First of all, sharks cannot “smell blood from a mile away” as some people believed. 

Secondly, period blood is not just blood. It’s a mixture of cervical fluid, endometrial mucus and other proteins. So, it’ll be kind of hard for sharks to sniff out blood from all of that extra stuff. 

This myth came about when women were once seen as being “dirty” for having their period. Before research made it known that periods are natural and totally fine, people were appalled by how women were getting their periods when other mammals did not. 

Okay, there are some people who still believe in this and some people choose not to engage in sexual activities because of their periods but it’s not harmful to do so. 

Ah, if only this was as good as it sounded. Unfortunately, it’s not what we think. 

In some parts of Africa, women are made to live in mud huts temporarily when they’re on their periods. While there, they aren’t allowed to work and as such, cannot earn their own money. 

Back in the 1800s, women were told that their periods are poisonous and can spoil food easily. 

The New York Times reported that in some parts of rural India, women are still being treated that way. 

According to Pliny The Elder in Roman history, Roman men can use their wives’ period blood as a guarantee for fidelity.