What women should not do during menstruation: debunking myths

Recently, Spain became the first country in Europe to allow women to take vacation during menstruation. Despite the fact that doctors emphasize that menstruation is not a disease, it is still a rather delicate condition during which women are advised to be attentive to their own well-being. It is this criterion that should guide us, not the numerous myths that surround menstruation.

To debunk the most popular myths, ICTV Facts turned to gynecologist, PhD Olha Lashkul. She told us which of these stereotypes have a rational basis and which are pure fiction.

Pain is a necessary companion of menstruation

It is believed that it is natural for a woman to feel pain during her monthly bleeding, so she just has to endure it. In fact, not all women experience severe discomfort, some may not feel anything at all. But if you do suffer from menstrual pain, you shouldn't put your life on hold because of a natural condition. Rate your feelings on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 is a complete absence of pain, and 10 is such severe pain that it's time to call an ambulance. Anything from 5 points and above means that you need pain relief.

Physical activity should be avoided

In fact, light exercise can relieve menstrual discomfort. Therefore, yoga or dancing will even be beneficial as it will help relax the uterus and relieve pain. But strength exercises should really be limited as they can increase blood loss. In general, be guided by your feelings. If something bothers you while doing a certain exercise, just replace it with another one.

Do not take a hot bath

Some doctors even recommend lying in hot water to reduce pain. If a heating pad helps during your period, then a whole bath is even better. So, if you are not worried about getting blood in the water, then allow yourself this method of relaxation.

Sex is contraindicated

There is no clear ban on sex during your period. If you and your partner are comfortable with everything, then don't deny yourself anything. Moreover, women may experience increased libido during these days of the cycle, and orgasm can eliminate abdominal and back discomfort and even speed up the end of menstruation. However, due to the increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections inherent in this period, be sure to use a condom.

It is impossible to get pregnant during your period

Actually, this is not true. Fertilization may well occur. It is only due to the detachment of the uterine lining that occurs during menstruation that the egg will not be able to attach. In addition, in women who have a short menstrual cycle, unprotected sex during menstruation can lead to later pregnancy. This is because sperm can live in a woman's body for up to 7 days. So, if you have unprotected intercourse on your 4th-5th period and ovulate on the 10th day of your cycle, successful fertilization is quite likely. So, if you're not planning a pregnancy, this is another reason to wear protection during these days.

To make your period easier, you need to take blood thinners

In fact, such medications can increase the duration of your period and increase blood loss. Therefore, you shouldn't take them just for fun. If you need blood thinners on a regular basis, discuss this issue with your doctor.

You can have a breast examination

During different periods of the menstrual cycle, the mammary glands also experience different conditions. That's why they may hurt before your period. These changes are reflected in the results of an ultrasound or mammogram. Therefore, doctors advise to wait until the bleeding stops and then seek such diagnostics.

Blood donation is prohibited

There is no strict ban on blood donation during menstruation, but it is still undesirable. First of all, you should not increase the natural loss of blood. This can negatively affect your health. In addition, during menstruation, a woman's hemoglobin level decreases, which means that the blood donated will not be of very high quality. Therefore, it is really better to wait until your period is over and then go to a donor center.

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