Common Myths About Women’s Health and the Truth Behind Them

10 October 2025

Alright, ladies (and gents who care), it’s time to set the record straight. Women's health has been a hotbed for myths, half-truths, and flat-out nonsense for way too long. Between old wives’ tales, conflicting info from Dr. Google, and Aunt Karen’s unsolicited advice, it’s no wonder we’re confused about what to believe.

So, we’re diving deep into the most common myths about women’s health—and trust me, we’re not holding back. It’s time to bust these myths wide open and serve them with a side of truth.

🤔 Myth #1: You Can’t Get Pregnant During Your Period

Yeah, this one’s been floating around forever, like some kind of medical urban legend. People think that having sex during your period is a get-out-of-babies-free card. Spoiler alert: it’s not.

🔬 The Truth:

While the chances are lower, pregnancy can still happen. Sperm can hang out in your body for up to FIVE days (yep, they’re basically freeloaders), and if you ovulate shortly after your period ends, boom—pregnancy is totally possible. So unless you’re actively trying to conceive or you’re cool with a surprise, don’t ditch the contraception.

🍽️ Myth #2: Eating Soy Messes With Your Hormones

Oh soy, the misunderstood legume. Some folks swear that eating tofu or drinking soy milk will throw your estrogen levels into chaos and cause all sorts of hormonal drama.

🧠 The Truth:

Calm down, Karen—soy contains phytoestrogens, which are plant-based compounds that are kinda like estrogen but waaaay weaker. There’s no legit evidence that moderate soy consumption messes up your hormones. In fact, soy can be part of a healthy diet and has been linked to benefits for heart health and even reducing the risk of certain cancers. Tofu is not the enemy.

🏋️ Myth #3: Lifting Weights Makes Women Bulky

We’ve all heard this one in gyms and group fitness classes: “Careful with those dumbbells—you don’t wanna look like a bodybuilder!” Insert eye roll.

🔥 The Truth:

Let’s set the record straight—women don’t have the same testosterone levels as men, so bulking up like the Hulk is unlikely without intense training, specific diets, and often, supplements. Lifting weights actually helps you build lean muscle, boosts metabolism, and can improve bone density (which is super important as we age). So toss that 2-lb pink dumbbell and go lift like a queen.

👩‍⚕️ Myth #4: Pap Smears Test for All STIs

Big nope. Pap smears are essential, yes. But no, they’re not your STI test all-in-one.

✅ The Truth:

A Pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer. It checks for abnormal cells on your cervix, often caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). While some Pap tests may include an HPV screen, they don’t test for other STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, or HIV. If you’re sexually active, regular STI testing should be part of your health regimen—no shame, just smart.

🩸 Myth #5: A Normal Period Always Comes Every 28 Days

We’ve been taught to think periods run like German trains—always on time, exactly every 28 days. Reality check: our bodies aren’t robots.

📅 The Truth:

The 28-day cycle is just an average. A healthy menstrual cycle can range anywhere between 21 to 35 days. And guess what? It can vary month-to-month depending on stress, travel, diet, or that chaotic thing called life. So if your cycle doesn’t follow a textbook, you’re not broken—you’re human.

💊 Myth #6: Birth Control Makes You Infertile

This myth refuses to die, no matter how many OB-GYNs scream into the void.

👶 The Truth:

Using birth control doesn’t ruin your baby-making parts. Most women regain their fertility shortly after stopping contraceptives. Sometimes it takes a few months for your cycle to regulate, especially if you were using hormonal methods. But infertility? Nope, there’s no scientific proof the pill—or any other common form of birth control—causes it.

🧖‍♀️ Myth #7: You Need to Clean Your Vagina with Special Products

Let’s just say it loud for the people in the back: Your vagina is self-cleaning. It’s not a kitchen floor. It doesn’t need scrubbing, foaming cleansers, or glitter-scented sprays.

🚿 The Truth:

Using scented soaps, douches, or “feminine hygiene” products can actually disrupt your vaginal pH balance and lead to infections like bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections. All you really need is warm water and maybe a mild, unscented soap for the external parts (the vulva). Everything else? Marketing gimmicks that prey on shame.

👩‍🦱 Myth #8: Menopause Only Affects Older Women

If you think menopause only swoops in when you hit 60, think again.

🔄 The Truth:

Perimenopause (aka menopause’s chaotic pre-party) can start in your 30s or 40s. And full-blown menopause typically hits around age 51. Symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, sleep problems, and irregular periods can show up years before your last period. So if your body starts throwing curveballs in your 40s, you’re not losing it—your hormones are just doing their thing.

🧘 Myth #9: If You’re Fit, You’re Automatically Healthy

Yes, being fit is great, and we love a good glute bridge. But being thin or able to run a 10k doesn’t automatically mean your health is A+.

🩺 The Truth:

Health is more than what shows up in a mirror or on a scale. Someone who exercises regularly but ignores mental health, skips checkups, or eats a nutrient-deficient diet might not be as “healthy” as they appear. Health is holistic, babe. Mental, emotional, and physical—all three need your love and attention.

🧃 Myth #10: Cranberry Juice Can Cure a UTI

Cue every grandma with a Costco-sized jug of cranberry juice telling you it’s a UTI cure-all.

🧪 The Truth:

Cranberry juice may help prevent UTIs (especially if it’s 100% pure cranberry and not packed with sugar), but it won't cure an active infection. Once bacteria have moved in and set up camp, you’ll need antibiotics. Drink the juice if you like it, but don’t use it as a magic potion.

🛑 Myth #11: PMS Is Just an Excuse

Oh honey, no. If someone tells you PMS is “all in your head,” feel free to show them the door.

😤 The Truth:

PMS is real. Hormonal changes before your period can cause mood swings, bloating, headaches, fatigue, and more. For some people, it’s like an emotional rollercoaster with no seatbelt. And don’t even get us started on PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), which is PMS’s evil twin and much more intense. Bottom line: believe people when they talk about their symptoms.

🧍‍♀️ Myth #12: Women Don’t Have Heart Attacks as Often as Men

This outdated belief has literally cost lives. Let’s break it down.

❤️ The Truth:

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in many countries—including the U.S. Yet, because symptoms in women often differ from the classic “chest pain” seen in men, heart attacks in women often go unnoticed or are misdiagnosed. Symptoms can include fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, or back/jaw pain. So yes, women get heart attacks—and they deserve to be taken seriously.

🎢 Myth #13: Women Are Naturally More Emotional Because of Hormones

This one’s dripping with sexist undertones, and we're not here for it.

🧠 The Truth:

Yes, hormones fluctuate (thanks, estrogen and progesterone), and they can influence mood. But that doesn’t mean women are irrational drama queens. Emotions are normal, healthy, and—newsflash—men have hormones too. We’re all humans riding emotional waves. Don't blame biology for misogyny.

🐣 Myth #14: You Must Have Children to Be Truly Fulfilled

Ugh. Just no.

💪 The Truth:

Fulfillment comes from many paths—not just motherhood. Some women want kids, some don’t. Some can’t, and that’s okay too. Your value isn’t tied to your uterus or its potential productivity. Period.

Final Thoughts: It's Time to Lose the Lies

Let’s be clear: women’s health isn’t fragile, mysterious, or too complex to understand. What makes it tricky is all the outdated myths and misconceptions swirling around like a hormonal tornado.

It’s time to call BS, take control of our health narratives, and base our choices on facts—not folklore. Whether it’s your period, fertility, or how you move your body, you deserve real talk and respect.

So share this with your besties, your partner, your mom, and yes—even your Aunt Karen. Knowledge is power, babe, and we’re all about that well-informed life.