period-pride

Myra, strongly independent, career-oriented, smart 24-year-old working in leading media house had so many dreams to fulfill but suddenly her life took a twist with so-called “Society” pressure on her parents to get her married, and when a well settled, educated, a financial independent boy like Akash proposal dropped in for her.

Myra’s parents convinced her to get married, though she knows that Akash family is very orthodox and settled in a small town in Uttar Pradesh & Akash is senior IT manager in Mumbai, she said yes !!

Everyone was really happy as marriage is there within a month and best part Myra can continue her job in Mumbai with Akash but her in laws put up one condition “Myra should stay with us atleast for 2 months after marriage in our town to understand the culture and tradition we follow in our home” which Myra & her family gracefully and happily accepted.

The day arrived Myra got married to Akash and marriage customs & rituals went smoothly and time arrived when Myra moved to stay with her new joint family in UP for 2 months.

Myra got a new friend in her new house her 16 years old sister in law Rashmi, they shared a good bonding with each other and like every month Myra got her #PRIDEPERIODS which she was never ashamed of, but on contrast when she went and asked Rashmi “where to dispose of a sanitary napkin?” Rashmi without uttering a word straight went to her mom and told about Myra’s periods.

Was it a crime, I got my periods?” Myra was thinking to stand in front of her room.

Then her life changed as soon as her mother in law came running and said “Wait bahu!! your mother doesn’t tell you, what to do and don’t on these days?”

Myra was surprised “Is there anything mom missed to tell me ” she was born & bought up in a very healthy & open environment, where she can openly discuss her fears to her mom, but what happened now.

Her mother in law said, “let me tell you, what you should do & don’t do in this time…

  1. Not allowed to water plants especially tulsiji or sleep in the same bed as their husbands!
  2. Your touch can rot the food so kitchen.
  3. Stay in other room. Even the utensils you served the food in, are specially kept away for you to use during her period.
  4. Don’t touch pickle, it will spoil!
  5. Not allowed entering a religious place or attending religious ceremonies.
  6. You cannot wash hair for at least the first 2 days of her period.

Myra was shocked to hear all this as she is a 21st-century girl not expected such illogical taboos & myths still people follows and decided to speak up against it.

She discussed Akash & told that she wants to stay for some more time to educate them about periods and break myths. Well, this was not an easy task to do, but she first took Rashmi in confidence & then explained her mother in law, what all logic behind these myths and time to break such taboos which is illogical and irrelevant.

Her mother in law after long argument found little sensible points and agreed to call girls and woman in town age between 12-30 years and Myra can break the ice break of #PRIDEPERIODS.

Here’s what Myra explained :

What is Periods?

Understanding-Your-Menstrual-Cycle

The period is a bleed from the womb (uterus) that is released through the vagina. Women have a period every 28 days approximately. However, some women may have a 24-day cycle while other may have a 35-day one. A period is part of the woman’s menstrual cycle. It is like your body is discharging impure blood.

menstruation-myths-busted

MYTH #   Don’t wash hair for at least the first 2 days of her period.

MYRA #  This is something weird passed on from elder ladies in the family. Maybe years back when bath had to be taken in streams, it used to get inconvenient to wash body and hair when bleeding as period generally lasts about five days. Bleeding is more profuse during the first two days. But in today’s age, it is just one of those illogical things that need to be followed in the family.

MYTH# Not allowed entering a religious place or attending religious ceremonies.

MYRA # People can still do without all the crazy rules mentioned above but this thing they can never let go. Why? Because God has specifications? And when did he ask the mankind to make temples in the first place, let alone make such good-for-nothing rules, all such written rules are man-made written rules?

MYTH#  Don’t touch pickle, it will spoil or touch can rot the food so kitchen.

MYRA # Yes, first 2 days are as said bleeding is more profuse so better you rest more but if you have pickle & food stored in your fridge go touch & eat it will for sure not get rotten. 

MYTH # You can’t get pregnant during her period.

MYRA It’s not likely, but there’s always a chance. Ovulation can be unpredictable, you can sleep on the same bed with your husband and even can have sex, why it’s said sex should not be done in periods with only reason is HYGIENE.

MYTH # Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is all in the mind.

MYRA # PMS symptoms are related to the way your daughter’s hormones change through her monthly cycle. Symptoms can be emotional (like irritability, depression or fatigue, and physical (cramps or headaches). 

 

These were few myths Myra tried to break not even this she also gave few tips to mothers who have a daughter going to enter in the menstruation cycle.

  • Most girls get their first period between 11 and 13 years old, but it can start anywhere from ages 8 to 16.
  • The average cycle for most girls is 28 days, but it may last from 21 to 35 days and still be “normal.”
  • If she has a short cycle, it’s likely she’ll have a period more than once a month. On the flip side, if her cycle lasts longer, she’ll have fewer periods in a year. Every girl is different!
  • If you don’t talk to her first, she may be scared when she starts bleeding! It’s always a good idea to be open and honest with your daughter. Because girls typically begin menstruation any time between ages 9 and 16 (for most girls, between 11 and 13), it’s hard to know when to have the first period mother daughter talk.

