Menstrual exile is a tradition etched deeply in some parts of India

[Ziggysmom]

(as well as other parts of the world)

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/08/29/1030338318/a-controversial-solution-to-menstrual-exile-building-better-menstrual-huts

[Wounded Bear]

1. It's in the Bible, too IIRC...

we don't do it here in the modern world, but the 'tradition' is still there.

[SarcasticSatyr]

2. Perhaps, but it's still seen by many to be a taboo subject ...

I know times are changing, but in some countries the change is painfully slow.

[Ziggysmom]

3. Women in less progressive countries live a harsh life. Lack of education and cultures that

still believe superstitions and taboos make it difficult to bring progress and change.

[MineralMan]

4. There are still some ultra-conservative Jews who maintain

the tradition, though.

[Arazi]

5. Hindus similarly segregate women who are "polluted" and "unclean" and "dirty"

🙄

A lot of this is cultural/tribal but the major religions have certainly played their part in promulgating the notion that women are impure/polluted for a large portion of their lives.

A short paper with a brief overview of the major religions

https://ispub.com/IJWH/5/2/8213

[clementine613]

9. Completely not true.

Orthodox Jews do have rules regarding interactions between husband and wife when she is menstruating, but there are no "menstrual huts" or anything of the kind. No Orthodox Jewish woman leaves home (or even her shared bedroom) when she is menstruating.

[MineralMan]

11. That is correct, to some degree.

However, one can still visit a mickveh in many places for ritual cleansing after menstruating. New York City has several. Menstruation is still considered to be unclean by some ultra-orthodox Jews. As far as what people do in their own homes, I cannot speak to that. It is all a matter of degree, really.

I leave people to their own rituals and tabus. None of my business, really.

[phylny]

12. True, but she must use the mikvah after menstruating.

https://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/1541/jewish/The-Mikvah.htm

[clementine613]

13. That's correct.

But she doesn't have to move out of her home to a "menstrual hut" or anything like it.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. Curiously, with all of the medical advances out there...

has anyone looked at safely eliminating menstruation?

[obamanut2012]

7. Endometrial ablation already exists

It stops either all the flow or almost all. My sister had it done a few years ago, as did a friend. No incision, both had theirs done in an outpatient clinic at their doctors' offices, some folks may need it done in a hospital. It's basically done via instruments that fit into the cervix.

[TreasonousBastard]

8. I read what the Mayo clinic had to say about it...

It doesn't necessariy eliminate blood flow, (or other aspects of the period, like cramps?)

Doesn't make you sterile, but seriously increases chance of birth defects or ectopic pregnancy.

Not recommended for most women.

[obamanut2012]

10. My history has no periods at all, and cannot get pregnant

She has slight bloat and sometimes baby cramps. She had her surgery performed at Duke.

[meadowlander]

16. You can get pretty close I think.

Some women on the pill just don't take the three placebo days. From memory, you can do this for the better part of a year and get down to just one or two periods a year. I think there's a birth control implant you can use but it might have some side effects (bloating, spotting, etc).

There might have been advances since the last time I looked at it but my impression was that we were not miles off from having good options for period elimination for people that wanted it.

[cally]

14. Interesting question

I think I support the idea of menstruation huts if it includes the educational component but I would like to understand why some villages have allowed similar upgraded huts to remain unused as article implies. Interesting how many activists think this harms their long term goals of eliminating the practice.

[Ziggysmom]

15. I cannot imagine what women in developing countries endure. Must support them!

https://iwda.org.au/what-is-it-like-to-have-your-period-in-a-developing-country/