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December 26, 2018 10:49 AM Subscribe
100 Years of Periods by Allure [YouTube][8:20] “Take a look back at the last hundred years of menstruation products, from the homemade cloth pads of the 1910s and the sanitary belts of the 1940s, to the adhesive pads of the 1970s and the new super absorbent tampons of the 1980s.”
I was 9 when I came across a booklet at a family friend's house. I was edumacated. I also realized i'm old enough to have had periods through entire eras of sanitary napkins, interestingly arrested at different stages of development depending on the third world country I happened to be in. That is, they were still selling belted napkins in India, alongside big fat adhesive ones, and i had to bring my own stock of Japanese Laurier brand because I'd gotten used to ultra thin and wings and extra long. Took Kotex and Always years to catch up with that, but someone in product development once said its because the designers are always men.
posted by infini at 11:07 AM on December 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by infini at 11:07 AM on December 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
There's a lot of commentary in the video about tampons and toxic shock syndrome but none about sea sponges (which are making a comeback in envirofriendly circles) and TSS which... eh.
posted by sukeban at 11:09 AM on December 26, 2018
posted by sukeban at 11:09 AM on December 26, 2018
Of course cups haven't caught on.
1) They're finicky to get placed properly. For some people, they're easy and always just work, but for most of us, it takes a few tries to figure out how to put them in without pain and into the right spot. (It's not a lot of pain, for most people, but there's often a few rounds of "aack it slipped dammit that's pressing against something sensitive now.") And they're not one-size-fits all, nor one-shape-fits-all; some people's anatomy is just not compatible with any of the ones on the market.
2) You have to touch yourself to use them and get blood on your hands to remove them; that alone is enough to turn a lot of people away from them.
3) Even among the body-positive crowd that doesn't mind the fluids or the weird angles of putting them in or taking them out, they're unpleasant to deal with in stall restrooms at schools or offices, where there's no sink in reach of the toilet.
4) They can still leak, either due to imperfect placement or just heavy flow, which kind of misses the whole point of not using pads.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:25 AM on December 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
1) They're finicky to get placed properly. For some people, they're easy and always just work, but for most of us, it takes a few tries to figure out how to put them in without pain and into the right spot. (It's not a lot of pain, for most people, but there's often a few rounds of "aack it slipped dammit that's pressing against something sensitive now.") And they're not one-size-fits all, nor one-shape-fits-all; some people's anatomy is just not compatible with any of the ones on the market.
2) You have to touch yourself to use them and get blood on your hands to remove them; that alone is enough to turn a lot of people away from them.
3) Even among the body-positive crowd that doesn't mind the fluids or the weird angles of putting them in or taking them out, they're unpleasant to deal with in stall restrooms at schools or offices, where there's no sink in reach of the toilet.
4) They can still leak, either due to imperfect placement or just heavy flow, which kind of misses the whole point of not using pads.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:25 AM on December 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
I think the next time I have to describe Carrie to a millennial, I'll say it's a movie about menstrual shaming.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 11:40 AM on December 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 11:40 AM on December 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Even more recent innovations include pH balancing tampons and probiotic-infused tampons.
posted by xo at 11:47 AM on December 26, 2018
posted by xo at 11:47 AM on December 26, 2018
theora55, they also have the one my school handed out.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:47 AM on December 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:47 AM on December 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Growing up all the material used blue to stand in for blood, so seeing actual red blood the first time caused me to slightly panic. I hope that's improved somewhat.
posted by 80 Cats in a Dog Suit at 11:52 AM on December 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by 80 Cats in a Dog Suit at 11:52 AM on December 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
My skin is so delicate due to a Thing that the cup has been an absolute blessing. Definitely took some adjustment and of course capacity is finite. It is still by far my best option.
I started at 12 during a play rehearsal. My costume was white. Luck was on my side that day though, woot!
posted by wellred at 12:16 PM on December 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I started at 12 during a play rehearsal. My costume was white. Luck was on my side that day though, woot!
posted by wellred at 12:16 PM on December 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yeah I remember having to do explain to someone that OB tampons were kind of a pain because you get blood on your hands and we're not all that comfortable with our fluids, especially in public restrooms. Cups even more so..if I'm traveling I take tampons with applicators as backups.
