Trick or Treat! Myths That Haunt Women’s Health

blog

Oct 31

Written By Comma

The Real Horror Stories of Womenʼs Healthcare

For many women, navigating the healthcare system in the U.S. is an experience shaped by fear, uncertainty, and the painful realization that the systems meant to protect us too often fall short.Pain is too often dismissed, personal data is left vulnerable, and basic rights over our bodies can be rewritten by legislation. The scariest part? Outdated beliefs and misinformation still shape how women are treated, in exam rooms, research, and policy alike.

At Comma, we believe knowledge is the antidote to fear. When you understand your body—its patterns, its signals, its power—no one can use confusion against you. Weʼre here to replace fear with facts, one truth at a time.

Myth #1: “You canʼt get pregnant on your period.”

Fact: Itʼs rare, but absolutely possible.

Sperm can live in the reproductive tract for up to five days, which means if you ovulate early, conception can happen right after your period ends. Because cycles vary from person to person (and even from month to month) thereʼs no universally “safe” time for unprotected sex.

Understanding your fertile window through consistent cycle tracking can make a real difference. It gives you clarity, whether youʼre trying to plan for or against pregnancy.

Myth #2: “Birth control causes infertility.”

Fact: Hormonal contraception temporarily pauses ovulation—it doesn’t damage your fertility.

Once you stop using hormonal birth control, ovulation typically returns within a few weeks or months. This misconception (and ultimately fear mongering) often arises because some people notice irregular cycles after stopping birth control, but thatʼs usually your body returning to its natural rhythm, especially if cycles were uneven before.

Contraception is one of the most researched tools in reproductive health—and using it does not reduce your future chances of getting pregnant. It was a groundbreaking advancement in womenʼs health, designed to help you take control your reproductive timing. This is something to be celebrated, not feared.

Myth #3: “Period pain is just part of being a woman.”

Fact: Mild cramping is normal, but pain that stops you from living your life is not.

For decades, people who menstruate have been told to “tough it out,” leading countless people to live with undiagnosed conditions like endometriosis, adenomyosis, or fibroids. Pain that keeps you home from work, disrupts sleep, or requires constant medication isnʼt something to ignore; itʼs a message from your body that somethingʼs off.

When pain is normalized, care is delayed. This is not the reality we should live in. You deserve comfort, answers, and relief—not dismissal.

Myth #4: “Womenʼs health is well-researched.”

Fact: Only about 1% of medical research funding goes toward female-specific conditions beyond cancer. Even when cancer is included, womenʼs health still makes up just about 5% of research funding.

For decades, women were excluded from clinical trials because their hormones were considered “too complicated.” Still today, women are underrepresented in clinical studies, including studies on conditions that primarily impact women. The result is that we still know less about how diseases, medications, and treatments affect women, despite women making up half the population.

This lack of representation isnʼt just a gap in data, itʼs a gap in care. Women are more likely to experience adverse drug reactions, misdiagnoses, and delayed treatment because the evidence base simply wasnʼt built for them.

Myth #5: “PMS is just mood swings.”

Fact: PMS isnʼt “all in your head.” Itʼs a complex interaction of hormones, brain chemistry, and physical changes.

When estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, they can influence serotonin—the neurotransmitter that affects mood, energy, and sleep. Thatʼs why some people experience irritability, fatigue, or sadness in the days before their period, along with physical symptoms like bloating, headaches, or joint pain.

Understanding your symptoms through cycle tracking helps distinguish between normal premenstrual changes and more severe conditions like PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder). Recognizing patterns gives you the language to ask for support and care.

The Bottom Line

The scariest thing about womenʼs health isnʼt our biology…itʼs how little we know and are taught about it. Your body isnʼt unpredictable. Itʼs incredibly intelligent. Every symptom, pattern, and signal has meaning. With the right information, you can stop fearing your health and start understanding it.

We built Sara™, our secure cycle tracker, to help replace fear with clarity—giving you the insight you deserve to make informed, confident decisions about your health.