THE POINT OF A PERIOD.

MENSTRUAL cycle; MENSTRUATION; REPRODUCTIVE health; PHYSIOLOGICAL effect of oral contraceptives; WOMEN'S health; MEDICAL research; RELIGION

The article focuses on how taboos against menstruation have resulted in a lack of research into how menstrual cycles work and its impact on women's health. It talks about how human menstruation differs from most that of most mammals and comments on how social and religious views on menstruation impacted research into women's reproductive health. It mentions research into female birth control pills and the debate on if suppressing menstruation would negatively impact women's health. INSET: Why Are Girls Getting Their Periods So Young?.