctor or a certified nutritionist if you’re facing gut issues or dietary problems while you’re on your period as symptoms may differ from person to person.
Using tampons or menstrual cups will take your virginity
This belief is surprisingly common around the world. People believe that using invasive menstrual products, like tampons or a menstrual cup, will ‘take your virginity’. This stems from the fact that inserting a tampon or menstrual cup inside your vagina will break the hymen. First of all, a hymen can be broken because of strenuous activities like cycling, horse riding, or swimming. It has no relation with the concept of virginity, physiologically speaking. Secondly, virginity is lost when you become sexually active. The association between hymen-breaking and virginity comes from the heteronormative idea that penetrative sex is the only way to lose virginity.
Hair Wash During your Periods
Washing hair during your periods will give you fertility issues
While a hot shower sounds perfect to alleviate period cramps, a lot of people advise against washing your hair during periods as it may cause fertility problems later in life. Again, there is no scientific basis for this belief. Historically, women used to participate in communal baths in rivers and lakes. Since this water was used by many people at the same time, it was not the most sanitary option out there. This could be a reason why a lot of women who bathed in these rivers suffered from sexual health problems, leading to a common belief that washing hair during periods causes infertility.
Food will get spoilt or contaminated if touched by a menstruating person
How many times have you been told to not touch pickles, especially during the pickling process, when you’re on your period? Or to not enter the kitchen during your period? If you haven’t had the aforementioned experiences, you’re amongst the lucky few who have not been subjected to outdated traditions based on unfounded beliefs. A 2011 study featured participants confessing that they believe women emit specific smells or rays when they’re menstruating that can contaminate and spoil food. While a Period Ray sounds fantastic, this belief is not backed by any science or research. Menstruation has no link with any change in the food-making process.
All women are cranky and irrational during their periods
Periods are not fun, let’s face it. You can get bloated, have breakouts on your face, and get mood swings before, during, and after your periods. But this is not to say that all women get the same symptoms. One in four women experiences severe PMS, causing these aforementioned symptoms. Therefore, it’s sexist and ignorant to invalidate women’s reactions by claiming that they’re not thinking clearly as their hormones are out of sorts during their periods. You can get punched in the throat for your outdated views by someone even when they’re not on their period. And that’s a fact.
Period blood is dirty
The lack of sexual health education has birthed this belief that when someone is on their period, they are impure or unclean because period blood is dirty. While not the most pleasant of bodily phenomenons, periods are a regular body function. The period blood consists of, well, blood, uterine tissue, mucus lining, and bacteria. The process does not mean your body is getting rid of toxins and as long as you’re maintaining proper hygiene, you’re neither ‘impure’ or ‘unclean’.
You shouldn’t go swimming if you’re on your period
The origin story of why some women believe bathing during periods can be harmful to your health explains a little bit about why the myth about avoiding the water at any cost while menstruating still persists. Some people also believe it’s unsafe for menstruating people to go in large bodies of water as it could attract sharks. If you’re anywhere near shark-infested waters, then the chances of said sharks harming you become automatically high regardless of whether you’re menstruating or not. Also, the amount of blood lost during periods is close to two to three tablespoons, an amount not sufficient to attract sharks. You can safely swim in the water, though it’s better to be using tampons or menstrual cups while swimming, than sanitary napkins as their efficacy might be compromised in water.
