Investigation of the women's menstrual periods in three generations from socio-cultural perspective

In this study, women's knowledge, perspectives and experiences about their menstrual periods is addressed. How it is perceived, how the cultural knowledge and codes are transmitted from one generation to another and similarities and differences between the generations are examined. 25 female students who study in three vocational schools of health in Üsküdar district of Istanbul, and 25 mothers and 25 grandmothers were participated to the research. Study was done by interview technique and different structured questionnaires were used for each generation. Interviews were done face to face in the places where the informants requested. It was founded that there were some similarities between the three generations' perceiving, experiencing and expressing the menstrual periods in manners of menstrual complaints, aspects of being careful in periods, cultural or any other beliefs about periods. It was founded that there were apparent differences between the three generations in manners of getting information before menarche and sources of information, sharing the first menstrual period, the person with whom the first period was shared and naming the menstrual periods. Key Words: menstrual periods, menstruation, menarche, menstrual beliefs, menopause, three generations