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Original poster

Refused a massage because I was on my period

28 replies

macaco · 30/01/2009 15:41

Went for a massage today at Yves Rocher, which was a christmas present and I was asked if I had my period before she started. I was thinking what an odd question! Do I look like i have, or am I leaking over the massage couch or something ! I said yes and she said i couldn't have the massage as there was a risk of haemorrage. Has anyone ever heard of this? I've had to rebook for next week.

OP posts:
NilDesperandum · 30/01/2009 15:42

i owuld have been really embarrassed at that actually - don't know if it is normal policy but interested to find out? have had a few massages in my life, mostly from trainee friends and have never been asked that!

HeadFairy · 30/01/2009 15:43

Blimey, she must be pretty convinced of her massage powers... all the massages I've ever had have involved teenagers ineffectively rubbing my shoulders in an absent minded kind of fashion. Certainly not effective enough to cause a haemorrage!

tumtumtetum · 30/01/2009 15:44

How bizarre!

OhBling · 30/01/2009 15:44

oh, FFS, this is like where they make you tell them every medicine you've taken in the last two years in that one antibiotic will go badly with the massage.

Idiots.

if anything, I'd have thought when you have your period is a good time to enjoy a little pampering.

reikizen · 30/01/2009 15:47

I trained as a massage therapist about 6 years ago (but never practised) and have not encountered this before. I imagine you might ask so as not make and menstrual pains worse when massaging the abdomen but physiologically I can't think how a massage could cause a haemorrhage, especially if they avoid the abdomen. What a load of crap!

Original poster
macaco · 30/01/2009 15:48

I was quite disappointed I have to say. I know you have to be careful when you're pregnant but I've never heard of this before and never been asked before.

OP posts:
BeauticianNotMagician · 30/01/2009 15:56

What a load of rubbish.I always ask clients having a massage if they are on their period but simply because i want to know if they are comfortable enough for me to massage their stomach or if they would rather i left it out.

AnyFucker · 30/01/2009 18:16

what bollox

Original poster
macaco · 30/01/2009 18:20

hmmm I thought so too but there was no getting round it...no can do. It was quite an arse as I live about 30 mins away. I did think it was bolleaux, just thought I'd check if anyone had heard the same. She didn't mean the essential oils by the way she meant the action of massaging could provoke a haemorrage, not sure how powerful the massage was going to be? Steam rollered?

OP posts:
VampiresWalkin · 30/01/2009 18:23

How bizarre! I have been guinea pig for various types of massage training and they are insanely obsessive where they are learning and Following All Rules, but never has she not been able to do it with period. The only reason she was ever interested is because pain threshold can be lower, plus the abdomen thing.

Guadalupe · 30/01/2009 18:25

How odd. I've never been asked that.

I was sent away once after writing that I had had cancer within the last five years on the health form. There was a question directly asking. They said there was a risk of spreading it with massage.

I said that was outdated and how can there be when they give me four complimentary massages at the Big C centre but apparently it was policy. I actually cried becaue I was using a voucher I'd been given as a present after my surgery and it was too much.

Next time I went somewhere I lied.

VampiresWalkin · 30/01/2009 18:28

They think they can spread cancer with a massage??

They'll be getting knocked up by sharing loo seats soon...

VampiresWalkin · 30/01/2009 18:32

Oh or spread through the body? Still @ yhe idea...

Original poster
macaco · 30/01/2009 18:36

Yeah I thought that next time I'd just lie if they asked me. I've rebooked it for next week. I can't go anywhere else as it's a non transferrable, non refundable gift voucher.

OP posts:
veryembarrassedmummy · 30/01/2009 18:46

There is some truth in this.

One of my relatives is a serious massage therapist-graduate of ITEC- he takes a medical history before massaging any new client. He has to ask them for consent to approach their GPs .

He would not massage anyone with cnacer or certain illnesses, as yes, massage could help to "distribute" cancer cells around the body- in the same way that anyone with circulation problems should not be massaged in case a clot or thrombosis is dislodged and travels to the heart or lungs.

Certain aromatherapy oils can promote excessive bleeding if you are having your period.

I think the therpaist in this case was being over-cautious, but it is not impossible that for some people, massage during a period could increase the flow- IMO she should have given you the option.

