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Let us explode some of the myths on menstruation

There are many myths surrounding the menstruation of a woman. Let us look into a few of them and see why these are myths and not reality.

1. The menstruation cycle of all women has a span of 28 days. This is one of the most common myths believed till date; so much so that if a woman had a shorter or longer cycle period, she was considered sick and was taken to a doctor for check up. In reality the cycle can be a few days shorter or a few days longer. There are cases where women have only 3-4 cycles per year and still she would be normal.  The length of a cycle depends on many factors and is not always constant. While the cycle usually repeats itself every month, there are times when the cycle is not regular and comes once 2-3 months. Sometime this is normal, but it is always good to check up if the cycle becomes highly irregular. When the cycle stops, it is usually a sign of pregnancy or some underlying problem which could be serious.
2. Ovulation takes place during each cycle. This is another very common myth. Though ovulation usually is expected to take place every month, this does not always happen and this is also quite normal.  In some cases ovulation will occur twice in the same month, which is also normal.
3. A woman cannot get pregnant while menstruating. This is a myth that landed many women in trouble. The belief that one cannot get pregnant during one’s period is widely accepted all over the world. However, nothing could be further from truth. Actually, ovulation occurs about 14-16 days before the period happens. Once the egg is released it lives for about 24 hours. The sperm lives anything between 3-7 days. Hence, sometimes the sperm that enter the body during the 4th-5th day of menstruation can stay in the body long enough to catch the egg as soon as ovulation occurs and result in pregnancy.
4. If a woman has bleeding, she is not pregnant. This is another very common myth. People think that he moment periods stop, there can be only one explanation, that is  the woman is pregnant; and if she bleeds then she is not. Many times, the cease of periods can be due to fibroids, blood clots and other complications like cancer or uterine tumors. Similarly, a woman can bleed during pregnancy. However, bleeding during pregnancy can indicate a threatened abortion and should be immediately notified to a doctor. Sometimes, spotting or mild bleeding can be normal.
5. The periods of a woman will start as soon as she shows puberty signs. Nothing can be further from truth. Sometimes puberty signs in a young girl can start as early when she is  9-10 years old. However, it is not necessary that the menstruation cycle follow close suit. There are cases where girls got their first period or menarche as it is called in medical terms, when they were 14-15 years old. The average age would be between 12-13 years of age, but it can be as young as 9 years old and as late as 15-16 years old as well – and still be completely normal.
6. The periods are painful for all women. It is true that some women experience bad cramping pains before and during the menstrual cycle. However, it is not necessary that all women suffer from this pain. Actually, a slight discomfort would be expected though many women feel nothing at all before or during their periods. In cases where pain is acute, medical attention may be required to control the pain and related reactions.

These are some of the myths that are passed on from generations to generation and which inspite of the science and technology reaching the space age, are still followed by many educated and uneducated women alike.

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