Flow summary

Throughout the Middle Ages, women exhibiting signs of “hysteria” were accused of being witches. These signs included anything from insomnia to random bursts of laughter or crying. In modern times, however, the same symptoms of hysteria are referred to as premenstrual syndrome or PMS.

The diagnosis of hysteria had a great impact on women’s history, illustrating the general ignorance of female anatomy and sexuality. For example, even the “Father of Medicine,” ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, believed that hysteria was caused by the uterus snaking its way around a woman’s body. The term was only dropped by the American Psychiatric Association in 1952, and the diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome developed a year later.

Of all the many taboos related to menstruation, the biggest is probably period sex. Though it may be a messy activity, period sex has not been found harmful by modern science. By educating ourselves about where these taboos originated, we can begin to unpack the myths about sex and menstruation and start challenging the stigmas surrounding them.

Historically, most religions held the dogma that period sex led to contamination, and that women required cleansing after menstruation before they could have sex.

Can you imagine what it was like for women before pads and tampons were commercially available? Having a rag strapped between your thighs for roughly seven days a month, every month, would’ve made it challenging enough to walk, let alone fully participate in societal events and activities. Therefore, the development of femcare products accompanied historic political change for women.

It wasn’t just the lack of tampons that was a challenge before femcare products were invented, it was also the lack of underwear. Until the twentieth century, underwear such as petticoats and shifts weren’t worn for hygiene reasons but rather for warmth. Some women from wealthy families were afforded the luxury of wearing rubber-lined aprons and bloomers to stop their period from tarnishing their dresses, but most women had to resort to moss, rags, leaves and sheepskin.

Thanks to television, magazine and billboard advertisements for femcare products, periods have stepped out of the shadows and become more visible than ever. But the spotlight shone on periods has only helped to serve the outdated viewpoint that menstruation is shameful and needs to be hidden.

The collective consensus on menstruation was built on successful marketing campaigns led by the two-billion-dollar femcare industry.

We’re all aware of the implied meaning behind the words “I’m late,” either having heard it on a TV drama or from a good friend. What many people, including women, don’t know is that a late period isn’t necessarily indicative of pregnancy. It could indicate very different things like stress, perimenopause or even that you’re still ovulating.

The absence of information surrounding menstrual cycles and pregnancy is a result of the collective shame manufactured and exploited by American culture when it comes to anything period-related.

Did you know that over 100 million women from all over the world use the birth control pill? Surprisingly, most of them aren’t aware that the bleeding they experience while on the pill isn’t their period. It just goes to show how many women don’t know enough about menstruation.

Let’s begin at the top. What is a period?

Have you ever tried to imagine life without periods or the side effects of menopause? Seems pretty great, right? But if you think about it a little more deeply, does it sound like it’s a good idea to have these bodily processes eliminated for good?

To get right to the point, it’s a sales pitch from drug companies. Remember the birth control placebo pills mentioned in the previous blink? They were originally included in birth control pill packages because drug companies feared that women wouldn’t buy something that suppressed a natural bodily function.