Can we take bath during periods?
This is one of the burning questions that cross a woman’s mind as soon as she hits puberty.
Well, I am sure there are hundreds of others that remain unanswered as we don’t want to talk about this universal problem.
Whether it’s periods or menopause, the stigma around menstruation never ends.
We made periods a cultural taboo without realizing their impact on a woman’s confidence, her life decisions and her reproductive health.
As per the statistics, 1.8 billion people around the world menstruate monthly yet they believe those folk tales about periods. This is not an easy feat to talk about these as you may feel embarrassed.
Right?
Do no more.
Let’s find answers to some uneasy questions about menstruation!
Table of Contents
Common Periods Questions
Do you know in some parts of the world, women are considered unclean and are prohibited from touching foods?
Not only this but in some cultures, people believe that period blood can cause them to suffer from diseases like cancer, drive dogs made, kill the honey bee hives, turn crops barren and so on.
All these beliefs are merely deeply-rooted taboos that have nothing to do with reality. Apart from these superstitions, let’s move to some common questions about period health and hygiene.
1- Can We Take Bath During Periods?
Can I take shower during periods or is taking a bath during periods harmful?
These are probably one of the most questions asked about periods.
Well, the answer is yes. You can definitely take a shower during periods. In contrast to what you believed, having a shower during your periods can help you in so many ways.
Benefits of Bathing During Periods
Here are some of the proven benefits of bathing during periods:
- It helps to make your periods pain bearable
- Bathing on your period improves your mood and relaxes your muscles
- It ensures good period hygiene and helps to prevent infections
- Enjoying a shower while menstruating is also helpful to get rid of periods odor
Suggested Read: How to get periods overnight?
2- Does Periods Increase our Pooping Frequency?
Well, the answer is yes.
If you tend to experience diarrhoea during your period then you are not alone in this.
This happens with most women. Prostaglandins are the answer here.
These fatty acids tend to relax the smooth muscles in your body as menstrual preparation.
This relaxation facilitates your uterus to shed blood. These prostaglandins also make your bowel movements smoother than before and end up visiting the bathroom more often.
3- Will Bathing on My Period Make Me Bleed Heavy?
No this is not true.
Bathing has no impact on making your periods heavy.
According to the top reviewed Gynecologist in Lahore, Dr. Khola Zeeshan “A hot water shower during your periods can ease your blood flow by relaxing the muscles in the surrounding area.” However, this doesn’t mean that you will excrete more than normal. So, the answer to if we can take bath during periods still remains yes.
Suggested Read: Why are my periods late?
4- Why are My Periods Different from Others?
Menstruation can be a different experience for every woman.
From their blood flow to the mood swings, duration of the menstrual cycle, and pain during periods, all these struggles are individual for every woman. This is according to your hormones, your age, your own reproductive health and your history of medical conditions like PCOS, endometriosis etc. So, yes you can’t compare your experience with someone else.
5- What are Some ‘Period Normals’?
Despite all those differences, I am sure you must be looking for period normals. Though there is no hard and fast rule, here are some of the period normals you should know:
- Average time of getting your period – 9-14 years of age (12 years for most the women)
- Duration of periods – 3-7 days
- Mood swings during periods – 90% of the women
- The onset of menopause – 45-55 years of age
- Average blood loss during the period – 60ml-80mL or 2-2.7 ounces
Exceeding these period normals can be a sign of some reproductive health trouble. You should immediately seek out your gynecologist in this regard.
Choose Healthwire for hassle-free appointments with the best gynecologists in Lahore.
6- Will Bathing During Periods Make My Cramps Worse?
We all hate painful periods. Right?
But do you know that period pain has nothing to do with taking a bath on your periods?
In fact, this gives us another reason to answer your question (can we take bath during periods) yes. Bathing can help to relieve the period of pain if you take a hot bath. This is simply because of the impact of heat on muscle relaxation that helps to relieve the period cramp.
Read more about other home remedies for painful periods.
Health Alert
Sometimes, abnormal pain during periods can be an indicator of an underlying condition termed dysmenorrhea, according to a renowned gynecologist from Jinnah Hospital Lahore.
7- Are Sanitary Pads harmful?
Dealing with your periods comes with making choices regarding sanitary pads or clothes for blood absorption.
Many people believe that sanitary pads can be harmful to you. Well, this is not true unless you are choosing a poor-quality sanitary pad. These sanitary pads are generally safe for usage and are quite good at the absorption of blood. However, you should be careful about changing them.
Now we have other options like menstrual cups and other advanced products that can make your periods more fun than ever.
8- Is Period Blood Actually Blood?
The answer is yes, but period blood is not blood alone.
It also contains the tissue linings of your womb that your body prepared to house the embryo. Other than this, period blood also contains vaginal secretions, mucus and pieces of unfertilized eggs. So, you should be careful while dealing with period blood just as dealing with normal blood.
9- Does Bathing During Periods Stop the Flow?
The next question is again in continuation of the previous question asking if can we take bath during periods.
Many women wonder if taking shower during your periods can stop the normal menstrual blood flow. The answer is no. There is no harm in taking shower during your periods as long as you are doing it right.
Period Bathing Hacks to Know
After knowing that we can take bath during periods it’s time to know some of the period bathing hacks.
- Prefer to remove your sanitary pad, menstrual cup or tampon while going for a shower
- While bathing don’t over-clean your area down there
- Clean your vagina with plain water and avoid the use of chemical or scented products
- Wash from front to back to minimize your chances of getting UTIs
- Use hot water for a better experience
- Clean and disinfect the surrounding area or bathtub after taking shower.
A Word from Healthwire!
From finding answers about whether we can take shower during periods to the composition of period flow, I am sure that you must know the truth behind all these long-held beliefs.
Forget the lies, and enjoy the good part about your periods because good food, a super-relaxing yoga session and a little dose of self-pampering make it feel alright.
In the end, let’s promise not to be negligent anymore because every woman in this world deserves to enjoy healthier and happier periods!
