Sharing Our Experiences with Menstruation 💬

1. How did you first learn about menstruation? Was it through school, family, or another source? - I don't remember that my mum ever talked to me about it. The first time it came for me was during sixth grade. That day, we were having a field trip to the ice rink, I didn't get to go. Because it came before we left the school, my teacher had to call my mum to come pick me up and giving a change of underwear and pants. Luckily my homeroom teachers were female, so it was less awkward and embarrassing.
2. What challenges have you faced in discussing menstruation with others? Have you encountered any cultural or societal barriers? - I haven't really talked much about menstruation to others.. The people I've spoke to the most about it were probably my family doctors.. I've had 2 different doctors so far.. plus my Gynaecologist. Aside from family, like my own mother, I've probably only spoke about it to colleagues after I had an IUD placed.. sharing my experience with the IUD and how much it has helped.
3. How has your experience with menstruation changed over time? Have you noticed changes in your cycle or symptoms? - I had been a heavy bleeder.. changing a pad every 2 hours, and often leaks overnight and stains my bed sheets.. Then, my doctor suggested taking birth control pills and have it act as a regulator. I took them for more than a decade, and in 2018, I had an incident of DVT. Was told that the birth control pills increased that risk. So, after the DVT, I changed to using an IUD instead. On my second IUD now, and it's finally working like before. My period has almost stopped coming entirely, and my energy levels are no longer affected. Before, the first couple of days of menstruation, I would be so tired with severely low energy levels, that I could sleep all day.. that I could fall asleep sitting, waiting for my coffee to brew. Now, I only get traces of it.. I find it's sometimes comes when I'm stressed or I've eaten certain foods/drinks.
4. How do you manage your menstrual health? What products or practices work best for you? - I'm on the Mirena now. And I always have light pads with me.. because sometimes the traces come unexpectedly (like, not when my period usually comes).

@Mya000

@Mya000

Hi, Mya,

I'm afraid that I hate everything about periods.  

1. How did you first learn about menstruation? Was it through school, family, or another source?  I found out about periods the day I found brown stuff in my underwear at the age of 11.
   
2. What challenges have you faced in discussing menstruation with others? Have you encountered any cultural or societal barriers?  men don't want to hear it
3. How has your experience with menstruation changed over time? Have you noticed changes in your cycle or symptoms?  yes, thank God my periods have become lighter and less painful.
4. What are some myths or misconceptions about menstruation that you've encountered? How did you learn the truth?  I can't think of any.
5. How do you manage your menstrual health? What products or practices work best for you?  I can't drink anything with caffeine the week of my period.  It makes my cramps more painful.  I have to take ibuprofen as soon as my pain starts and sometimes it doesn't help.  I just have to suffer.  I've had painful periods for 50 years.  My doctors tell me I am one of their oldest patients.  I use pads.  

well designed post - very clever picture Mya

1. I learnt about menstruation in primary school 4/5. Female pupils were taught about puberty in a different room versus males in a different room.
2. No challenges but feeling the need to not say to male members of the family that I am on period because taught it’s not acceptable. Taught to resort to saying sore stomach.

5 For me pads are comfortable

@Mya000 I don't remember the questions lol so I'm just going to give my own perspective/opinion. I think the most important advice I can give to young girls who are just starting their journey in having a menstrual cycle, is they shouldn't feel embarrassed to talk to a trusted adult about the changes they are experiencing. it's good to ask questions when you don't know how to deal with cramps, which is item is best to use for first time, how to manage it throughout the day/night, why mood swings happen extra. the more you learn the more you are able to help yourself become more and more comfortable.

Having to deal with a cycle every month is still a big dread when I really think about it, but at the same time it's something that only I as a woman experience. And as a woman I'm the only one who gets to experience helping a child grow inside of me. I don't know about other woman, but I think that is an amazing ability that we have. the fact that our bodies can do things that men can't.

Overall I think just understanding your body and staying on top of the hygiene aspect is really all one needs to know if you've been dealing with a cycle for several years already. Don't be embarrassed of it because if people can laugh at something that is natural then they have problems, not you. And that means those people aren't the right ones to ask questions to. I kind of rambled but hopefully it makes sense

I wish talking about periods, pulling out pads, etc, wasn't taboo. Why is a natural human body function something to be ashamed of?

@Mya000

I love this! It actually reminds me of a situation at my work the other night. For background, I work at a psychiatric hospital. We get patients here who have been abused, looked down on their whole life, bullied, assaulted, and more. 

Well, the other night we had a patient who was bleeding very heavily. To the point of having to change clothes every few hours as well as sheets and bedding. Instead of offering her more pads, I offered her a pull-up/adult diaper. Her flow was so heavy, it just made more sense so we could keep her clothes from being ruined. However there is this stigma surrounding wearing adult diapers that really saddens me. Like it’s a horrible thing and you’re weird and to be laughed at if you wear one. You know, some of us have such heavy flows that nothing else works. I just wish that stigma didn’t exist. After I gave birth to my son, I wore those Depends diapers for weeks until my flow went back to normal. I think it’s natural and completely okay to have to wear those if you have a severely heavy flow. 

@Mya000. I used to have a very heavy flow the first 2 days. I used tampons and pads at the same time for extra protection those days.

https://youtu.be/gvDRgzoM2mw?si=pw9WW_Khep1oVrtf

Not my story but a funny take on someone else's. 

I wish men understood the suffering we endure every month.