Menstruation myths busted
Even though women experience periods from teenage years to middle age, they are a taboo to talk. And menstruation myths are common – let’s get started with busting some!
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 bodily function of an ovulating woman.
Menstrual blood is unclean and toxic
Menstrual blood is neither dirty nor 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!
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 that you will leave a trail of blood in the swimming pool!
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.
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 generally need to have a penis in your vagina, not a tampon or anything else.
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.
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 or another healthcare professional.
You shouldn’t wash your hair when you have your period
Probably one of the strangest 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!
Have you heard a rumour about sex and wonder if it’s true? Let us know and we’ll nail the facts or bust the myths! Leave your comment below or contact us on Facebook.
Tell us what you think
Recent Comments (71)
Thanks for the heads up
Thanks for the heads up
Hi Ronnie,
Hi Ronnie,
Thanks for your comment!
thanks for letting me know
thanks for letting me know the facts abt menstruation keep it up
Hi Comfort,
Hi Comfort,
We are glad it was interesting!
Thanks for the info, never
Thanks for the info, never knew all this
Great Princess, we are glad
Great Princess, we are glad to help!
thanks 4 those myths dr luv
thanks 4 those myths dr luv
You are most welcome, Job!
You are most welcome, Job!
Thanx 4 the heads up
Thanx 4 the heads up
You’re welcome, Nana!
You’re welcome, Nana!
thanks for that education
thanks for that education
You are welcome, Herbert.
You are welcome, Herbert. Come back soon for more!
thanks for the knowldge. i
thanks for the knowldge. i apreciate t
We are glad to hear that,
We are glad to hear that, Destiny!
Most of these are old wives
Most of these are old wives tales; glad to see them being dispelled with CORRECT information!
Hi Dana, we are glad you
Hi Dana, we are glad you appreciate it! Back back soon for more!
That issue of number 6 has
That issue of number 6 has given me a heads up… I would have fallen for the myth! Thanks!…
Hi Sharbel,
Hi Sharbel,
yeah, that sure is a tough one!
Tnx 4 updating us with dis
Tnx 4 updating us with dis idea about mesturation. God bless.
You are most welcome, Alimu!
You are most welcome, Alimu!
Tnx 4 d lecture…. Bless u.
Tnx 4 d lecture…. Bless u.
Hi Viola,
Hi Viola,
you are very welcome.
yeah sex should continue
yeah sex should continue even during menstruation
Hi Kasanai,
Hi Kasanai,
nothing speaks against this, as long as you and your partner are comfortable with it.
Thanks for letting us know
Thanks for letting us know but is it possible one can’t menstruates
Hi Mariam,
Hi Mariam,
yes, it is possible.
Things like not eating enough, or stress, can cause your menstruation to stop. Or, of course, being pregnant. If this is something you are struggling with, it would be a good idea to see a doctor and see if there are any underlying issues. Good luck!
Thanks for the knowledge
Thanks for the knowledge
You are most welcome.
You are most welcome.
Thnx for those pieces of
Thnx for those pieces of Knowledge.I’m now on the know
You are welcome!
You are welcome!
Dnx so mch i could hv fallen
Dnx so mch i could hv fallen in the myths
It’s great to hear we could
It’s great to hear we could bust some myths!
is it possible to have your
is it possible to have your periods if you are pregnant?
No. Some spotting maybe, but
No. Some spotting maybe, but if you experience blood loss while pregnant, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
hi. i appreciate the way u
hi. i appreciate the way u make us know more about life.i never knew abt menstrution bt now i knw.thanks alot.love u all.
Aww, thanks for your sweet
Aww, thanks for your sweet words, Amina!
pliz how do i calculate safe
pliz how do i calculate safe days?
Betty,
Betty,
safe days are one of the most unreliable ways to prevent pregnancy, and we really don’t recommend it at all.
When your safe days are really depends on the length of your cycle. Technically speaking, the first seven days before and after your period, as well as the time of your period, are relatively safe. But, if you have a shorter cycle (shorter than 28 days), or an irregular one, this will vary. Also keep in mind that sperm can survive for up to five days and longer inside the body- so even if you have sex on a ‘safe’ day, you can still get pregnant, because the sperm survived until your ovulation date. So you see, it’s a very inaccurate. And lastly, of course this won’t protect you from STDs. Only condoms will. So we really recommend a more reliable method.
thanks a lot for the info
thanks a lot for the info
longing to learn more anytime
Stella, keep coming back! We
Stella, keep coming back! We have new stories every day.
