1. Eating a Lot During Your Period Won’t Make You Gain Weight? Wrong!

Many believe that you can eat as much as you want during your period without worrying about weight gain. This myth stems from hormonal changes during menstruation. Before your period starts, hormone levels fluctuate, causing water retention and bloating. In addition, the thickening of the uterine lining and possible constipation can add a few pounds.

Once your period begins, the excess water and metabolic waste are eliminated from the body, causing the weight to drop. This may give the false impression that eating more during your period doesn't affect your weight. However, the extra calories consumed still convert to fat in the long run. Moreover, consuming too much sugar during this time can lead to unstable blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of painful cramps.

2. You Should Avoid Wearing Contact Lenses During Your Period

Many women experience eye discomfort during menstruation, especially those who wear contact lenses. The reason? During your period, your eye pressure is slightly higher, and blood flow around the eyes can increase, leading to potential discomfort. For women who suffer from menstrual cramps, this effect can be even more pronounced.

Additionally, immunity tends to dip during menstruation, and your eyes' local defenses are no exception. Bacterial residues can build up between your lenses and corneas, potentially reducing lens oxygen permeability. This interference with corneal metabolism can lead to conditions like bacterial corneal ulcers, so it’s best to avoid wearing contacts during your period.

3. Your Period Can't "Sync" with Others

There’s a common myth that menstrual cycles can sync up when women spend a lot of time together. While it's true that women who share similar lifestyles, including diet and sleep patterns, may have menstrual cycles that align closely, it’s not that their periods “transmit” from one person to another.

The regulation of your period begins in the brain, and changes in the environment or emotional states can influence hormonal balance. Living in a shared environment and experiencing similar conditions can lead to synchronized cycles, but it doesn’t mean that one person’s period will directly “infect” another’s.

4. Avoid Cycling During Your Period

Another popular myth is that you should avoid cycling during menstruation. While it is true that the uterus and vulva are more sensitive and prone to increased blood flow during your period, moderate cycling is generally safe. However, activities that involve prolonged pressure or excessive impact on the pelvic area, like long-distance cycling, may cause discomfort or even minor injuries.

It’s important to listen to your body. If you feel any discomfort or pelvic pressure while cycling, consider switching to gentler exercises like walking or swimming until your period ends.

5. Don’t Get Liver Tests During Your Period

Menstrual cycles and certain health conditions, including pregnancy, can affect the results of blood tests. It’s generally advised to avoid blood tests, particularly for liver function, during menstruation. Many routine tests—such as liver enzyme tests, complete blood counts, and tumor marker screenings—are best performed when you're not on your period to avoid skewed results.

However, if you need hormone-level tests, the third day of your period is the ideal time to check for accurate baseline levels of estrogen and progesterone during the follicular phase.