As if that time of the month isn’t hard enough by itself, there comes a plethora of myths surrounding it. From having deformed babies to not being able to conceive whilst on your period, ever since we were teens, we’ve heard all about these tales. After over a decade of having my period, I decided to take a look into these myths and well, bust them! Here are the top six period myths and why they are anything but true.
1. Regular Periods Mean That You’re Fertile
Sure, regular periods are a strong indication of a healthy and fertile woman, however, there are a lot of other factors that go into determining one’s fertility. Namely, the health of the egg, the sperm, uterus and fallopian tubes. Hence, merely having your period every month doesn’t translate into an easy time conceiving. If you’re having trouble getting pregnant, you should pay a visit to your gynecologist.
2. You Can’t Swim Or Work Out During Your Period
How many times have you heard this? A concept as old as time, our mothers and grandmothers have passed this myth down to us. In the olden days, it was believed that during our period, women must rest and refrain from engaging in activities that are strenuous. According to research, it’s proven that exercising can actually help your painful period symptoms. Moreover, these days, with products like Sirona‘s menstrual cup, one can swim or exercise freely without the fear of leaks!
3. You Can Lose Your Tampon Up There
My grandmom used to always say that ‘You obviously can’t wear a tampon if you’re a virgin‘. And of course, this is completely and truly wrong. Growing up, I always wore pads (which TBH, I am not a big fan of not only due to the amount of waste but also the feeling of a crime scene in my pants). When I gave tampons a try, I was definitely nervous about them getting stuck up there. Your cervix stops the tampon from going any farther, so you can reach in and pull it out easily.
4. Painful Cramps Are Normal
For those who don’t have cramps, how does it feel like to be God’s favourite? While a lot of us go through that phase during our periods where we’re bed-ridden and incapable of getting up, there’s a fine line between this being the norm versus dangerous for your health. Really bad period pain (the kind that prevents you from going to school or work) is what should worry you. Because, in the long term, this will truly mess with your fertility if not diagnosed early on. Pro tip: Stock up on Sirona‘s hot and cold period pain-relief patches. I used one during a job interview, and it definitely helped me sail through the discomfort!
5. You Can’t Get Pregnant During Your Period
Okay, for those of you who passed 1oth Grade Biology, you know that during your period, the uterus lining is literally shedding (hence, all the blood). Therefore, it is not equipped to hold a fetus in, thereby making it hard for you to get pregnant. But (and this is a big one), sperm can live in our reproductive tract for days and depending on your cycle, if you ovulate early, it is very much possible that you can become pregnant. Hence, protection is always a must (in general, as well!).
6. PMS Ain’t Real
A minute of silence for those who deem PMS to be this ratchet excuse that women come up with to excuse their behaviour. Premenstrual syndrome is very, very much real. Due to the fluctuating levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone in our bodies post-ovulation, we tend to go through a variety of different moods. From mood swings, sore boobs, weight gain and sleep deprivation, we survive it all. Although, there are a few ways you can manage your PMS symptoms. For instance, you could skip caffeine and alcohol, or even try Sirona‘s PMS gummies which are known to alleviate mood swings!
Which of these myths did you previously believe in?
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