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There’s a lot of information about women’s health that you might have missed in school — maybe because you were staring out the window or your curriculum just didn’t cover it.

Those gaps in knowledge can leave women vulnerable to believing things about their health that just aren’t true, says Meghan Rabbitt, author of The New Rules of Women’s Health, a book published in January. For example, thinking that you can maximize workouts based on your menstrual cycle — or that menopause is pure misery.

“Health class really falls short for so many of us, and even our young girls today are not getting a real adequate education about their bodies, anatomy and health,” Rabbitt says.

Rabbitt hopes her book can give women the tools they need to take charge of their health. To write it, she interviewed more than 100 scientists, doctors and clinicians. She busts a few common myths below.

Busting myths about women's health

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Myth 1: An annual mammogram is all you need to detect breast cancer

The truth: Mammograms are an amazing tool, Rabbitt says, but depending on your lifetime risk of breast cancer, you might start breast cancer screening sooner, do it more often or you might need an MRI.

Even if your risk is low, some of the details of your situation could warrant a different screening plan. For example, if you have a strong family history of breast cancer, other related cancers or if you have dense breast tissue.

Myth 2: Women can maximize workouts based on their menstrual cycle

The truth: There’s really no good data showing you can get big changes in strength or performance based on timing your workouts to your cycle, Rabbitt says. Instead, she recommends that you listen to your body when deciding how high-intensity your training should be for the day.

Myth 3: Menopause is misery with no upsides

The truth: There’s a lot to like about not having to worry about periods anymore — or birth control, which Rabbitt says “is something so front and center for women for so many years of our lives. Not having to think about that can be so freeing.”

Plus, she says, it’s a great time to press the reset button on your life. “There are a lot of ways that we as women come into our own in menopause. We stop worrying about things and get after what we really want.”

Listen to the interview

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Get ready for daylight saving time

Daylight saving time begins on Sunday, March 8, at 2 a.m. If you need help adjusting to the time change, peruse these resources from Life Kit.

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If you’re anxious about losing precious sleep, read our story on sleep anxiety.

People struggling with insomnia tend to hyperfocus on the fact that they can’t sleep, which can prevent them from getting any shut-eye. Experts share effective practices to overcome sleep stress.

If you want to catch up on lost sleep with a nap, learn how to take one that’s restorative.

A good siesta can offer significant mental and physical health benefits. Here's how to take a nap that won't affect your nighttime sleep — and will leave you feeling energized.

If you’d like fewer aches and pains in the morning, read our guide on sleep posture.

Whether you’re a back, side or stomach sleeper, medical professionals explain how to position your body to guard against neck cricks, shoulder aches and other body pain and soreness.

If you want to improve your sleep through your diet, learn which foods to eat and habits to avoid.

What you eat during the day can affect how well you sleep at night. Sleep researchers explain the impact of diet, caffeine and alcohol on sleep health, and share a list of sleep-supporting foods.

If you need a basic guide to sleep health, sign up for our Sleep Newsletter.

Get a week of science-based strategies to help you sleep deeper and longer.

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