Conceptions and misconceptions of menstruation.
College women were asked a series of open-ended questions about their conceptions of menstruation prior to menarche as part of a retrospective study. Their responses were rated as indicating correct information, misinformation, or lack of information. A conceptual analysis of these descriptive data reveals some of the emotional and cognitive limitations of pre-adolescence that lead ostensibly well-informed girls to harbor misconceptions about menstruation. Based on this conceptual analysis, a revised approach to menstrual education is suggested.
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche; D008598:Menstruation; D012736:Sex Education