Dispelling myths about menstruation

Menstrual Hygiene Day was established in 2014 by Wash United, a Germany-based NGO, and since then, May 28 has been recognised internationally as a day to raise awareness about the importance of good menstrual hygiene.

For so many of us, menstruation is seen as a gross, unclean, uncomfortable topic that we would rather not deal with. One of the biggest reasons that so many of us are uncomfortable with periods has to do with the lack of understanding of how it works. There are quite a few myths that govern how we see periods in our culture overall.

Let’s examine some of these myths and the facts that disprove them.

Periods are unclean

Most of us were introduced to the idea of the unclean period through religion. The Bible, in Leviticus, talks in detail about how unclean a woman is when she’s menstruating. Women are not unclean when they are menstruating.

It’s an illness

While some women experience painful symptoms during their periods, having a period is not an illness. Typically, women operate as usual, going about their day while they menstruate.

It starts the same day each month

Ovulation can sometimes be unpredictable, and it does not happen on the same day each month. This can cause the menstrual cycle to fluctuate. Also, there are certain elements that can affect the period like stress levels, diets, exercise, and hormone levels.

You can’t have sex while you’re on your period

Of course you can have sex while on your period. So many women are more aroused during their cycle. It is an acquired taste, and not everyone is interested. But if you are, get your sexy on and have fun.

She’s too young to hear about periods

Talking about periods and other natural functions of the body can occur at a very early age, as soon as a female is old enough to ask. It’s especially important to talk to her before her period starts, which can be as young as eight years old.

It’s important to teach children (yes, including boys) about the female body and specifically menstruation. As they grow up, they will be better equipped to deal with the changes as their bodies develop and they journey to adulthood.

Even for adult women, there are a number of health issues that they experience that directly affect the menstrual flow like endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS, etc. Menstrual Hygiene Day highlights many of these issues and provides much needed information on periods. Visit @herflow on Instagram for details on Menstrual Hygiene Day.

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