Honestly I wish we could just figure out something that would allow us to skip menstruation entirely, it's a pain in the ass and expensive and messy. Some types of birth control do that but I can't tolerate the hormones.
posted by emjaybee at 12:47 PM on December 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Honestly I wish we could just figure out something that would allow us to skip menstruation entirely, it's a pain in the ass and expensive and messy. Some types of birth control do that but I can't tolerate the hormones.
posted by emjaybee at 12:47 PM on December 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Potentially relevant askme about Thinx.
Love this series and especially enjoyed this one, the shift in advertising away from shaming women for menstruating was fascinating.
posted by ellieBOA at 1:28 PM on December 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Love this series and especially enjoyed this one, the shift in advertising away from shaming women for menstruating was fascinating.
posted by ellieBOA at 1:28 PM on December 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I don't understand the logic of Thinx. "Instead of a pad that you change out every few hours, we'll build the pad into the underwear, so you have to change them every few hours!"
Okay, maybe they can handle extra-heavy flow and you only need to change them every six hours. And fabric instead of paper has to be easier on some people's skin, but... nope, still not making sense to me. I wouldn't want period gear that meant I had to take off my shoes and jeans in order to put in a new layer. Reusable cloth pads, I can understand; pads built into underwear seem like a solution that doesn't address several aspects of the problem.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 1:45 PM on December 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
Okay, maybe they can handle extra-heavy flow and you only need to change them every six hours. And fabric instead of paper has to be easier on some people's skin, but... nope, still not making sense to me. I wouldn't want period gear that meant I had to take off my shoes and jeans in order to put in a new layer. Reusable cloth pads, I can understand; pads built into underwear seem like a solution that doesn't address several aspects of the problem.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 1:45 PM on December 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
I assume thinx, like pads and unfortunately also tampax, do fuckall for people with fibroids or endo or other menstrual issues which cause heavy chunky clotted flow. The sensation of huge unabsorbable clots slithering down a tampon string into your underwear is honestly not something that can be adequately described without the use of revolting props. I wish the cup had been a viable option for me instead of an obnoxiously, aggressively, relentlessly recommended actual menace to my peace of mind.
posted by poffin boffin at 2:16 PM on December 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 2:16 PM on December 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
poffin boffin: I call that sensation “the telltale bloop”.
posted by wellred at 2:47 PM on December 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by wellred at 2:47 PM on December 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
I just wish they made biodegradable/ compostable pads (and diapers, and so on).
posted by sukeban at 2:47 PM on December 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by sukeban at 2:47 PM on December 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Huh, somehow I didn't realize the toxic shock tampon thing was in 1980. The way it was discussed in my sex ed classes (circa 2000) you would think it was like last week. I know it still happens, and from things other than tampons, but Ms. Prescott definitely put the fear of god into me about tampons.
posted by basalganglia at 3:40 PM on December 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by basalganglia at 3:40 PM on December 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I’ve known two people who’ve forgotten about tampons for two weeks. Two!
And that is why I always set a tampon alarm.
I feel like most of the shame (nowadays?) comes from being acutely aware of how any admission of lady difficulty will be used by a man, somewhere, against a woman. And sometimes it comes from forgetting about a tampon.
posted by schadenfrau at 4:19 PM on December 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
And that is why I always set a tampon alarm.
I feel like most of the shame (nowadays?) comes from being acutely aware of how any admission of lady difficulty will be used by a man, somewhere, against a woman. And sometimes it comes from forgetting about a tampon.
posted by schadenfrau at 4:19 PM on December 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
Honestly I wish we could just figure out something that would allow us to skip menstruation entirely, it's a pain in the ass and expensive and messy.
Ugh, yes. I have never had kids and am not going to. It's like I just wanted a house but had to buy a house with a pool so I had to hire a pool guy to do regular maintenance etc etc even though I never use the pool. It's a huge waste of money, time and energy. I've used birth control to skip periods in the past but really I just want it to not be a thing I am dealing with. Every 21 forking days.
