7 myths and misconceptions about periods

_ “You’re moody? You must be on your period!” 

_ “You’re on your period? Then you can’t work out!”
_ “I’ve got my period, there’s no way I can get pregnant!”

_ “I can’t use tampons or a cup, I’m a virgin.”

FALSE, FALSE and again FALSE. Hygiene, bad smells, liters of blood, pain, virginity, hormonal disruption… there are so many misconceptions surrounding periods and menstruation. Deeply rooted old wives’ tales, preconceived ideas, clichés and myths all interfere with our understanding of this natural, cyclical and central phenomenon in a woman’s life. Let’s clear things up and go back to basics together!

A woman’s body with regular periods is a body that is “working well.”

In a cyclical way, the body sheds the endometrium that has formed in preparation for a possible pregnancy. Period blood is therefore much more than just blood; it also contains vaginal secretions and cervical mucus. In short, it’s not disgusting – it’s life and nature.

Try to have a calm, positive relationship with your period. Try to see it as a sign that everything is working properly in your body. Seeing your period in a better light and accepting it more easily also means being more in tune with your body and what’s going on inside it (the different phases of the menstrual cycle, the different hormones at play, etc.). It’s fascinating and amazing. A real gift. 

If you notice bad odors, they’re caused by the period product you’re using. Very often, a disposable pad causes bad smells. The blood stored in the pad is in contact with the air and oxidizes. You have several options: 

• Change your pads more often. It’s more comfortable and will help prevent bacteria growth and bad odors. 
• Use an internal period product such as a cup or tampon. In that case, the blood is not in contact with the air, so there are no bad smells.
• Use breathable organic cotton period underwear (all Louloucup panties are lined with GOTS-certified organic cotton). These washable external period products help prevent bad odors because they allow the area to breathe. 

Your period should not hurt. Something that comes back every month in a woman’s life and lasts several days should not be painful. You should never just let the pain settle in. There are treatments, methods and habits that can help relieve, soothe and make your period easier to live with. Ask questions, knock on doors, talk about it with people around you, get informed. Yes, it’s not easy, far from it. 

Painkillers, exercise, diet, hot water bottle, hot shower, herbal tea – find all our tips for coping better with painful periods on our blog. 

Dysmenorrhea should never be seen as inevitable. Your period is a particular time of the month when you really need to listen to yourself, listen to your body and pay attention to the signs. It’s important to know yourself well. Slowing down, taking care of yourself and eating well is essential.

And one more time, because it can’t be said enough: if you’re in pain, see a doctor (cramps, vomiting, back pain, extreme fatigue). Menstrual pain can be a symptom of an underlying condition (endometriosis, etc.). And if the professional you see doesn’t believe you, doesn’t take you seriously enough or downplays your condition, go see someone else. Don’t give up. Be persistent. *Stay strong! You deserve to be understood and properly cared for.*

To be able to swim on your period, you have several options: 

• The very classic, traditional tampon you already know.
• The menstrual cup (same principle as a tampon, it’s internal but better!) is an eco-friendly and much healthier option. It’s also very economical, hygienic and practical. Athletes love it.
• Menstrual swimwear or period bikinis. Super cool and fun, they’re the waterproof version of period underwear. We love them. 
• You also have the option of a menstrual disc or a menstrual sponge.
• You can also try FAM, or Free Instinctive Flow. 

FALSE! A woman on her period can absolutely have sex; it’s neither dirty, dangerous, nor forbidden. Of course, proper intimate hygiene after intercourse is necessary. Ultimately, it’s a matter of desire, feeling, and comfort above all!

FALSE! This is a persistent myth. Women who feel particularly protected during their period (since ovulation is further along in the cycle) tend to be much less cautious. However, women with a particularly short or somewhat irregular and disrupted cycle need to be careful, especially knowing that the hardiest sperm can survive up to 5 days in the vagina.

FALSE! Another misconception! The hymen, the small membrane at the entrance of the vagina, is not “broken” by using a tampon or a cup. 

Tampons and cups can absolutely be used by girls and women who are virgins, without any problem. 

Some clichés are really hard to shake! At Louloucup, we work every day to spread better knowledge about the menstrual cycle and periods. Because having the right information is the first step towards periods that are more manageable, calm and comfortable.

And if you don’t know us yet, Louloucup is a French brand of period products. For years now, we’ve been offering 

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 period underwear for all flows and for all women (from teens to perimenopause, plus size and postpartum), 
• menstrual swimsuits, 
• and menstrual cups made from medical-grade silicone and manufactured in France.

Reusable for years, eco-friendly, affordable and low-cost in the long run, our period products are designed to make your life easier.

Thanks to our offer, the more you buy, the more you save: with 5 products in your cart, the item that costs €28.90 drops to just €22.90! So go ahead and build your ideal period routine.