Bust Period Myths & Stand a Chance to Win a Salome Hamper Valued at R2,000!

Friday, 28 May 2022 marks World Menstrual Hygiene Day. Salome, in collaboration with South Africa’s very own Minister of Menstruation, Candice Chirwa, believes that part of building a period positive world is acknowledging that we have a collective responsibility to change the way society views periods in the 21st century.

“By educating people about menstrual health and what naturally-based treatment options are available, we can ensure young menstruators celebrate their transition into adulthood without having to hide it in secret or manage their period in isolation”, says Chirwa. After all, menstruating or having a period is NORMAL and occurs as part of a woman’s monthly cycle.

However, the negativity of incorrect or misleading narratives linked to menstruation and it being treated as a “dirty secret” that is too taboo to discuss openly, makes particularly young women going through puberty think it is anything but normal and can often lead to a first period being a very traumatic experience. Further to this, not being able to discuss or know when the severity of period pains or the amount of blood flow experienced is normal adds further complications to women’s health. According to Chirwa, the importance of ‘busting menstrual myths’ cannot be emphasised enough!

Busting Menstrual Myths

The more we discuss and empower women and society with knowledge about what is fact and what is fiction, the more likely we are to debunk myths associated with periods, so women can embrace their womanhood and live without shame. Menstrual myths are a global issue and are not only a challenge faced in African culture. Ones that are most common include:

You can’t fall pregnant while on your period.
You should not wash your hair on your period.
Walking barefoot on a cold floor often results in more intense period pains.
PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is all in your mind.
A tampon can get lost in your vagina/break your virginity.
Period sex is disgusting.
Eating ice increases period pains.
Exercising on your period should be avoided.
You shouldn’t have sex on your period.
If you wear another menstruator’s pants – you’ll inherit their period pains.
Wash your disposable period products so no one uses your blood for witchcraft.
Don’t swim in the ocean or sharks will be attracted to your period blood.
Don’t touch flowers/food on your period.

These are totally and categorically all NOT TRUE! There are even more myths around the world that you can read up about on helloclue.com.

“What we need to talk more openly about on Menstrual Hygiene Day and going into Youth month also extends to misconceptions about physical behaviour and ability when it comes to periods. For instance, people thinking they are more clumsy when they have their period. Not only do myths and misconceptions create doubt and fear in women in social circumstances when they have their periods, but it can also create a negative working environment which affects overall production and teamwork,” explains Chirwa.

However, it is equally important to educate boys and men about menstruation as it is to educate women, so that they can also be part of the solution and learn to respect women as their partners and colleagues when it’s that time of the month. The Salome range will be hosting activations at select Varsity College campuses in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town to help normalise conversations around periods and bust harmful menstrual myths.

For more information about the Salome range and to be part of the Menstrual Hygiene Day conversation, visit www.salome-range.co.za. The full Salome range of products that helps to manage menstrual pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, premenstrual syndrome, infertility in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and menopause are available to the public from pharmacies nationwide or online at Takealot.com and Salome’s website and can be reimbursed from medical aid savings.