It's Time To Bust These Shocking Menstruation Myths

ActionAid

It would be easy to assume that in 2016, period myths are a thing of the past. Would you be shocked to learn they aren't?

From girls in Malawi who believe if they cook with salt on their period they'll make their teeth fall out, to women in the UK who still can't talk about taking sick leave because of their period, attitudes towards menstruation are still socially prescribed around the world - and they're often incorrect.

Which is why ActionAid are keen to bust these myths as we approach Menstrual Hygiene Day on 28 May - and they've even masterminded a series of brilliant vintage-style posters to highlight them.

Existing research shows that around the world many women still see menstruation as a taboo subject. For instance, did you know...

In Malawi....girls are taught to avoid using salt to cook with when you have your period as it makes people get sick.

In Burundi...women on their period cannot bathe near any shared utensils as people believe their menstrual blood can kill their family members

In Uganda...some tribes won’t let menstruating women and girls drink milk from cows in case they contaminate the herd

In Nepal...some girls on their periods are banished to dark rooms

In India...women and girls are told to avoid cooking anything altogether, since they can “pollute” the food

In Rwanda...having sex while you’re on? Watch out as the man could die

In Malawi...it's believed that if someone walks behind you when you’ve got your period their teeth will break

If these above myths tell us anything, it's that we need to have more open and frank discussion about something that happens naturally every month.

Embarrassed? You really shouldn't be.

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It's Time To Bust These Shocking Menstruation Myths