08-28-2025, 08:38 PM
There is a viral health myth that has been circulating for years, especially on WhatsApp and Facebook, titled "Good advice for women!!!!!!!!! DURING MENSTRUATIONS".
I asked ChatGPT to fact-check each point and I was surprised at the level of misinformation some people now believe.
Don’t believe everything you read online without fact-checking oo.
Fact-check
1. “Do not drink cold water or eat coconut during menstruation”
❌ False.
Cold water or coconut does not affect menstrual flow, clotting, or cause blood to “disappear.” Menstrual blood comes from the shedding of the uterine lining — food or drink temperature doesn’t change that.
2. “Do not have sex during menstruation because vagina is very soft”
⚠️ Partly true.
The vagina is not “softer,” but during menstruation the cervix is slightly more open, which increases infection risk (bacteria, fungi, viruses). It’s not medically forbidden, but if one does, using a condom is safer.
3. “Do not apply shampoo on the head because pores are open”
❌ False.
Washing or shampooing hair during menstruation has no effect on pores, headaches, or reproductive health. Just a myth.
4. “Do not eat cucumber during menstruation because it blocks flow and causes sterility”
❌ False.
Cucumber is harmless. No food can block menstruation. Infertility is not caused by eating cucumber.
5. “Do not be hit on the abdomen during menstruation”
⚠️ Partly true.
A hard hit on the abdomen is unsafe at any time, but it’s not specifically linked to menstruation or infertility. Trauma can cause pain or injury, but not “uterine cancer.”
6. “Drinking ice water during menstruation causes cancer after 5–10 years”
❌ Completely false.
There is no evidence that cold water causes cancer or traps menstrual blood. Cancer develops from genetic mutations, infections (like HPV), or other risk factors — not ice water.
The Truth
1. Menstruation is a natural process.
2. The only real caution is a slightly higher infection risk if having unprotected sex during menstruation.
3. Eating, drinking (cold or hot), shampooing, cucumber, or coconut have no harmful effects.
4. Cancer is not caused by food or water during menstruation.
This viral message is dangerous misinformation. It mixes a small truth (infection risk with unprotected sex) with a lot of myths.
I asked ChatGPT to fact-check each point and I was surprised at the level of misinformation some people now believe.
Don’t believe everything you read online without fact-checking oo.
Fact-check
1. “Do not drink cold water or eat coconut during menstruation”
❌ False.
Cold water or coconut does not affect menstrual flow, clotting, or cause blood to “disappear.” Menstrual blood comes from the shedding of the uterine lining — food or drink temperature doesn’t change that.
2. “Do not have sex during menstruation because vagina is very soft”
⚠️ Partly true.
The vagina is not “softer,” but during menstruation the cervix is slightly more open, which increases infection risk (bacteria, fungi, viruses). It’s not medically forbidden, but if one does, using a condom is safer.
3. “Do not apply shampoo on the head because pores are open”
❌ False.
Washing or shampooing hair during menstruation has no effect on pores, headaches, or reproductive health. Just a myth.
4. “Do not eat cucumber during menstruation because it blocks flow and causes sterility”
❌ False.
Cucumber is harmless. No food can block menstruation. Infertility is not caused by eating cucumber.
5. “Do not be hit on the abdomen during menstruation”
⚠️ Partly true.
A hard hit on the abdomen is unsafe at any time, but it’s not specifically linked to menstruation or infertility. Trauma can cause pain or injury, but not “uterine cancer.”
6. “Drinking ice water during menstruation causes cancer after 5–10 years”
❌ Completely false.
There is no evidence that cold water causes cancer or traps menstrual blood. Cancer develops from genetic mutations, infections (like HPV), or other risk factors — not ice water.
The Truth
1. Menstruation is a natural process.
2. The only real caution is a slightly higher infection risk if having unprotected sex during menstruation.
3. Eating, drinking (cold or hot), shampooing, cucumber, or coconut have no harmful effects.
4. Cancer is not caused by food or water during menstruation.
This viral message is dangerous misinformation. It mixes a small truth (infection risk with unprotected sex) with a lot of myths.