Do you skip a bath if you have menstruation?

When I was very young and first began my periods (a long, long time ago...it was 1963), it was generally believed that it was harmful to take a bath whilst having a period. I'm not sure why people believed it was harmful as whenever I asked, nobody could give me a clear answer, but later on in time it was exposed as an old wives' tale. However, I don't think periods should be thought of as being disgusting or dirty, as they are a natural, normal occurrence.

Not just kind of,it is disgusting! How could you ever be without having a bath once a day? Okay,in that case-atleast a shower once a day.I could not imagine people not having bath.It may be because she is too lazy to wash and bath every time.Possible i could not guess the reason at all, because i always prefer bathing to keep me out of these germs and everything else.My mother has advised me to change the pads once in two hours incase there's going to be an infection due to that.So, without a bath is surely going to be disgusting for any sake! But make sure the water is not hot.That's going to cause hemoragia and if it's too cold-it will cause pain in uterus.Foam bath must be avoided as it could cause an Yeast infection. But a nice warm bath is heaven!

I like to have a shower or a bath every day. Even when I have my period I need to feel fresh and clean. I think that for religious reasons the housekeeper wouldn't take a bath when she was on her period. When I am traveling I have to put up with some rough looking showers and the water can be cold in some of the accommodations. Still it is lovely to wash and be clean.

I remember that many years ago, when I had my first period, I was on a holiday at my aunt´s house and my grandma was there too. She called me in secret and told me that I was not supposed to take a bath or I´d get consumption. My aunt, on the other hand, gave me the necessary hygienic towels and told me I should be cleaner than ever. My grandma was born in 1885 tough.

Hello, yes I still take a bath when I have menstruation. Like you I want to feel clean. It is messy and yukky. Again it was how she was brought up and she does not know any better and does not want to get into trouble etc... I know it seem wrong or unclean somehow but she does takes shower or baths on other times correct? My dad was brought in the depression he still only takes a shower every 3 day! We tried to tell him it ok to take one veryday but he say no it is wasting water etc... Thanks Unique16

Sounds like some old fashioned thinking, like when people considered women having their period ,sick,or unclean,and they were kept out of sight.... They did not realized how unhealthy it is not to wash. I was a competitional swimmer,and competitions were not scheduled by the female swimmers cycle! So swimming,showers were part of everyday routine.No harm came to me or to all the others in the same situation.So ,is probably what your housekeeper was brought up with,and does not know any better....

Hi there! I do not take a bath while I am having my monthy cycle. But I do take a shower. I have always taken a shower during this time because for me, not taking one would be unsanitary. I guess people all have their own beliefs. Now specifically a bath would be kinda gross, so thats why I chose to shower instead.

There are a lot of superstitions that mountain folk adhere to, especially regarding things they don't quite understand. Another thought - Taking a tub bath during a time of heavy flow might be a little disagreeable. Do you have a shower that she could use?

When I was a young girl I heard a lot about this myth that if you get wet at "the time of the month" you would get sick, go crazy or even die! I don't know where this myth comes from I think it may have to do with some religion or something but ant way thank goodness in my place there was never such belief.

If I need to go out of my house, I will really take a bath but if not, I make it a point not to. It's all because of health. Whenever I take a full bath and is having my menstruation, my blood flow stops for a bit. According to the healer who checked me, it's not good to have my blood stop flowing or my bad blood will clot inside. Whenever I am at my time, I always notice this black plasma going out of me. My healer says that it's best that it goes out than stay in. In order to clean myself, I do half-bath but not the bath where I would have to wet my hair. If you're worried about bacteria, I change mine every four hours...

hello, It's i think from the belief of some old folks.I do remember my grandma,she used to tell us that if we take a shower/bath ,the period will stop and the blood will go to your brain & stops there and make you mad or crazy and their other explanation is the blood will stop and will stay in our body which is not good because it's a dirty blood and we'll get sick.Well we don't usually follow them because yeah you are right,when we have our menstruation,we feel warm, uncomfortable and hot thus we need to shower more often when we have our period and Medically speaking ( i'm into medical field),we need to clean our body as often as we can to get rid of the smell that comes with our period and to feel clean since dirty blood are being flushed away from our body

I have no idea, but my moms says it is preferable not to take baths when you have it since based on her experience, it made her period irregular and it gave her cramps.. I do take baths but just seldom..when i have it.

I take a bath when I have menstruation especially if I need to go outside. But nowadays, when it is the first day of my menstruation or the heaviest day, I skip taking a bath not because they say it is bad but because I can't. I can't because I don't feel well at the first day of menstruation, I feel weak like I have a fever, I have dysmenorrhea and I feel my bones are aching. The second day I feel much better, that is the time I excitedly take a bath.

There are many reasons why some people do not bath when they are menstruating. It does not mean that she did not wash, shower or find some alternative means of cleaning herself. I think it would be more disgusting sitting in water blended with your own blood. Yuck. Also, if one is prone to period cramps etc - sitting in a bath is one of the worst things you could do. Bathing is merely one way of washing. Showering at this time would be the better and more prudent choice, in my opinion. This is also what my family doctor advised. Just saying...since you asked.

I would still take a bath even there is no water coming to my house that day, usually it happens in 6 months or so, I still take a bucket of water to clean myself from dirt and bacteria, I feel so sticky if I do not do so, I guess your house helper must be an old woman to feel religious so.

I am a man and so i dont get mensuration.But i make it a perfect to take bath atleast 2 times a day when its really hot. Its a wonderful experience to pour cold water on the body when its sweating

This is a belief in our country that old folks used to tell their daughters. Today, however, women already know. They take a bath even after hearing what old folks tell them.

My mother told me not to wash my hair when I have menstruation. But I can do it, since I feel uncomfortable to dirty hair. And skip a bath? That's impossible for me.

That is the belief of the older people in our community. They tell us not to take a bath when it's the time of the month. They are thinking that if you take a bath when you have menstruation, water will go inside and it will be harmful to your health. But I don't believe it and follow it. I take a bath even if I have menstruation. I mean, it's just so dirty if I don't do it.

Of course not! Just imagine what dried blood smells like. How much more lots of blood sticking to your skin and other areas for the whole duration of menses! It is just her superstitions driving her to skip bath. There are those saying if you take a bath on those days, you'll get a "buwa" in medical terms it is tumor. I can't really get the logic behind it. But these sayings are just heard among those illiterate people passing it from generation to generation. Others are religious. In muslim countries, others don't even take a bath for months! Others are isolated from the rest and cannot even attend ceremonials as they are unclean and had to do another ritual after bleeding ceases to be considered clean. But for me, bathing is the best to avoid infection and foul odor, which could be offending to others.