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10 Period Myths We Should Stop Believing

10 Period Myths We Should Stop Believing
Nancy R. Cohen via Getty Images

It's that time of the month again. You know, when your period odour attracts the likes of sharks, and when you have sleep on your side every few hours to avoid bloody leaks.

Period myths like these have been around for as long as we can remember and from the absurd ones (if you wear a tampon in the pool, it will swell up and drown you) to the ones we can almost believe, these myths tend to misinform and misguide women about menstruation.

Periods, for the most part, occur every 21 to 35 days and last about two to seven days. Between periods, a woman's ovaries release an egg (a process called ovulation), and at the same time, hormonal changes prepare our bodies for a potential pregnancy. If ovulation occurs and the egg isn't fertilized, voila, you get your period, according to the Mayo Clinic.

And while we've heard all sorts of strange nicknames like Aunt Flo and Leak Week for our menstruation cycles, the folks over at Playtex Sport Fresh Balance say myths can lead to a lot of confusion about understanding your flow. And understanding your body means getting to know the facts.

Check out Playtex's top 10 myths about periods people still believe: Which ones have you heard? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments below:

MYTH: Don't exercise when you are on your period

Top 10 Stupid Period Myths

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