LET'S TALK PERIOD MYTHS

Menstruation has for centuries been surrounded by myths. Hysteria is the best and most horrifying example. But menstrual myths still flourish around the globe in 2021. And even before you get your first period, you may hear stories or watch glimpses in the media about the menstrual cycle.

Let’s take a look at some of the myths:

1: Menstruators contaminate food
False. In a study done in a school in rural India, 55 percent of girls surveyed believed they could not cook or enter the kitchen during menstruation otherwise the food would contaminate. Discrimination against menstruators is widespread in India, where periods have long been a taboo and considered impure. Menstruators are often excluded from social and religious events, denied entry into temples and shrines and kept out of kitchens.
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2: Period blood is more dirty than ordinary blood
False. Period blood is vaginal secretion with a little bit of blood, uterine tissue, mucus lining, and bacteria. It’s very different from blood that moves through the veins. In fact, it’s less concentrated blood. It has fewer blood cells.
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3: Period is a “woman’s” thing

False. It’s a human health matterissue. Not every woman gets her period and not every menstruator who gets a period considers themselves a woman. In our opinion it’s imperative to include trans-men and non-binary people when we talk about periods. 
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4: Periods are a personal issue
True and false. Having your period is a personal experience – and the menstruator should be free to keep it totally private. But periods and menstrual hygiene are also a public health issues as the United Nations declared it in 2014.  Many people don’t have access to the proper hygiene, resources, and support they need for managing their periods.
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5: Periods are affected by the moon
False. It would be beautiful but there is no scientifically evidence that periods are affected by the moon. It’s a myth based on the similarity between the approximate length of the menstrual cycle (28 days) and the lunar cycle (29,5 days). But if you are a bit fascinated about it anyway.

Do you have other myths you think we should know of, please feel free to share at hello@duskcare.com