After this Myra gave menstrual hygiene tips every girl and woman should know:

Menstrual hygiene

  1. Choose Right sanitary napkin: Try and use one brand for one type of protection for a while to know if it helps your needs. Frequent switching between brands can make you uncomfortable since brands are as unique as you, they suit everyone differently.
  2. Change RegularlyThe standard time to change a sanitary pad is once every six hours, Menstrual blood – once it has left the body – gets contaminated with the body’s innate organisms. This rule applies for even those days when you don’t have much bleeding, since your pad is still damp and will have organisms from your vagina, sweat from your genitals, etc.
  3. Discard your used sanitary product properlyIt is essential to discard your used napkins properly because they are capable of spreading infections, will smell very foul. Wrapping it well before discarding it ensures that the smell and infection are contained. It is advised not to flush the pad down the toilet since they are capable of forming a block and can cause the toilet to back up. More importantly, it is imperative that you wash your hands well after you discard your used napkin since you are likely to touch the used portion of the pad while discarding it.
  4. Have a bath regularlyIn the old days, it is believed that a woman should not bath during her periods. This myth was based on the fact that in the olden day’s women had to bath in the open or in common water bodies like a river or lake. But with indoor plumbing having a bath is the best thing you can do for your body during your periods. Bathing not only cleanses your body but also gives you a chance to clean your private parts well. It also helps relieve menstrual cramps, backaches, helps improve your mood and makes you feel less bloated.
  5. Be ready with on-the-go stuff during your periodsWhen you have your periods it is important to be ready. It is important to have extra sanitary pads properly stored in a clean pouch or paper bag, a soft towel, some paper tissues or towels, hand sanitizer, a healthy snack, bottle of drinking water, a tube of antiseptic medication (if you are using one).

After this knowledgeable meeting she saw a number of questions from ladies and she cleared their doubts, and she realized that if not 100% ladies are convinced at least 70% will sure bring this change and leave behind the taboos and Myths of #PRIDEPERIODS and returned back with a feeling of satisfaction that she was able to share her knowledge with most required people.

This post is written for WRITE TRIBE #PeriodPride

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Thanks a lot for dropping here and reading this post …waiting for valuable comments and suggestions.

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Ruchi Verma

Certified parenting teen practitioner, multiple Award winner, mother of two active kids believes in sharing the right source of information to readers which could help them in every possible way!!

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28 Comments

  1. Amazing! Such detailing. Loved it.

  2. Lovely. Such an in-depth Post.

  3. Great post…:)

  4. Outstanding

  5. So proud if u ruchi.read the blog and trust me we all have gone thru some or the other myths u have mentioned at some point.
    I must say ; it’s an amazingly written article. Just wanna say that” period myths are period” so accept the reality.

    1. Right di!! Now it’s time to change

  6. This article is surely an eye opener

  7. Nicely written ….I really liked it

    1. Thanks.. Do share with friends to read n break up silence against myths

  8. Ruchi very well written and well informed with all the myths cleared. Hope it will pave the way for a myth free mindset and well informed society on periods

    1. Yes … It’s high time we should clear myths now

  9. Very well written article, and I like how you use colours for different things.
    But forgive me as a Doctor I like to correct you in two points which you have mentioned above :
    1) Menstrual Blood is not impure blood, it is same as rest of the blood, it comes from the memnbrane which develops over the uterine lining, in anticipation of fertilised ovum (fertilised ovum means when spern enters into ovum it becones fertilised), and when ovum does not come than lining breaks and the blood contained in it comes out.

    2) Yes, Sex can be done anytime during Menstruation, as per your wish but pregnany is almost impossible in normal cases.

    Enjoyed your article as always 🙂

    1. Thanks Doc for clearing first point but pregnancy I have 3-4 cases occurred in Menstruation period!!
      I loved your true feedback, always open for such open feedback!!
      Thanks again

      1. My pleasure.
        See those cases might be exceptional, or they may have wrongly interprete the things.
        Well what I know, is all from the medical books 🙂

  10. Nicely return, with a quick guide to little girls

  11. Completely agree with dr anshul no where in medical books it is written that it is impure blood. It had no harmful toxins, though blood is mixed with secretions but its not dangerous. As this blood(from uterin e lining) is meant to nourish developing baby so its pure and clean.

    1. Yes he completely cleared this point

  12. It’s such a powerful post through Myra and hope the myth disappears on menstruation. You have explained it so well and I was largely ignorant on the issue. It makes me wonder who invented those false things based on purity or rituals. Education is the way forward. Brilliant and informative.

  13. Well written profound post, Vishal !!! Even i learnt a lot from your post. Thanks for understanding and supporting us!!! Well Done !!!

  14. I love how you introduced this with a completely believable story and then added all the facts, Ruchi. Well done.

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