Menstrual cycles were once revered and treated as sacred rites of passage during matrilineal cultures of early centuries. This was based on the spiritual belief that linked a menstruating woman with the moon. The Priests of ancient Egypt referred to the Moon as the Mother of the Universe. In the Dahomey creation story, Mawu is the Great Mother or Moon goddess who created mountains, rivers, valleys, animals as well as great light in the sky.

Names of moon in many African languages are associated with the feminine. iNyanga in isiXhosa and isiZulu, Nwedi in Shona and Venda, as well as Ngwedi in Sesotho and Setswana are associated with menstruation. In Setswana, for example, menstruation is referred to as go ya ngweding, meaning going to the moon. Native Americans refer to menstruation as moon-time. Menstruating women used to go to menstrual huts or moon lodges to rest and meditate. First menstruation was regarded as sacred rite of passage. It was common for communities to facilitate puberty rituals for girls.