"She's angry because she’s on her period." Six myths around menstruation that are still doing great

Menstruation is still connected with many myths and stereotypes. "She is angry today because she’s on her period", "Is it because you’re due your period that you are so angry?" - These are irritating things that men say, but we women also self-stereotype, according to Kulczyk Foundation’s new report on period poverty and stigma in Poland.

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Authors of the study have listed the six most established myths around menstruation:

1. The stereotype of the hysterical menstrual woman

The period is often used by men as an explanation of women’s behaviour that they don’t understand. However, women themselves misconstrue PMS. We tell ourselves: "this has crossed my mind because my period is approaching". As the authors of Kulczyk Foundation’s report put it: "we have such an upsetting narrative about periods: we are all the time little girls who exaggerate, complain that it hurts us, we are emotionally unstable during PMS and we throw ashtrays, we break vases...”

2. Myth of impurity

“Menstrual blood is dirty and full of bacteria.” This myth results from a series of experiments conducted by American scientists in the 1950s, who aimed to prove that dangerous toxins and germs could be found in menstrual blood. The study results contradicted the hypothesis, but the social discourse on this topic did not change.

What is the truth about menstrual blood?

“Menstrual blood is absolutely aseptic. It is only when it begins to break down, just like any other blood on a bandage, that it can possibly smell bad. Yet women are convinced that it is dirty, almost contaminated, like sepsis, gangrene, pus or dirty smelly bandages. They think that if they didn't menstruate, they would just rot from the inside” describe the authors of the report.

3. Myths around sex

25% of the women surveyed think that they must not have sex when having a period. Almost 30% of them think that a period is a safe time during which they cannot get pregnant. If you don’t have a period – you’re pregnant. These are just some of the sexual and reproductive myths associated with menstruation, which are still widely believed in, and not only by teens.

4. Myths related to care

There is a long list of things that, according to legends and myths, are not allowed during menstruation. The list includes: playing sports, sunbathing (because patched of skin may bleed), going to the dentist (because you feel pain more strongly and the blood clots less effectively), washing (because bacteria are transferred from the blood when you do this), taking warm baths (because there is a threat of hemorrhaging and thinning of the blood), swimming in the pool (because you can get infected with something), hair dyeing, and drinking alcohol.

5. The myth of a regular cycle

“Irregular menstruation is a sign of health problems, and regular menstruation occurs every 28 days.” As the authors of the report put it, “The belief that each cycle should be regular and last 28 days leads to a misconception about irregularity. Women believe something is wrong with them if their periods are not regular, and sometimes they also attempt to regulate their menstruation themselves."

6. Cooking

Over 20% of the women surveyed believe that during menstruation they should not bake cakes or pickle cucumbers.

Report conducted by research company Difference on behalf of Kulczyk Foundation, using quantitative and qualitative research methods, Warsaw, February 2020.