9 Menstruation Myths You Should Stop Believing

Why a Man is Writing About This

You might ask, why is a man writing about such a distinctly female topic? The reason is simple: many women still believe in these menstrual myths. Even the most illogical ones that even the most clueless man wouldn’t fall for. So, we’re here to debunk them, backed by scientific and medical facts.

1. Menstruation Attracts Bears

In 1967, a tragic incident occurred in America’s Glacier National Park where two women were attacked and killed by grizzly bears. Investigations showed that the women were menstruating at the time. Since then, women have been strongly advised not to visit the forest during “those days,” even if armed with a bazooka.

This is utter nonsense! Bears are attracted to all human smells equally. In fact, the smell of food attracts them much more. But even if you don’t smell like food or menstruation, a very hungry bear will still approach. Bears know that humans often carry food. They’re not afraid of gunshots because they associate the smell of gunpowder with dead animals or live hunters they can eat. If the bear is full, it won’t be interested in you or your “bloody” aromas.

2. You Can’t Cook

This myth was probably invented by clever women tired of standing by the stove all day. It’s sheer nonsense, more like a myth or a family curse. “You can’t cook during your period, or the ingredients will mix wrong, and the food will taste bad.” It seems like idiocy, disproved by normal women, but some still believe in this superstition.

3. No Sex

Who came up with this myth? Squeamish men or lazy women? It’s understandable that when your stomach hurts (even men know it’s a common symptom during “those days”), making love isn’t very comfortable. And the dark red mess can stain the bed and is hard to wash out. Plus, the bloody patterns might remind one of the Vietnam War rather than love-making.

If this is the only problem, then know that there are no restrictions on sexual life during menstruation. Just use condoms, as the risk of infection increases during this time. All you need to worry about is your partner’s readiness and cleanliness.

4. You Can’t Get Pregnant

While the situation is unlikely, it’s still possible to get pregnant, especially if your cycle is shorter than 20-22 days. So, if pregnancy isn’t in your immediate plans, it’s better not to risk it. Even if your cycle is twenty-eight days long, ovulation can occur a few days earlier.

They say that a cunning sperm can live comfortably in a woman’s body for a whole week. And then, two lines and contemplation on “how to live from here.”

5. Male Misconceptions

While we’re on the topic, let’s clear up some misconceptions for the men reading Heroine. Don’t confuse PMS and menstruation. Premenstrual syndrome is what happens before menstruation. As the name suggests. And all the hardships and complexities celebrated in male mythology are necessarily associated with menstruation.

In general, men’s understanding of menstruation is very incomplete and distorted. In childhood, many can’t even understand where the blood comes from—the vagina or the anus. We can’t believe that menstruation can be so painful: with pain all over the body, nausea, monthly agony, and other miseries. Especially compared to how easily and casually they pass for others.

6. The Moon Decides Everything

Women are not werewolves to be dependent on the moon. Various spiritual practices try to prove that menstruation should coincide with the new moon. In their opinion, all women bleed at the same time. Apparently, they misunderstood the term “lunar cycle.” Each woman’s menstruation starts at its own time, not when the moon dictates.

7. No Going Barefoot

There’s a belief that it’s very dangerous to go without socks during this unfortunate period. They say, if you walk on a cold floor, your cycle will turn into one continuous hellish torment. This is only partially true. You should avoid hypothermia in general, not just during your period. Hypothermia can cause delays, which is not pleasant. And if you get cold during this already unpleasant period, it certainly won’t make things easier. But socks… if they help, why not? In any case, women who walked on a cold floor didn’t have any problems.

8. You Can’t Plant Flowers

Another silly excuse like the ban on cooking. What’s there to be afraid of? Are you cursed during these days? Will the flowers wilt and turn into compost? The main thing is not to overheat in the sun to the point of nausea, not to carry heavy things, and not to overexert yourself in general, or you might start bleeding.

9. Delay = Pregnancy

Nothing is as alarming and confusing as a delay. Although men fear it much more, there are women for whom every failure is like a fire. Don’t panic ahead of time—there are so many reasons for a delay that it would take a separate article to list them all. It could be stress, illness, dietary restrictions, climate characteristics. And the delays themselves can be different: sometimes the cycle lengthens, sometimes it flows for 1-2 days with large intervals, and sometimes for several months. If there are no lines and the stomach hasn’t grown, it’s not always the baby’s fault. But you shouldn’t rejoice too much; it’s better to consult a gynecologist.