Is Menstrual Blood Dirty? We Tell You Everything!
Carried by certain religions and other traditional beliefs, misconceptions often persist! One of these is the idea that menstrual blood is dirty, much to the frustration of women who try hard to demystify the menstrual cycle.
Amphitrite Period Boxers
Still Taboo Bleeding
Impure, soiled… These are the kinds of terms still used to describe women during their menstruation. While these adjectives are no longer commonly used in France, they have left a mark on the collective unconscious. Not all women feel comfortable having their period, sometimes fear it showing, and don’t always feel free to talk about it openly. Fortunately, menstrual panties and heavy flow period panties exist for more privacy.
Young girls who have reached puberty are particularly exposed to this discomfort, often being poorly informed and discovering their sexual life. To break this taboo and encourage both men and women to relax about menstruation, American sex therapist Demetra Nyx posted on social media with her face smeared with her menstrual blood.
While this activist act is brave and effective in getting the message across, no one will blame you for not doing the same! Using menstrual blood as makeup to prove the ordinary nature of this bodily fluid is an interesting concept, but there are other more accessible solutions—phew!
Adopting a relaxed attitude and not always trying to hide from your partner is already a good start. Children are naturally very curious and ask many questions about the menstrual cycle. Explaining things simply and presenting this phenomenon as normal and ordinary seems like a good way to stop perpetuating taboos. After all, the menstrual cycle is nothing more than a natural physiological process.
Composition of Menstrual Blood
Menstrual blood does not have exactly the same composition as the blood flowing in our arteries. First, it is thicker and does not clot to allow proper flow. It contains fewer platelets, hemoglobin, and iron, but more water.
Although it varies depending on the woman, age, and cycles, menstrual flow always consists of the blood described above and various elements: fragments of the endometrium (the lining covering the uterine wall), cells and secretions from the vagina and cervix, as well as bacteria from the vaginal flora.
In summary, there is nothing dirty or toxic as is sometimes unfortunately said. No, women on their period do not make ham rot by touching it!
Sex During Menstruation
Menstrual blood poses no problem for your partner’s intimate hygiene, and having sex is absolutely not discouraged during your period. On the contrary, it can be an excellent remedy for menstrual pain. The question is whether you feel like it: some women simply are not in the mood…
How to Clean Your Period Panties?
While menstrual blood is not dirty, you should still clean your period panties after use ;)! But there’s no problem washing them with your other laundry! You can machine wash them at 30°C after rinsing them in cold water or hand wash them in cold water so you can wear them again the next morning.
By Emilie