Give me freedom!
posted by bunderful at 5:06 PM on December 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Ugh, yes. I have never had kids and am not going to. It's like I just wanted a house but had to buy a house with a pool so I had to hire a pool guy to do regular maintenance etc etc even though I never use the pool. It's a huge waste of money, time and energy. I've used birth control to skip periods in the past but really I just want it to not be a thing I am dealing with. Every 21 forking days.
Give me freedom!
posted by bunderful at 5:06 PM on December 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Uterine ablation.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:29 PM on December 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:29 PM on December 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Uterine ablation.
Can be as tough for women in the US to get as tubal ligation.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 5:48 PM on December 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Can be as tough for women in the US to get as tubal ligation.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 5:48 PM on December 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Huh, somehow I didn't realize the toxic shock tampon thing was in 1980.
Oh, hell yeah. I remember buying my first box of tampons, probably in 1985, and stupidly reading allllll the literature in the box. I freaked out, threw out the box, and stuck with pads for a while longer. That TSS warning was terrifying. Especially because since my mom and sis only used pads, tampons seemed like a forbidden thing anyway. I thought my parents wouldn’t approve. And if I got TSS, THEY’D KNOW, and I’d be in trouble. Or so said my stupid kid brain.
posted by greermahoney at 7:09 PM on December 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Oh, hell yeah. I remember buying my first box of tampons, probably in 1985, and stupidly reading allllll the literature in the box. I freaked out, threw out the box, and stuck with pads for a while longer. That TSS warning was terrifying. Especially because since my mom and sis only used pads, tampons seemed like a forbidden thing anyway. I thought my parents wouldn’t approve. And if I got TSS, THEY’D KNOW, and I’d be in trouble. Or so said my stupid kid brain.
posted by greermahoney at 7:09 PM on December 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
One of my friends during my freshman year of college got TSS from using a tampon, and was in the hospital for six weeks. They didn't think she would pull through. This was in 1987.
Also, TSS is ultimately what caused Jim Henson's death (though not from tampon usage).
I still use tampons, but I set Tampon Timer to remind me to switch them out every 4 hours. The only time I leave one in for longer than that is overnight on ultra-heavy flow days. Then I use a super-plus tampon and two (2) extra-long overnight pads, layered over each other in the center of my underpants' crotch. I also sleep with a folded bath towel under my ass.
The more we talk about menstruation and all that goes with it, the more it becomes as normalized as it already should be.
posted by tzikeh at 7:53 PM on December 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Also, TSS is ultimately what caused Jim Henson's death (though not from tampon usage).
I still use tampons, but I set Tampon Timer to remind me to switch them out every 4 hours. The only time I leave one in for longer than that is overnight on ultra-heavy flow days. Then I use a super-plus tampon and two (2) extra-long overnight pads, layered over each other in the center of my underpants' crotch. I also sleep with a folded bath towel under my ass.
The more we talk about menstruation and all that goes with it, the more it becomes as normalized as it already should be.
posted by tzikeh at 7:53 PM on December 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
I wouldn't want period gear that meant I had to take off my shoes
Needing to remove one’s shoes due to a period does sound like a catastrophe.
posted by vorpal bunny at 8:21 PM on December 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Needing to remove one’s shoes due to a period does sound like a catastrophe.
posted by vorpal bunny at 8:21 PM on December 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
I've been enjoying the increase in testosterone in these couple three years after menopause. I honestly don't give a fuck anymore about the things that used to drive me batty back when I was fertile. Men's shenanigans, for one thing ;p
posted by infini at 4:32 AM on December 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by infini at 4:32 AM on December 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
I don't understand the logic of Thinx. "Instead of a pad that you change out every few hours, we'll build the pad into the underwear, so you have to change them every few hours!"
For someone with a lighter flow, they might last all day, but in practice people often use them for overnight or as tampon backup, rather than as a complete replacement.
They’re also $35-40 a pair, which is quite the investment/gamble if you want to use them for the duration of your period. I’ve hesitated to buy a $25 menstrual cup because that seems like a lot of money for something that may not work, and you only need one of those.
posted by Metroid Baby at 4:49 AM on December 27, 2018
For someone with a lighter flow, they might last all day, but in practice people often use them for overnight or as tampon backup, rather than as a complete replacement.
