Deconstructing the Misconceptions Surrounding Menstruation

"Every misconception is a poison: there are no harmless misconceptions."

-Arthur Schopenhauer

This statement reflects the deleterious effects of the misconceptions regarding menstruation, however, not just one individual is responsible for the spreading of this lack of awareness, but a culmination of neglected generations contribute to it. This blog aims at eradicating and clarifying these misconceptions one by one. The most important one to address is, is that many believe that only women can menstruate, however, this is untrue. Not every individual that gets their period considers themselves a woman, and not every woman gets their period. For example, trans-men may get their periods, whilst trans-women might not. Hence, menstruation is not just a “woman’s” issue, as it is projected and shown as, but much rather a human issue.

Similarly, one of the many reasons why people tend to keep a distance from those menstruating is because they believe that the blood secreted during menstruation is “dirty blood”. However, this is scientifically untrue, there is nothing dirty about menstrual blood, in terms of its composition it isn’t rejected body fluids or flushing out of toxins, but much rather it is evolved vaginal secretion. Meaning, it consists of blood, uterine tissue, mucus lining, and bacteria. Another menstruation-related misconception is one regarding premenstrual syndrome (PMS) being all in one’s head. Biologically, “it is a combination of symptoms associated with menstruation, and it causes symptoms such as irritability, fatigue, anxiety, or feelings of sadness before or during your period.” Moreover, approximately 90% of women in the US experience at least one symptom when they're on their period.

As mentioned previously, the second category of misconceptions includes those regarding menstruation, that those on their cycles are unaware of. Many believe that periods are only to last exactly a week each month, but this is untrue. For many, they last for five days and can happen every four to five weeks. So they may be longer or shorter depending on the individual. There is also a belief that one should not exercise whilst they are on their periods, however according to Pamela Kurey, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist on the medical staff at Chester County Hospital, "Exercise helps relieve symptoms associated with your period. It can make you feel better, concentrate more easily, and feel energized. It can also ease pain such as cramps, back pain, and headaches.” What is important to be kept in mind is that everyone uses different sanitary products during their period, these include tampons, pads, menstrual cups - to name a few. Each of which has its pros and cons, no one is a “best” or more ideal than the other, so the notion of having one best way to deal with one’s period must be altered.

Furthermore, periods are often marked as a group of people’s problems, but according to the United Nations in 2014, they are a humanitarian crisis, and a public health issue. This is because a multitude of people don’t have access to the proper hygiene, resources, and support they need for their periods. “In India, girls miss school 1 to 2 days every month because of their periods” this can drastically affect their education and future. Women, in particular, are pinned as hormonal, some men have equated feelings to hysteria as if it’s an illness. However, everyone has hormones, even men (for example Testosterone) that have physical impacts on them too.

Additionally, one of the most alarming misconceptions is that Using tampons as a virgin will break the hymen and take a woman’s virginity. For context, the hymen is not a flat piece of tissue that completely covers the vaginal opening, some are born without a hymen, while others only have a small hymen. It’s true that hymens can be torn during intercourse, physical activity, or when a tampon is inserted. But the hymen does not “break,” and virginity is an emotional concept, not just the disruption of a piece of tissue that a person may or may not have been born with. Lastly, many believe that one cannot swim or shower whilst they’re on their period, this being a popular myth in India, Italy, and Argentina. However, it is safe to bathe and to swim while menstruating. It’s possible that this myth started before feminine hygiene products were invented or became popular to use. Any bodily fluids can contaminate a swimming pool or bathtub, not just menstrual blood. Using tampons or menstrual cups is safe and sanitary for swimming and bathing.

To conclude, there are numerous detrimental misconceptions about menstruation, that if not spread awareness regarding, or clarified can lead women to remain unaware of them and snatched of the opportunities and activities they can carry out.

Bibliography

Godin, Colleen. “Menstrual Cup Myths That You Can Stop Believing Right Now.” Intimina. February 26, 2019. https://www.intimina.com/blog/menstrual-cup-myths/.

“5 menstruation myths you must leave behind.” Medical News Today. Accessed March 5, 2021. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324403.

“The Most Common Myths About Periods from Around the World.” Pandia Health. Accessed March 5, 2021. https://www.pandiahealth.com/resources/myths-about-periods/.

“8 Period Myths We Need to Set Straight.” Healthline. Accessed March 5, 2021. https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/period-myths.

Kurey, Pamela. “The Truth About 5 Common Period Myths.” Chester County Hospital | Penn Medicine. July 11, 2019. https://www.chestercountyhospital.org/news/health-eliving-blog/2019/july/period-myths.