Menstruation myths debunked by science

Indians be like, “menstruating women should minimize physical activities.” While it’s useful to avoid Pendidikan Jasmani - faking menstrual cramps, resting when menstruating is a bad idea and even detrimental to the female reproduction health.

Physical exertion during period actually allows proper menstrual blood flow - all the saki baki blood and tissue remaining in the uterus will come out. Science says menstruation ladies must exercise - that’s why there are pads created that allow ladies to participate in sports. Look up the ad of Infinite Always sanitary pad. The women doing ballet terkangkang during their period and the pad is designed to absorb 10 times volume of blood. This is to allow women to go ahead with their daily activities during period. Kalau nak duk one place - tak payah pakai pad - pakai baldi je - duk atas baldi tu sampai period blood drains.

Nicol Ann David, Pandalela Rinong and other female athletes play on when they’re on periods. These ladies don’t know when they’ll get their periods but they go ahead and compete no matter period or not. Olympics doesn’t take menstruation as a disqualifier for female athletes so the notion that menstruating women need rest is flawed. Tampons are a life saver - especially for water sports. Wear pads when swimming and a Jaws/Piranha scene is created.

But, walking/running exercises during menstruation increases the risk for ACL injuries (knee injury) but this injury also happens with age and for both men and women.

According to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, regular aerobic exercise helps relieve PMS. You probably don't need a scientist to convince you of that! Set foot in the gym when you're PMSing and you'll boost your mood, ward off fatigue and facilitate a better night of zzz's. Regardless of your cycle status, morning workout is a boost that staves off PMS.

The women who need rest are those who suffer from menstrual cramps - there’s medication for that too so that they can function normally. Science has improved leaps and bounds and dealing with menses is hardly a chore for most women. It’s part of life and life goes on, period or not.

Menstrual blood is unclean, unhealthy and has sinister powers. Now, this is the most ridiculous belief ever. Menstrual blood and urine have no smell on their own and they are neutral. Lab tests reveal that the menstrual fluid is just a composition of tissue and blood vessels - there’s nothing impure or unclean about it. They only release odours when they come to contact with air so what’s important is keeping clean during period - changing the pad when needed and proper washing, preferably with a suitable vagina wash. If hygiene is maintained, there is no problem. In those days, period blood couldn’t be contained properly - it may drip. That was why ladies were prohibited from entering temples and advised to minimize movement. Today, women have gone to space, working in outer space and 0 gravity for months and period management is supported by various sanitary napkins for different menstrual circumstance especially extra absorbent.

Saying menstruating is unhealthy is akin to saying mankind is unhealthy. That’s how stupid it is. Menstruation is a biological process like urination, defecation and digestion. It’s not a problem when the cycle is correct. Like any biological function, menstruation can get disrupted and there are medical treatments for the associated problem just like when any other organs in our body malfunction.

Menstruation is largely misunderstood by our Indians who won’t budge from archaic beliefs. My take on this, you can believe that periods are diabolic, unclean, unhealthy and menstruating women weak but not believe blindly. Read more and then decide whether your beliefs on menstruation are relevant or redundant.