- Myth 1: Menstruation is a disease
In some cultures, menstruating women are seen as carrying a contagious disease. They are treated as untouchable, sometimes even locked up in a shed outside the main house to prevent them from spreading their disease. But menstruation is NOT a disease. It is a normal body function of an ovulating woman.
- Myth 2: Menstrual blood is unclean and toxic
Menstrual blood is not dirty or poisonous. Apart from blood cells, it contains the inner lining of the uterus and possibly an unfertilised egg. Now, there’s nothing toxic about any of that!
- Myth 3: You can’t do any physical activity while menstruating
Unless you suffer from intense cramps or heavy bleeding, there is no need to hold yourself back from physical exercise when you have your period. You can even go swimming – if you use a tampon, it will soak up the blood you discharge. So there’s no need to fear leaving a trail of blood in the swimming pool!
- Myth 4: You can’t have sex when you have your period
There’s nothing wrong with having sex when you’re menstruating. It won’t harm you or your partner. But do it only if both of you feel comfortable with it. And with a tampon in there are also many satisfying ways to make love. Some researchers have found out that having sex during your period could ease menstrual cramps.
- Myth 5: If girls use tampons, they lose their virginity
Some people have the idea that using tampons will stretch your hymen, and that means you’re not a virgin any more. But to lose your virginity you need to have a penis in your vagina, not a tampon or anything else.
- Myth 6: You won’t get pregnant if you have sex during your period
While chances are slim, it’s possible to get pregnant if you have sex during your period. It’s most likely if you have an extremely short or long menstrual cycle, which makes you ovulate very close to menstruation.
- Myth 7: You can’t avoid menstrual cramps
If you suffer from menstrual cramps and you think it’s something you gotta live with, you’re wrong. Menstrual cramps can be treated with medication and/or by going on birth control pills. But before you do either of that, consult your gynaecologist.
- Myth 8: You shouldn’t wash your hair when you have your period
Probably one of the most famous myths of all time. It’s an old idea that’s absolutely without any medical basis. You can wash your hair all you like when you’ve got your period and nothing will happen!
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Gayatri Parameswaran is a multi-award winning writer, director and producer of immersive media works. She was born and raised in India and is currently based in Berlin, where she co-founded NowHere Media - a storytelling studio that views contemporary issues through a critical lens. She also edited the Love Matters website in its initial years. Check out more about her here.