They’re also $35-40 a pair, which is quite the investment/gamble if you want to use them for the duration of your period. I’ve hesitated to buy a $25 menstrual cup because that seems like a lot of money for something that may not work, and you only need one of those.
posted by Metroid Baby at 4:49 AM on December 27, 2018
Yeah, the primary cup investment was a leap. I’m lucky it works. I’m on my third now and estimate I’ve saved a couple hundred bucks. Plus avoided a lot of garbage. (One got so sad looking after a couple of years I couldn’t put it back in, and another got dropped somewhere REALLY dirty - I always carry backup because of this. Otherwise I would still be on #2.)
posted by wellred at 5:19 AM on December 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by wellred at 5:19 AM on December 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
jocelmeow, thanks but they're twice as expensive as regular pads. I guess this is a thing where economies of scale would make them cheaper but until the EU bans plastic diapers it seems brands will continue using plastics.
posted by sukeban at 5:21 AM on December 27, 2018
posted by sukeban at 5:21 AM on December 27, 2018
Honestly I wish we could just figure out something that would allow us to skip menstruation entirely, it's a pain in the ass and expensive and messy.
Depo Provera will do this but as someone who took it for years, I don't recommend it. It's the nuclear option. Your vagina will not be happy and it will remind you that it's not happy. Daily.
Of course cups haven't caught on.
I agree with all of your points but want to add that the biggest issue is being able to get one that "fits." It would eliminate the placement and leakage problems if we could all just have our gynecologist do a fitting for us and have them custom made. I like them and use them, but that's because I went through the expensive trial and error of choosing different types and sizes until one fit just right.
posted by nightrecordings at 6:02 AM on December 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
Depo Provera will do this but as someone who took it for years, I don't recommend it. It's the nuclear option. Your vagina will not be happy and it will remind you that it's not happy. Daily.
Of course cups haven't caught on.
I agree with all of your points but want to add that the biggest issue is being able to get one that "fits." It would eliminate the placement and leakage problems if we could all just have our gynecologist do a fitting for us and have them custom made. I like them and use them, but that's because I went through the expensive trial and error of choosing different types and sizes until one fit just right.
posted by nightrecordings at 6:02 AM on December 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
Don't diaphragms need to be fitted by a professional? It would make a lot of sense if you could get a cup fitted the same way.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:46 AM on December 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:46 AM on December 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
Depo Provera will do this but as someone who took it for years
I say this from the bottom of my... heart: Fuck Depo Provera. A 25-lb weight gain in one month that ended up being permanent, the worst depression of my life, and if I had stayed on it any longer, pretty much guaranteed Osteoporosis. My current gyn said he would only put someone on it if they were unable to take a daily pill and there were absolutely no other options. Like, your medical risk of continuing your period would have to be higher than all the risks of depo combined.
I have made a lifetime of terrible contraceptive decisions. Please learn from my mistakes. Do not take depo.
posted by greermahoney at 9:39 AM on December 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
I say this from the bottom of my... heart: Fuck Depo Provera. A 25-lb weight gain in one month that ended up being permanent, the worst depression of my life, and if I had stayed on it any longer, pretty much guaranteed Osteoporosis. My current gyn said he would only put someone on it if they were unable to take a daily pill and there were absolutely no other options. Like, your medical risk of continuing your period would have to be higher than all the risks of depo combined.
I have made a lifetime of terrible contraceptive decisions. Please learn from my mistakes. Do not take depo.
posted by greermahoney at 9:39 AM on December 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
I was on Depo from 1997-2006 and had no periods. It was glorious.
I did not know there were risks to long term use. Are they showing up now in Gen-X women? Are they new issues? My providers didn't have concerns at the time.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 3:34 PM on December 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
I did not know there were risks to long term use. Are they showing up now in Gen-X women? Are they new issues? My providers didn't have concerns at the time.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 3:34 PM on December 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
Fluttering (can I call you fluttering?) I, too, was on it in the late 90’s. I was given a laundry list of possible side-effects, but I don’t think osteoporosis was on there. It was only my recent doctor who brought that up. I don’t know if it’s possible to get a bone density check? Might want to look in to it. My doctor told me even short-term use could cause issues. Sorry to worry you. Hope it’s nothing!
posted by greermahoney at 4:06 PM on December 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by greermahoney at 4:06 PM on December 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
Depo in my college years sent me from 135 lbs to 185 within two years. Evil evil evil. No hormones have ever worked for me, so I am a fan of my copper IUD.
