Common Myths about Periods
March 04, 2021 | Farah Jassawalla

Common Myths about Periods

Periods are something every woman in the world experiences for an average of 40 years of their lives; yet due to the shame associated with menstruation, they are still treated as taboo. Most households in the country consider open conversations about periods controversial, forcing young women to whisper their experiences to their mother. 

Thus, an educational gap exists amongst women leading to the proliferation of several myths around menstruation. In this article, some of the common menstruation myths are going to be discussed and busted.

Myth #1: Periods are something to be ashamed about and hidden

Millions of women go through this experience every month of the year, yet periods are treated as a dirty secret that needs to be hidden. This belief has led men to be completely clueless about what periods are, making them unable to help their daughters or sisters in case of emergencies. 

Many schools in the country have sessions regarding menstrual health in Pakistan for girls. Similar sessions should also be held for older male students so that they can be educated about them. Doing so would normalize this process for what it truly is – a biological function essential for life. 

Myth #2: Eating Painkillers Stops Your Period

Another common myth regarding periods is the one involving eating painkillers to alleviate painful cramps. It is completely unfactual that taking a painkiller for your period halts your blood flow while there is evidence that painkillers may delay or slow down the flow. For a period to completely stop your flow, the dosages need to be much higher than the ones available in OTC (Over The Counter) medication.  

Myth #3: You cannot exercise on your period

It is normal to not want to exercise on the first day of your period, but that does not mean that you should skip the whole week. On the contrary, exercise helps relieve menstrual cramps and increase hormones that can help boost a person’s mood. 

Myth#4: Periods are supposed to last a whole week

On average, periods last around 5 days; however, that does not mean 4 days or even 7 days are abnormal. Every woman and her cycle are unique. It is completely normal to have a slightly fluctuating cycle; most women are a day or two late when it comes to their monthly cycle. 

Myth#5: Pregnancy is impossible while you are menstruating

This common misconception amongst women has resulted in a lot of unwanted pregnancies in couples. While the likelihood of a woman getting pregnant during her periods is low, it is never zero. One might mistake vaginal bleeding as their period, meaning that they are fertile while having intercourse, and thus get impregnated accidentally.

Another way a woman can get pregnant during her period is because of the ability of sperm to be able to survive 72 hours after ejaculation. 

Myth #6: Women on their periods are emotional or cranky the whole week

While some women may experience crankiness during their period; this fact has been exaggerated to the point that people have started to think that women on their periods constantly feel unstable and are therefore incapable of making sound decisions. 

The truth is that not all women experience similar symptoms during PMS and generalizing it is harmful for women and their careers. 

To find out more about the myths surrounding periods you should consult a medical health professional. Shifa4U allows you to consult doctors from the privacy of your homes, without requiring your loved ones to expose themselves to COVID’19. 

Register today at Shifa4U to begin your journey to affordable healthcare by booking your first online appointment today!

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Farah Jassawalla