Thanks for the advice
Thanks for the advice
You are very welcome!
You are very welcome!
love matter
love matter
🙂
🙂
Hi there . I’m 17 & my cycle
Hi there . I’m 17 & my cycle is 26 days apart but last month it was 22 days apart . I usually experience slight abdominal pains the before or on the day I start & I PMS but this time I didn’t . I was and still am very worried . What does this mean ? I didn’t even get the excruciating period pains I usually experience . There was no pain at all . Thank you .
Lisi,
Lisi,
did you have a period though?
Sometimes, being sick, or stressed, or weight fluctuations can cause changes in your period. But four days shouldn’t be too much to worry about.
Yes , I did . Thank you ! It
Yes , I did . Thank you ! It must be the weight flactuations .
How can a man know da safe
How can a man know da safe days ov a woman who has 4 days ov her period ?
Hi there check out this
Hi there check out this article to learn more https://lovematters.co.ke/resource/birth-control-methods .
Thank you for this…
Thank you for this information.
You are very welcome.
You are very welcome.
I feel a lot of pain during…
I feel a lot of pain during menstruation pain killers don’t help me at all
Hey Lyne, sorry about this…
Hey Lyne, sorry about this. Unfortunately, period pain is normal. However, there are levels of pain that may require for you to seek medical advice from a gynecologist. If the cramps are disrupting your day-to-day life, then you must visit a doctor for advice. Especially for girls who enter puberty at 11 years or younger. Have a look at the following article for more details;- https://lovemattersafrica.com/our-bodies/female-body/dealing-with-period-pain
Thanks for the information,…
Thanks for the information, it was helpful yet funny.
Thank you fir the feedback…
Thank you fir the feedback Chidi, we are glad.
Nice, didn’t know about…
Nice, didn’t know about having sex is okay i thought one is likely prone to diseases during her per if they have sex because the uterus is open? Does it increase the risk of not having a health uterus?
Hello Sherry, from a medical…
Hello Sherry, from a medical point of view, sex during menstruation is totally fine. It even has a lot of benefits for both partners. Check out the following articles for additional information;- https://lovemattersafrica.com/our-bodies/female-body/sex-during-your-period-top-five-facts
Thanks alot I never knew…
Thanks alot I never knew something like this
You are welcome Eunice.
You are welcome Eunice.
am scared am pregnant cause…
am scared am pregnant cause I haven’t seen my period up till now
Hi Thelma, have you had…
Hi Thelma, have you had unprotected sex recently? If you have missed your period, consider talking a pregnancy test to see if you are pregnant especially because there other reasons that can cause a delayed period including stress, hormonal imbalance, change in environment, extreme exercises among others. Have a look at the following article;- https://lovemattersafrica.com/pregnancy/unsure-about-being-pregnant/am-i-pregnant
it is normal to see your…
it is normal to see your menstruation with a ten days interval, if no, what could be the reason
Hi Amaka, is this something…
Hi Amaka, is this something that has always happened for you or it just begun recently? Bleeding more than once in a month can be caused by a number of reasons including stress, extreme weight gain or weight loss, use of birth control, underlying illness among other reasons. If this has been happening on a regular basis, it is important you consult a health provider who will be able to advice on what steps to take or treatment to use. Have a look at the following article for more information about menstruation;- https://lovemattersafrica.com/our-bodies/female-body/menstruation
Nice but I have a question
Nice but I have a question
Hello Azu, thank you for…
Hello Azu, thank you for reaching out to us, feel free to ask whatever question you like 🙂
Thanxs
Thanxs
You are most welcome Mary,…
You are most welcome Mary, Happy Easter!
Any pill that can stop…
Any pill that can stop bleeding when i have 5yrs implant
Hello Mary, thank you for…
Hello Mary, thank you for reaching out and asking a great question. There are pills that one can take to temporarily stop your menses. Norethisterone tablets are pills to stop your period. They can be used to delay your period, for example when going on holiday. Norethisterone tablets need to be taken three days before you expect your period to begin and delay your period until three days after you have taken the last tablet. Please consult with your doctor before taking any medication though.
Thanks alot…Indeed…
Thanks alot…Indeed interesting, wow,!
Hi Shan, thank you so much…
Hi Shan, thank you so much for your amazing feedback and glad we are able to provide you with advice to help you make informed decisions. Have a wonderful week ahead and stay safe.