Myths

Introduction
Terminology
Patterns of Bleeding
Causes of Menstrual Abnormailities
Diagnosis
Treatment
Myths
Summary

Given the fact that, with rare exceptions, all women have experienced menstrual cycles, it is not surprising that myths and misunderstandings have arisen over the centuries. This is especially true because, until relatively recently, the mechanisms behind the entire process were undiscovered. When the cause of something is unknown, the field is wide open for any theory or belief - valid or not, ridiculous or not.

One of the most prevalent myths is that a woman can ovulate but not menstruate. There are two words that should never be used in medicine - "always and never". However, there is one rule that is about as close to being 100% as I can think of. The exceptions to this rule are very rare. This rule is that if a woman ovulates - two weeks later she will menstruate unless she is pregnant. It is because of this rule that I can diagnose an early pregnancy long before the woman suspects that she might be pregnant.

The opposite of this rule, however, is not true. Just because a woman is bleeding does not mean she is ovulating.

However, as you can now appreciate based upon the other information that I have included in this pamphlet, if a woman is not bleeding, she cannot be ovulating and this becomes a very important piece of information in both making the correct diagnosis and helping to decide what therapies may be most appropriate.

Another common myth is that a woman has to menstruate in order to be healthy. It was commonly believed that the menstrual blood allowed the body to get rid of various "toxins". All sorts of toxic properties were attributed to menstrual blood as its true significance was not appreciated.

There is nothing healthy about having a menstrual period just as there is nothing unhealthy about not having one.

Another common question which I hear is "If I am not having a period where does the blood go?" I hope that you can now appreciate that if your hormone levels are changing, you will bleed. These changing hormone levels, such as the drop created by the natural demise of the corpus luteum, triggers the sloughing of the endometrium and a subsequent menstrual period. In the absence of these changes, the lining of the uterus remains relatively stable and, therefore, does not bleed. Therefore, the blood is really not going anywhere.

Another common myth involves a woman with blocked fallopian tubes. Many believe that your tubes have to be open in order for you to menstruate. I hope you can now appreciate that menstrual bleeding and irregular bleeding is controlled by hormonal changes from the ovary and the presence or absence of fallopian tubes and whether or not the tubes are open has nothing to do with the hormones and, therefore, has nothing to do with irregular bleeding.