As for menstrual items, I’ve been a fan of ob for years and years, but a friend of mine has persuaded me to purchase a cup. So Amazon will bring a Blossom cup (one small, one large) to me on Sunday. Both of them together were $16 so I am very excited!
posted by sara is disenchanted at 6:00 PM on December 27, 2018
As for menstrual items, I’ve been a fan of ob for years and years, but a friend of mine has persuaded me to purchase a cup. So Amazon will bring a Blossom cup (one small, one large) to me on Sunday. Both of them together were $16 so I am very excited!
posted by sara is disenchanted at 6:00 PM on December 27, 2018
I remember trying the ob applicator-less tampons when I was in 9th grade (so, only about 2 years into menstruating) and a)had no idea about proper placement; b)probably had too big a tampon as well. I remember going back to class and sitting down and feeling excruciating discomfort for the next 55 minutes as I shifted around and tried not to put pressure on the tampon that was nowhere near in far enough. This happened like two more times to me before I gave up and nearly swore off tampons for good, until my sports needs + ridiculously heavy flow made them necessary for my comfort and piece of mind. To this day I refuse to try applicator-less tampons.
posted by TwoStride at 7:10 PM on December 27, 2018
posted by TwoStride at 7:10 PM on December 27, 2018
To this day I refuse to try applicator-less tampons.
Just push it further in. I swear to you, as someone who has used thousands, you’ll get it right after a couple tries. Every once in a while I still eff up and don’t put it in far enough. But that’s like once a year. If placement is the only reason you’re still using applicators, practice will fix all.
posted by greermahoney at 9:20 PM on December 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
Just push it further in. I swear to you, as someone who has used thousands, you’ll get it right after a couple tries. Every once in a while I still eff up and don’t put it in far enough. But that’s like once a year. If placement is the only reason you’re still using applicators, practice will fix all.
posted by greermahoney at 9:20 PM on December 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
I believe our natural shapes might also have something to do with it. I could never wear tampons comfortably.
posted by infini at 4:56 AM on December 28, 2018
posted by infini at 4:56 AM on December 28, 2018
I had a bunch of freaky unstable menstruation cycles leading up to my hysterectomy. I have had that telltale bloop. Also, the week leading up to the surgery, it was like the uterine lining had gotten word and was all ESCAPING ALL OF IT NOW, and I swear I had a chunk slide out that was the size of a small fist. Also, speaking of weird menstrual-related sensations, changing a tampon while tripping on hallucinogens was, um, quite a thing.
I knew my truck was old a few years ago when I realized it still had an emergency tampon in the glove compartment that dated back to before my hysterectomy.
Regarding the idea of "gosh, if only we could not menstruate", this is probably the place to drop a reference to Connie Willis' short story "Even The Queen"
posted by rmd1023 at 11:32 AM on December 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
I knew my truck was old a few years ago when I realized it still had an emergency tampon in the glove compartment that dated back to before my hysterectomy.
Regarding the idea of "gosh, if only we could not menstruate", this is probably the place to drop a reference to Connie Willis' short story "Even The Queen"
posted by rmd1023 at 11:32 AM on December 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
ErisLordFreedom - How are any of these things unique to cups?
