My periods are going on!” – say these words in public and you feel like you’ve beheaded someone. in a nation where women are worshiped as goddess called Saraswati, Laxmi , Durga and Sakti, its easier said than done, reflecting the contrasting principles of our society. In India, menstruation is sculpted into dramatic scenarios. Ssshhhhh!! don’t speak hide it in covers'; keep it in deepest coons . C’mon! is this the 21st century ? Women are paving their own way walking shoulder to shoulder with men. It’s a common practice to articulate any situation with god and” create fear than aware” and make the girl feel confident. These restrictions and taboos are man-made; God never wants to restrict anyone. While in a few parts of the nation there is jubilation on the onset of her first period a step towards motherhood , still there are other parts where people still poses an adding insult to the injury approach during this phase.
Menstruation - is a woman’s monthly bleeding. When you menstruate, your body sheds the lining of the uterus (womb). Menstrual blood flows from the uterus through the small opening in the cervix and passes out of the body through the vagina .Hormones play a pivotal role in this and marks the beginning of her sexual maturity and conceiving the baby.
So why the hell is this a taboo topic? Why are girls forbidden by human clutters? Most girls hide themselves out of fear or embarrassment on their way to a medical store. boys you couldn’t make it on this planet if it wasn’t a bleeding mother of yours. Women feel proud- cause you can bear a baby and continue the existence of mankind.
‘Silence gives consent ‘: so here is the time to speak out and loud. Break the barriers and stand up for yourselves and tear those myths apart .
Here is your guide to bursting period myths so that you can make sure you distinguish fact from fiction:
Myth 1: You can’t get pregnant during your period
It’s not likely, but there’s always a chance. Ovulation can be unpredictable and so can menstrual cycles.
Myth 2: Bathing or washing your hair during a period will increase your flow
This is an old one and it’s not true. You can feel free to keep clean and fresh throughout your period.
Myth 3: No exercise, you should always rest during your period
If you feel like exercising, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t. It’s actually a great way of controlling PMS and cramps because it increases the supply of oxygen to the muscles.
Myth4: You must see a doctor when your period starts
Unless there is a problem like severe pain or bleeding, you probably don’t need to see a gynaecologist just because you’ve had your first period. Typically, women should begin those visits when they turn 18.
Myth 5: Your period should last for exactly one week
Everyone’s period is different. It’s perfectly natural for a period to last anywhere between three to seven days. Your period may be irregular especially when it first begins. If after the first year of having your period, it’s typically longer or shorter than a week, you can talk with your doctor about it.
Myth 6: Pickle will get contaminated if you touch it during your period
This is not true. Having your period does not make you dirty / unclean and you are at no risk to spoiling any food items by touching them.
Myth 7: Eating sour foods will worsen menstrual cramps
While there is no correlation to eating sour foods and menstrual cramps, it is important to maintain a healthy diet during your period and eat plenty of brown bread, rotis, beans, daal and yogurt.
Myth 8: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is all in the mind
PMS symptoms are related to the way your body’s hormones change through your monthly cycle. Symptoms can be emotional (like irritability, depression or fatigue, and physical (cramps or headaches).
Myth 9: Talking to your daughter about periods before she starts will only scare her
It’s always a good idea to be open and honest with your daughter. Because girls typically begin menstruation any time between the ages of 9 and 16 (for most girls, between 11 and 13), it’s hard as a parent to know when to broach that topic. You should look for signs in your daughter’s development like budding breasts, an increase in perspiration, pimples and underarm hair. These clues can help you to know that she has entered puberty and you should continue (or open) the dialogue. If you don’t talk to her first, she may be scared when she starts bleeding.
Myth 10: Daughters always tell their mothers when they start their periods
She may but, then again, she may not. Girls may feel shy or too embarrassed to discuss their periods with their mothers. Mothers need to let their daughters know that they welcome discussions and questions about intimate subjects. It’s important that a daughter feels she can trust her mom with such personal information.
Myth 11: A menstruating woman is impure, dirty or cursed
A menstruating woman is going through a natural and healthy biological process. She is shedding the egg that can result in the conception of a new life in her womb. It is a sign of a mature woman capable of reproduction.
Calling her dirty or cursed is bigoted and superstitious. All women go through their monthly cycles and there is no need for name-calling. A healthy society will accept it as a natural process and respect a woman experiencing menstruation.
Myth 12: A menstruating woman should not enter the temple
A menstruating woman will not “anger God” if she enters the temple. In olden days, when science had still not understood reproduction and the menstrual process, many myths and superstitions came about. They don’t hold any place today - menstruating woman is not “impure” - she is simply going through a normal bodily function.
Myth 13: A menstruating woman should not enter the kitchen
She can enter the kitchen on any given day, anything she touches will not “go bad” or rot. She can maintain hygiene and go about her day just like she does on any other day. Prohibiting her from the kitchen is discriminatory and actually in bad taste.
Myth 14: Nobody should touch a menstruating woman
This is again a discriminatory attitude. Touching a menstruating woman cannot harm you at all. Going through a natural hormonal cycle is not a negative thing. You cannot treat a woman, or a young girl like that – she and her bodily functions must be respected.
Myth 15: Virgins should not use tampons
There is a lot of preaching around the subject of virgins, without the understanding of what a ‘virgin’ really means. A virgin is someone who has not had sexual intercourse. The hymen of a woman could break even with sports or other activities, and the presence of a hymen is not a measure of a “virgin”. Using a tampon is not related to virginity at all.
I am not against anyone’s beliefs and rituals. I often think of why people in our society regard periods or menstruation as a tabooed subject and not as a normal biological process that every girl has to undergo on a monthly basis. It’s not essentially the males who don’t understand periods and burden us with restrictions, but a major role is also played by women. They themselves have contributed to the creation of these restrictions and pass it on from one generation to another without knowing the facts, making it more difficult for the younger generation to go through.
Let them go to temples I say, and let the sacred ambience create positivity within them. Let her cook, it’s her kitchen. Let her work, give her that hygienic workplace. Let her live, she is truly bearing all this for you. Its god whose bestowed on her the privilege to give birth. In fact, God always wanted women to be free and powerful and that’s why he subjected every power of nature in Goddess Sati. So stay Positive think Optimistically Indians!!
