Myths and misconceptions related to Sexual and Reproductive health of adolescents : Influence of cultural elements.

 Culture has a great impact on the matters of belief, practices and behaviors of its followers. 

How adolescents are raised, how they need to behave, and how openly they can discuss the matters of sexuality depend on the culture. 

Conservative societies forbid the discussion on the adolescent problems, and exhibit more gender inequality. 

Sexual taboos have their root in cultural beliefs and have important implications in the sexual health and morbidity. 

Many societies still hold misconceptions about menstruation, and masturbation. Elders never educate on the basic concepts of bodily changes that occur during adolescence, keeping them in dark. There has always been an issue of comfort regarding sharing of knowledge on sexuality with offspring in India.  

Due to social stigma, adolescent girls are not educated about menarche before hand. A recent study found that only one third of rural girls were told about the menstruation by their mothers and only one fourth were explained the reason.  Often girls feel anxious and distressed about this sudden development. 

In some societies, girls  are  not  allowed  to  cook,  to  enter  sacred places and even to take bath during menstruation. 

Due to lack of proper toilets and privacy in rural areas,  girls  often  miss  schools  and  colleges during  menstruation .  Girls  are  prepared  to handle household responsibilities and sometimes their education stops at this stage. 

The silence of the Indian  culture on  issues related to  sexuality compound  problems like  the  treatment  seeking behaviour for neurotic and anxiety disorders (e.g. Dhat  syndrome),  the  HIV  epidemic,  infections in the  genital  tract, sexual violence (e.g.  female genital mutilation), contraceptive use and abortion services.