'Period' comes from the Greek words 'peri' and 'hodos' (periodos) meaning 'around' and 'way/path'. This eventually turned into the Latin 'periodus' meaning 'recurring cycle'. The English term 'period' to describe menstruation began in the early 1800s.

Other symbols and terms to describe menstruation are seen in texts from thousands of years ago. Even then they were considered 'profane' (i.e. taboo/inappropriate).

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