Periods do not get talked about much... The result? Widespread misconceptions and misinformation that remain unchallenged.

‘Period sex is dirty’, ‘Tampons will break your virginity’, 'Severe pain is normal'... Here are some of the most common period myths, debunked.

A thread 🧵
Can tampons actually ‘break virginity’?
Menstrual health activist, @Candice_Chirwa, explains that this myth stems from a lack of education about anatomy.
It is not normal to constantly endure severe period pains.
Severe period pains can be indicative of underlying health factors, says Grace Nasike, reproductive health expert.
Can you have sex whilst on your period?
Yes, you can! In fact, having period sex could be beneficial, according to menstrual health activist, Candice Chirwa.
Ok, but what about other activities, such as exercising?
Not only will exercise not harm you, it may also make you feel better!
Share this with someone who needs to know 📥 and follow @BBCAfrica to stay updated.

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with BBC News Africa

BBC News Africa Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @BBCAfrica

16 Jul
As unrest spreads in South Africa following the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma, some social media users have been sharing misleading videos and pictures.

@BBCRealityCheck has investigated some of the most widely shared examples.

A thread 🧵⬇️
A doctored image of the former president in prison:

The image claiming to show Mr Zuma in an orange prison uniform has been widely shared, but a reverse image search reveals an almost identical image without him in it.

An AFP photo database shows the photo was taken in 2002.
A Twitter account for one of Mr Zuma's children used old images:

The post was captioned: "Durban City, We See You! Amandla," with the hashtag #FreeJacobZuma.

However, the image used is not related to recent events, and appears to be from a different set of protests last year.
Read 6 tweets
12 Jun
Police in Nigeria have forcefully dispersed the #June12thProtest taking place in Lagos and Abuja.

Follow the thread 👇 for more photos.
Activists called nationwide protests to denounce rising insecurity following the increasing abductions and killings in Nigeria, as well as the recent #TwitterBanNigeria.
There were also #June12thProtest taking place in Abuja and Ondo states.
Read 4 tweets
1 Jun
Viewpoint: Why Germany's Namibia genocide apology is not enough

A THREAD
Germany has described last century’s mass murder in Namibia as a genocide and has issued a long-awaited apology, but this admission has opened fresh questions about how Europe confronts its colonial past in Africa, argues Emsie Erastus, a Namibian analyst.
There was also the promise of development aid worth more than €1.1bn (£940m; $1.34bn), but no reparations were mentioned by Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, which is one of the key demands for the groups affected.
Read 7 tweets
1 Jun
🇺🇬Uganda's Transport Minister General Katumba Wamala has been shot and injured by unknown gunmen near his home in the capital Kampala.
Eyewitnesses say the gunmen were riding on a motorcycle.
👉 bbc.in/3caxEPo Image
The daughter of Uganda's Transport Minister Gen Katumba Wamala and his driver have died from injuries sustained after the shooting. Image
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has reacted to the killings.

Mr. Museveni called the attackers ‘pigs’ and said that they will be defeated.

Read 4 tweets
31 May
THREAD

On Nov 18, 2020, a Ugandan police truck sped down Kampala Road.

In the space of a minute or so, 7 people were shot.

At least 4 of them died.

Who were they?
Who shot them?
And why has no one been charged with their deaths?

#BBCAfricaEye investigates.
Let’s start with some background.

These killings happened in the run-up to Uganda’s elections.

President @KagutaMuseveni was facing the most serious political challenge of his 35-years in power: a young opposition leader called @HEBobiwine.
Raised in the slums of Kampala, @HEBobiwine became a music star and then an MP before running for president.

He is channeling the hopes of many young Ugandans who say they’re tired of poverty, corruption, and of an old guard who has been in power for decades.
Read 47 tweets
19 May
Malawi has become the first African country to publicly burn thousands of Covid-19 vaccine doses.

Health authorities have burned 19,610 expired doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, saying it will reassure the public that any vaccines they do get are safe.
Malawi's Health Minister Khumbize Chiponda was photographed closing the incineration chamber.

The WHO initially asked the countries that had expired vaccines to hold onto them until it could establish whether they could still be used.

But it now says vaccines already sent out by the manufacturer with a set expiry date should be destroyed.

Read 4 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

:(