In Kenya and around the world, menstruation is a topic rife with myths and misinformation. When girls approach their teenage years – and even well into adulthood – they are often exposed to made-up stories or misconceptions about their period from friends, family, social media, TV, movies, and other sources, making an already-confusing time of the month even more daunting. Instead of having to parse fact from fiction, girls and women should be well-informed about their bodies and confident in their choices – able to embrace their true selves at any time of the month.
Fortunately, there are many valuable resources out there to educate girls and women about menstrual health and hygiene, dispel myths surrounding their period, and help them navigate their monthly cycles. Below are 10 common misconceptions surrounding menstrual health that continue to spread in public and private discourse but are not, in fact, factual. We’ve added some links to evidence and other resources. Please let us know if there are other common myths that we’re missing!
“Menstruation is dirty”: While some people may believe that menstruation is unclean or somehow contaminated, it is a natural function of the female body and typically an indicator of good health and hygiene. Menstrual blood is simply regular blood mixed with uterine tissue – nothing to be scared of! (Sources: Women’s Health Network; Cleveland Clinic).
“You can’t exercise on your period”: Many girls are told that they can’t run, swim, dance, exercise, or play sports while on their period, but in reality, physical activity can help alleviate cramps and release endorphins to improve mood. Tampons and menstrual cups are considered practical and hygienic ways of managing one’s period while exercising, but when it comes to menstrual health, comfort is queen. (Source: Flo Health)
“You should avoid certain foods”: It has been suggested that some foods (certain spices, pickles, chocolates, etc.) shouldn’t be consumed during one’s period; however, there’s no evidence that specific foods negatively impact menstrual health. (Source: UNICEF)
“Tampons take your virginity”: One of the most pervasive menstruation myths is that inserting a tampon means you will no longer be a virgin. While it’s possible that a tampon could be inserted incorrectly or cause natural discomfort, it is a well-regulated medical device designed to absorb menstrual fluids without affecting one’s sexual status. So don’t worry, tampons won’t “break your hymen” (also, for the record, the hymen doesn’t break; it stretches.) (Sources: Tampax; Center for Young Women’s Health).
- “You can’t be sharp when you’re on your period”: While hormonal factors affect every girl and woman differently, there’s no scientific evidence that menstruation impairs cognitive function, memory, or attention. The female brain is actually bigger during parts of her cycle, go figure! (Source: Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, BBC)
- “Girls on their period should sleep in another room”: Periods are not contagious, period. There is nothing unhygienic about being on your period, so menstruating girls and women will not cause any harm to others in the room. (Source: UNICEF)
“It’s just a period – suck it up”: Period symptoms can range from mild to severe, and many women are able to manage their periods without significant discomfort. However, up to 90% of adolescent girls and 25% of adult women experience significant pain during their cycles (called “dysmenorrhea”), which could be a sign of an underlying medical issue such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids. (Source: Mayo Clinic)
“Make sure to hide your period products.”: It is estimated that nearly 9 in 10 teens hide their menstrual products when at school, and more than 7 in 10 adults hide their period products when they are at work. It’s hard to imagine similar discretion for other personal hygiene items like soap or bandages, so why make an exception for pads or hand wipes? (Source: Planned Parenthood)
“Menstruation is always 28 days”: The idea that a menstrual cycle must be exactly 28 days is not entirely true; menstrual cycles can range from 21 to 35 days, with the average length falling around 29 days, and what’s considered “normal” can vary widely among individual girls and women. We should also remember that ovulation may last up to a week, but for most, the menstrual cycle is an ongoing process. (Source: Nature).
“Irregular periods are a problem”: Actually, it’s quite regular to be irregular! Menstrual variations from cycle to cycle can be caused by changes in weight, diet, stress levels, medications, or other factors that are not necessarily reasons for concern. However, if the irregularities persist over a long period of time, they should be discussed with a healthcare provider. (Source: Cleveland Clinic)
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