The science of menstruation in 10 minutes | Dr. Jen Gunter

May 20, 2025

Dr. Jen Gunter, a San Francisco Bay Area OB-GYN and author, dives deep into the science of menstruation while debunking myths surrounding it. She calls out damaging ideas like 'cycle syncing' and the myth that periods detoxify the body. Gunter highlights the biological complexities of menstruation and emphasizes that understanding one's cycle is crucial for health and advocacy. She also sheds light on menstrual pain, the role of prostaglandins, and warns about potential dangers of menstrual tracking apps in today's political climate.

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INSIGHT

Period Myths Debunked

Humans lack pheromones, debunking the idea of cycle syncing.
Menstruation does not detoxify the body; that's a myth.

INSIGHT

Biology Behind Menstruation

Menstruation evolved as humans prepare the uterus for possible pregnancy each cycle.
The uterine lining thickens and sheds if no embryo implants, causing bleeding.

INSIGHT

Evolution Prioritizes Reproduction

Evolution prioritizes reproduction, not individual comfort or pain relief.
Women uniquely bear menstrual pain as part of species perpetuation.

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🩸 **“No, Periods Aren’t for Detox – And Humans Don’t ‘Cycle Sync.’”**

Renowned OBGYN Dr. Jen Gunter busts some of the most harmful myths about menstruation, from the fantasy of pheromones and "cycle syncing" to the false idea that periods cleanse the body of toxins. Menstruation isn’t a monthly detox—it’s a complex biological process deeply tied to human evolution, reproduction, and health.

She warns: most people, including many doctors, are dangerously underinformed about what a normal cycle looks like. And that ignorance isn’t just annoying—it’s being weaponized by laws that treat women as little more than vessels for pregnancy.

Dr. Gunter explains the real science behind menstrual cramps, PMS, and the role of prostaglandins—the real culprits behind period pain and menstrual diarrhea. Apps and social media may glamorize menstrual tracking or fitness syncing, but she emphasizes: much of that advice is based on bad or no science—and in some cases, tracking apps could be used against women in places where reproductive rights are under attack.

🔥 "Evolution doesn’t care if you suffer,” she says. “It just wants you to reproduce." That’s why **understanding your cycle is not just about health—it's about power**.

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