Guadalupe · 30/01/2009 19:22

Really? I asked about this at the Big C and they said that used to be the opinion but it was outdated now as evidence shows that cancer cannot be spread through massage.

Anyway, I shall still lie about it. It's gone!

TheRealMrsJohnSimm · 30/01/2009 20:38

Warning: massage rant follows!!!

I am a highly qualified aromatherapist/massage therapist (trained at the Tisserand Institute) and work as a mentor to trainee therapists currently studying at Neals Yard Remedies.

I would never refuse to treat someone who had either their period or cancer. It is an outdated view that massage can spread cancer cells. However, it is useful to know this information since it does affect which oils I would use, which areas to avoid (because of potential for sore treatment sites), the depth of massage etc. Also because aromatherapy and massage should be holistic and therefore you may well instigate a psychological reaction to the oils and the hands on work which needs to be considered before deciding on blend and treatment plan.

As for not treating someone with their period - absolute tosh. There are oils which have hormonal balancing qualities and some which are uterine relaxants. It isn't going to make you bleed more it will simply speed things up (as massage generally gets all body systems working more effectively).

I am curious to know which essential oils promote excessive bleeding as I have never heard this before. True, some oils are believed to have abortifacient qualities in high doses. Some are incredibly toxic and imo should not be sold as over the counter remedies. What makes me laugh is that there is a general consensus that lavender is a "safe" oil but there are many different types and species and not all of them are safe for pregnancy or children for example. That's why we spend 2 years studying botany, chemistry, biology and anatomy & physiology so that we do know what is safe to use and when.

Many of the hormonal oils are incredibly beneficial before and during your period (and also at other times in the cycle). If you want to see a good therapist, contact IFPA and they will give you a list of qualified therapists in your area.

Rant over

veryembarrassedmummy · 30/01/2009 20:56

Why are different people taught different things on massage courses? as far as I know the ITEC course in Anatomy, Physiology and Massage is one of the highest qualifications and that is what they teach. It is not a "beauty treatment" type of maage but for professional maasuers. MY rant over

ThingOne · 30/01/2009 21:11

NICE has agreed that therapies such as massage help cancer patients but not yet worked out how to implement it. So definitely agree with the real mrs js. My hospital referred me to the local hospice for a few free treatments when I was first diagnosed!

TheRealMrsJohnSimm · 31/01/2009 11:53

VEM: I am familiar with the ITEC courses and understand their professional level and they are widely accepted as the standard training. However, my massage tutor was also an ITEC tutor and in her opinion, she taught us at a higher level than she would have done on an ITEC course. The same goes for the A & P course. I don't do "beauty treatment" massages either. IFPA is one of the largest organisations representing masseurs. They set the guidelines (based predominantly on ITEC courses as far as I can gather) for the minimum standard of training required to be a member. The Tisserand training I received far exceeded their minimum standards. TBH, when I attend post-grad training courses, I am shocked at the level at which some people are practising (everything from client care to A&P knowledge) and yet they all claim to be qualified.

TBH, I think that many of the scare stories about treating people with certain types of conditions comes from the fact that people can set themselves up as therapists with very little training or knowledge. Meaning that there are some very dodgy practitioners out there. They may not be insured but very few clients would even think to ask about insurance or membership of professional bodies - mostly because massage (and aromatherapy in particular) is perceived as a "treat" rather than a treatment. Beauty therapists using pre-blended oils do not help the cause. Aromatherapy should be as individual as you are and the blend made specifically for you, as should the massage itself - not some "routine" taught at college but the masseuse feeling their way around the body and its surrounding energy to give a truly holistic, individual treatment.

Ronaldinhio · 31/01/2009 12:04

I had massage at my cancer centre

I think that it bollocks to say or think that massage spreads cancer
Christ it's the same as excercise or a hot shower, hot tub etc

madness

is the earth still flat~??

divadeb · 30/07/2013 09:50

I was told that you should not have a massage whilst having your period andd that the person giving the massage should not give it if she was on her period!

ProjectGainsborough · 30/07/2013 10:16

Wow. And then did they push you into a lake to see if you float?

What an appalling way to treat a customer.

divadeb · 30/07/2013 11:51

Oh and Ronaldinhio, was also told you shouldn't excercise when you had your period! All Old Wives' Tales....

K8Middleton · 30/07/2013 11:59

Just had to check the date on this thread to make sure it wasn't from 1813...