If there’s one thing that’s for sure, it’s that periods vary drastically from person to person. Some people have incredibly heavy flows with no cramps, while others suffer from debilitating pain yet bleed lightly for a few days. To make matters more confusing, many struggle with cycle irregularity.
Missing out on some critical period health lessons can make things all the more tricky to discern, and it’s not like the average school curriculum accounts for prioritizing women’s health from an early age. So, we’re here to break it down–but remember to always check in with your doctor when it comes to assessing your menstrual health.
Can a shark tell when I’m on my period? Will lemon juice help me delay my period until the end of my vacation? Menstruation myths are everywhere, and it’s time to debunk them.
Myth 1: “Your Cycles Should Be Exactly 28 Days Apart”
What is a regular period cycle? Most calendars are built around 28 days, but that number is ultimately just an average, not a concrete rule. A healthy menstrual cycle can land anywhere from 21 to 35 days for adults, and that window varies even wider for teens.1
What matters most is deciphering what serves as regular for your own body. If you’re someone seeking science-backed support for cycle regularity, supplements like FLO Ovarian Support might be right for you.*
Myth 2: “Cramps Are Normal”
Women have long been told to ‘suck it up’ and get used to having pain, especially when it comes to their periods. However, while mild cramping can be normal due to uterine contractions, severe pain is never something you deserve to just ‘accept’. Extreme or debilitating cramps can actually indicate a deeper issue, including endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, or some sort of hormonal imbalances.2 Even if pain is common, that doesn’t mean it’s normal. Pain that disrupts your daily life always warrants medical attention.
Myth 3: “PMS Is All In Your Head”
PMS may make you feel crazy, but it doesn’t mean you are crazy. PMS is very much real and driven by sudden hormonal spikes and drops in estrogen and progesterone during your luteal phase. PMS symptoms can show up as bloating, cramps, headaches, but they can also manifest as irritability, sadness, and brain fog. Operating within a society rooted in dismissing women’s pain has made PMS seem imaginary, but luckily, the science proves otherwise–and it’s how we created FLO PMS Relief.
Myth 4: “You Can Only Get Pregnant During Ovulation”
Technically, pregnancy only happens when an egg meets a sperm during ovulation. However, a critical detail here is that sperm can live inside the reproductive tract for up to 5 days, which means that sex several days before ovulation can still lead to pregnancy. You want to be especially careful during your ovulation window, but the days surrounding it, as well.
Myth 5: “It’s Possible to Delay Your Period”
There’s nothing like the panic of realizing your period is coming on a really inconvenient day, whether it's traveling or even your own wedding. The only way to delay your period is through hormonal manipulation, like taking continuous birth control or skipping the placebo week. However, there are plenty of old wives tales that say it’s possible to delay your period through natural hacks like lemon juice or Vitamin C supplements–but we’re here to tell you: these aren’t backed by science.
Myth 6: “You Should Never Work Out During Your Period”
You may not necessarily feel like it, but some gentle movement can actually reduce cramps, improve mood, and increase circulation. You certainly don’t have to run a marathon or perform at full intensity, but if there isn’t too much pushback from your body, there’s no medical reason to avoid working out on your period. Many opt for swimming on your period, as the water pressure slows bleeding while releasing endorphins to ease cramps.
Myth 7: “You Can’t Get Pregnant During Period Sex”
There’s a few factors to navigate when having period sex, and while pregnancy is typically far down on the list, it’s still absolutely possible. Sperm can survive up to 5 days inside the reproductive tract, so if you have a shorter cycle and ovulate early, period sex can lead to pregnancy. It’s less likely, but always something to consider.
Myth 8: “Tampons Can Get Lost Inside You”
As many ER visits confirm, a tampon can certainly get stuck inside of you, but it can’t get “lost.” The cervix blocks anything from traveling into the body, so while you may be having a tough time fishing out a tampon, you’ll always be able to get to it. It’s also important to never leave a tampon in for longer than 8 hours in order to minimize the risk of infections like Toxic Shock Syndrome.3
Myth 9: “Irregular Periods Are Normal When You’re Stressed”
Stress disrupts your cycle by altering the brain and hormone connection through the HPA axis and cortisol, causing late or missed periods, heavier bleeding, or spotting.4 However, if you’re frequently dealing with irregularity, that’s certainly worth looking into further. It’s easy to blame it on stress, but chronic irregular cycles may point to thyroid issues, PCOS, elevated cortisol, or hormonal imbalance, so be sure to check in with your doctor.
Myth 10: “Birth Control Regulates Your Period”
The myth that has plagued women the longest is that birth control is the only answer to any hormonal imbalance issues. Contrary to popular belief, hormonal birth control doesn’t regulate your natural cycle. It actually overrides it with synthetic hormone patterns. The “period” you get on the pill is a withdrawal bleed, which is not the same thing as a standard menstrual cycle you’d experience not on the pill. Taking birth control is an incredibly valuable option for those who it works best for, but it’s important to assess all of your options before making that decision.
If you have questions about your menstrual health, talk with your doctor.
