Know More About Periods and Its Myths Across the World

What Are Periods?

When a girl enters adolescence she has to deal with some new change in her body. Hormonal change, pimples, oily skin, breast development, pubic hairs and periods. 

Usually, girls get their first period between the age of 12-15. She bleeds from her vagina for 3 -7 days every month and the cycle repeats every 25-35 days. It is also called as menstruation and the purpose of this menstruation cycle is to make girl’s body ready for pregnancy.

What Are the Symptoms of Periods?

These symptoms are seen before and during periods, some of the symptoms are :

• Cramps

• Mood swings

• Pain in lower belly or lower back

• Getting pimples

• Feeling tired

• Nausea

• Headache

• Diarrhea

• Bleeding gums

• Sore breast

• Food cravings

While some girls face only few symptoms, rest face all of them. Trouble with this symptoms may vary from one girl to the other. There is a funny belief that says, “If you feel no pain or very less pain during periods that means you have period subscription.”

How to Deal With These Symptoms?

• Consult a doctor

• Use hot bag for cramps

• Rest for sometime, until you feel normal again

• Take hot shower

• Some exercise or body stretch can be helpful

• Music can calm your mind

• Consume medicines recommended by the doctor

It is totally okay to focus on yourself and give yourself some time to rest and to recover again.

Few Myths About Periods:

• Women can’t go for camping as bears can smell them from far away (United States)

• Women gets slapped on her first period so that she can have beautiful red cheeks lifelong (Israel)

• Bathing with hot water can cause heavy flow (Israel)

• Having  sex during periods can kill your partner (Poland)

• Wash pads before throwing them off otherwise ghosts will haunt you (Malaysia)

• Not to worship or cook food (India)

• Not to touch flowers because they will die soon (Romania)

• Not to wash hair during periods because that will affect fertility later in life (India)

• Not to walk barefoot because you will get cramps (Brazil)

• Wash your face with menstrual blood when you get it for the first time in your life for clear skin (Philippines)

These are some of the myths across the world which are still followed up. Many myths started with a mentality that periods are impure. Reason? People still don’t know the reason for these myths. If they do know the reason they think of it to be the ultimate truth no opinions accepted.

Periods and Women in India:

Ladies in every country goes through this cycle. Some use sanitary products while some risk their lives because either they are unaware of this product or they think periods are not good for them. A survey showed that only 18% of Indian female population use sanitary products.

But What About Rest 82% Female Population?

From the very beginning, females didn’t have access to these products so instead they used napkins, sand, husk, cow dung, and in some cases didn’t wear underwear for those days. 

Recently we have menstruation cups, tampons, pads and other products as well but women deny to use it because it feels like a risk. They are not ready to take the risk which is actually the solution.

What Can Be Done for These Women?

• Proper menstruation education should be given to boys and girls

• Girls should be taught the consequences of unhygienic periods

• Menstruation shouldn’t be seen as impurity or taboo

• Adult who believe and pass on the wrong education should be well taught with facts

• Sanitary products should be free of cost

• Rural and tribal areas should be well educated, because they are the base of our culture

• Menstrual paid leaves to be granted in work places at least for a week

The only problem people face is the Confusion of whether this blood is pure or impure. Once they are educated well; then this taboo will be over as well. Changing your beliefs isn’t easy but if it hurts someone then it needs to be improved or changed. 

Periods give a chance for new life; if you feel it to be impure so why is the baby pure. Periods are as normal as any other change in the body. If that is not a taboo so why is menstruation?

It is a biological and natural process for the benefit of the future. Period. 
 

Written by Nandakshi Suryawanshi
Edited by Jerusha Patel