Myths You Should Stop Believing About Women's Health

We live in an age of misinformation. These days, you can Google just about any theory and you will most likely find someone who has already written a very convincing article about its validity. Today, it's easier than ever to start a blog — in fact, there are about 600 million blogs in cyberspace (via EarthWeb). And while many are a great read, not all are written by professionals or medical experts. Hence, the spread of myths and folktales about women and their health — like that you should never wear a bra because they can cause breast cancer, or that all you need to cure a urinary tract infection is some good ol' cranberry juice. 

So how do you separate fact from fiction? Let's explore some common misconceptions about women's health and dive into the wild (and sometimes seemingly true) myths you should stop believing about women's health.

Another breast cancer rumor with no evidence centers on deodorant as the culprit. The theory is that deodorant stops your body from sweating and eliminating toxins, which then build up over time and eventually turn into cancer cells. This idea also has no scientific backing — no matter how strong your deodorant is, your body should successfully sweat out toxins. There has also been some concern over potentially harmful chemical ingredients inside anti-perspirants — but BreastCancer.org assures that any chemicals found inside deodorant are unlikely to cause breast cancer. 

This rumor may have started because some scientific studies found that deodorant containing aluminum or parabens had hormonal effects on the body. However, there have not been any studies that confirm this actually causes an increased risk of breast cancer. In fact, there have been several studies that suggest there is no link between anti-perspirant and breast cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.

First of all, let's set the record straight — miscarriages are not rare. In fact, 20% of women with known pregnancies have miscarriages. And this number doesn't include miscarriages that happen before a woman even knows she's pregnant (via WebMD). A miscarriage can be a devastating time for a woman or family, and understandably, not many people like to talk about it. But if you've ever experienced one before, know you are not alone.

Miscarriages happen for many reasons — none of which are the woman's fault. "The most common thing we hear, and certainly the most false, is that women will link the miscarriage to something they did," says Dr. Daniela Carusi, director of surgical obstetrics at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "It's extremely hard to cause your own miscarriage" (via WebMD). Many miscarriages happen due to genetic abnormalities in the embryo, or are a result of other health conditions that affect the reproductive system (via Allina Health). Also, it's important to remember, a miscarriage doesn't mean you can never get pregnant. About 90% of women who have a miscarriage get pregnant again and have healthy babies (via WebMD).

Some people falsely assume that they can't get pregnant right after giving birth, especially if they're breastfeeding their babies. This rumor likely started since women's bodies typically do not ovulate several months after giving birth, giving the false illusion that pregnancy isn't possible. However, everyone's body is different, and it's hard to tell exactly when you start ovulating again, since your period happens two whole weeks after ovulation (via Allina Health). 

Dr. Sherry Ross, women's health expert, and author of She-ology, says, "During the postpartum recovery, you think you can't get pregnant until a period returns at regular intervals. Unfortunately, this is not the case — ask anyone who has had children less than 12 months apart!" So keep in mind, if you just gave birth but haven't started your period yet, the chances of an unplanned pregnancy are there since your cycle is unpredictable during this time (via Insider). 

Many people wrongly believe that heart disease only occurs in men, or that only elderly women are diagnosed with heart conditions. However, heart disease is actually the most common cause of death in women (via Allina Health), with 30% of women in the United States dying from heart issues. In actuality, women die from heart disease more often then men do every year. And it's important to keep in mind that heart disease can happen before you hit 60 — there's a risk even when you're in your 40s (via Health University of Utah).

There are many lifestyle factors that influence your chances of developing heart disease. Your risk of having a heart attack or stroke are higher if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, are overweight, smoke cigarettes, have an unhealthy diet, or don't exercise. A surprising 74% of adults in the U.S. are overweight (via Center for Disease Control and Prevention). If you fall into any of these categories and are concerned, you can speak with your doctor about working toward decreasing your chances of developing heart disease.    

A late or absent period doesn't necessarily mean you're pregnant. Sure, that's one of the signs of pregnancy, but your period could be late for other reasons, too. It's actually common to have an irregular cycle when you first start your period, and when you're shifting into menopause. In addition, many factors can affect your cycle, like stress, being underweight, obesity, and taking birth control. Different health conditions can also alter your menstrual cycle, including chronic conditions like diabetes and celiac disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), and thyroid issues (via Healthline).  

If you're in your 40s, another factor to consider is premature menopause, also known as perimenopause. Early menopause shares the same symptoms as menopause, including hot flashes and skipped periods (via Cosmopolitan). In fact, missing periods is both common and expected in perimenopause (via the Mayo Clinic). If you have missed a period or your period is late — and you are sure you're not pregnant — it's important to visit your doctor to try to figure out the cause and see if you have any underlying health conditions.

The older you get as a woman, the more often you might hear the phrase "your biological clock is ticking" from relatives who really want grandkids. While it is true that your fertility decreases over time, the old belief that it's harder to get pregnant after 35 is not entirely accurate. Several scientific research studies have confirmed that there is not much of a difference in successful pregnancy rates when comparing those between the ages of 35 and 40 and those that are younger. For example, one study found that when both groups studied were having regular sex during ovulation, 78% of women between 35 and 40 got pregnant within a year, while the success rate of women between age 20 and 34 was about 84% (via The Atlantic). While 80% of 38 and 39 year olds that had already been pregnant in the past got pregnant within six months when trying to conceive. 

Unfortunately, the percentages were a little lower among non-white races and those who were overweight, as well as those who are over the age of 30 but have not been previously pregnant. And after 40, the chances of getting pregnant do start to decrease, according to The Atlantic.

If you get abnormal pap smear results — take a deep breath — it doesn't automatically mean you have cancer. A pap smear is also referred to as a cervical screening test, since it is done to examine the health of your cervix, and also check for signs of cancer. Abnormal cells could be due to infection, irritation, or pre-cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. "The most common reason for abnormalities is changes to the cells caused by HPV. It doesn't necessarily mean cancer," says Dr. Petra Simic, medical director at Bupa Health Clinics (via Cosmopolitan). 

HPV, which stands for human papillomavirus, is actually a grouping of 200 types of viruses, some of them considered sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The types that are STDs are either low-risk, which cause no disease, or high-risk, which can cause certain types of cancer like cervical cancer. HPV is so common that almost everyone who is sexually active gets it when they first start having sex — and about 50% of those get the high-risk type (via National Cancer Institute). This is why getting regular pap smears from your doctor is so important.