Most of the manufacturers say you can "wipe them with a tissue" which I have never done because of fear of tiny sliver of tissue festering for who-knows-how-long inside my bits, but that said, every known product leaks, gets on your clothes, and requires blood on your hands. I have either personally experienced this or been drafted for emergency rescue when friends had a leak, blood on their clothes, or were all traumatized when Linda from Accounting walked in while they were rushing to the sink with goo on their hands and their clothes undone because they didn't want to to get goo on their clothes.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 6:44 PM on December 29, 2018
Most of the manufacturers say you can "wipe them with a tissue" which I have never done because of fear of tiny sliver of tissue festering for who-knows-how-long inside my bits, but that said, every known product leaks, gets on your clothes, and requires blood on your hands. I have either personally experienced this or been drafted for emergency rescue when friends had a leak, blood on their clothes, or were all traumatized when Linda from Accounting walked in while they were rushing to the sink with goo on their hands and their clothes undone because they didn't want to to get goo on their clothes.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 6:44 PM on December 29, 2018
"I used to always end up bleeding thru things in the middle of the night and have also slept on towels as someone else mentioned."
My husband had a surgical hematoma that leaked out the surgery incision when he shifted position in the night, and he woke up freaking out about the blood, and then really distressed: "Oh my God, I bled all over the sheets! I ruined the sheets!"
I was like, "You've been married to a menstruating woman for 16 years, which of our sheets don't have bloodstains on them? The ones still in the package?"
He was like, "Yeah, okay, fair point."
I thought it was so funny, but he's just used to the facts of life of menstruation after 16 years and had stopped registering it.
"I believe our natural shapes might also have something to do with it. I could never wear tampons comfortably."
A retroverted uterus -- one that is "tipped" backward instead of forwards, which occurs in between 20% and 35% of people with uteri (uteruses?) -- can also be a culprit; tampons can be significantly more uncomfortable, AND cervical exams tend to be MUCH more uncomfortable, AND it can be a culprit in painful PiV intercourse. For whatever reason ob/gyns rarely mention it as a possibility when those are your problems, and it isn't taught to adolescents in health class, and you probably won't find out your uterus is retroverted unless you're pregnant and they're doing early doppler heartbeat hunting (or an early ultrasound) and it can be harder to find the fetus's heartbeat at 8 weeks because they're way back hiding out towards your spine instead of up front hanging out near your bladder. (BUT ONCE YOU KNOW, if you tell them, "My uterus is retroverted, and exams are usually uncomfortable for me" before an exam they will say "Oh, sure!" and be much gentler or even use a smaller speculum, which is good but also makes me narrow my eyes that they can't just do that in the first place.) (When you're pregnant the retroversion flips itself forward as the fetus gets bigger because, well, there's no place else for it to go, and if it's idiopathic retroversion it doesn't impact fertility.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:31 PM on December 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
My husband had a surgical hematoma that leaked out the surgery incision when he shifted position in the night, and he woke up freaking out about the blood, and then really distressed: "Oh my God, I bled all over the sheets! I ruined the sheets!"
I was like, "You've been married to a menstruating woman for 16 years, which of our sheets don't have bloodstains on them? The ones still in the package?"
He was like, "Yeah, okay, fair point."
I thought it was so funny, but he's just used to the facts of life of menstruation after 16 years and had stopped registering it.
"I believe our natural shapes might also have something to do with it. I could never wear tampons comfortably."
A retroverted uterus -- one that is "tipped" backward instead of forwards, which occurs in between 20% and 35% of people with uteri (uteruses?) -- can also be a culprit; tampons can be significantly more uncomfortable, AND cervical exams tend to be MUCH more uncomfortable, AND it can be a culprit in painful PiV intercourse. For whatever reason ob/gyns rarely mention it as a possibility when those are your problems, and it isn't taught to adolescents in health class, and you probably won't find out your uterus is retroverted unless you're pregnant and they're doing early doppler heartbeat hunting (or an early ultrasound) and it can be harder to find the fetus's heartbeat at 8 weeks because they're way back hiding out towards your spine instead of up front hanging out near your bladder. (BUT ONCE YOU KNOW, if you tell them, "My uterus is retroverted, and exams are usually uncomfortable for me" before an exam they will say "Oh, sure!" and be much gentler or even use a smaller speculum, which is good but also makes me narrow my eyes that they can't just do that in the first place.) (When you're pregnant the retroversion flips itself forward as the fetus gets bigger because, well, there's no place else for it to go, and if it's idiopathic retroversion it doesn't impact fertility.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:31 PM on December 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
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posted by theora55 at 10:58 AM on December 26, 2018 [8 favorites]