13 Things I was never taught about Periods.
Periods were never something that was talked about a lot in my house. Or at school. Sure, we learned how and why blood gets where and when, but we were never told what to do WHEN that happens. There was never any talk about the emotional side of things, when things go wrong (TSS IS A REAL THING) or how to lighten the effects of periods. We weren’t taught what to do (hell, I’m 19 and have only just worked out the logistics of a tampon), who to talk to, or even just what you can and can’t do whilst on your period.
So I’ve compiled a list of things I’ve learned so far from the 5 years (60 periods!) personal experience.
1.) You can gain or lose quite a percentage of your body weight. This is totally normal. People can gain up to 10 pounds (0.7 stone) 5 days before their period. Oddly, it’s not due to eating more, it’s due to water weight. Due to an increase in a certain hormone in your body called estrogen, your body can retain more fluid, leading to weight gain and that awful bloated feeling you can get.
2.) Regular? Most periods last 3-5 days, with the lucky people perhaps only getting two days and the REALLY unlucky ones getting as long as 7-10 days. And it can get longer or shorter or stop completely as you grow. My periods started as only 2 days but have now increased to more like 5. Some people can have their period stop altogether, due to a stressful experience such as moving house, bereavement (death), quitting a job or any other huge life event. It could also stop/start due to a significant change in diet or exercise regime. It’s usually nothing to be concerned about, although if you’re worried about pregnancy, always be safe and visit a GP or doctor.
3.) PMS is a real thing. But it’s not all just shouting at people and being pissy at your mum. There can be crying or getting emotional easily over smaller things, there’s HUGE cravings (mine are personally chocolate and fizzy drinks) which better be sated, there’s feeling lost or confused…Basically any negative feelings can just multiply just before your period starts, so watch out and be safe. If you have depression…watch out because it can absolutely spike a few days before. As I said before, stay safe and TALK ABOUT IT.
4.) Have someone there. Talking to someone about how you feel helps A LOT. Ask to hang out with a friend at either a cafe or your house and just eat snacks, talk about how you feel and perhaps cry if you want. Crying feels really nice if you haven’t for a while. It’s a healthy way to express how you feel and it can just be nice to unleash your feelings all at once. Tears of anger, hate, sadness or happiness are all equally satisfying to let loose. If you don’t have a person you can cuddle and talk to- pets are a great alternative. Cuddle up with your kitty or lounge with your big ol pup and it’ll make you feel so much better. If this isn’t an option either, there’s dozens of helplines online which can connect you with someone to anonymously vent to (I used to work as a listener at a site called 7cups.com which was amazing).
5.) NOBODY THINKS IT’S GROSS AND IF THEY DO THEY’RE WRONG. I have never met anybody who has reacted negatively or dismissively when I tell them I’m on my period. Yes, I may just be lucky but a good 50% of the population understand what you’re going through. I personally keep tampons and pads in my bag just in case anyone needs them, because I know how it feels to be up the creek without a tampon. If anyone told me they were on their period, I’d more likely hug them and buy them some Pringles than ever recoil and embarrass them. We all gotta stick together, and destroying this stigma that periods are gross and embarrassing is the first step.
6.) Ibuprofen is a life saver. As well as hot water bottles, tea, hot chocolates and baths. Candles are nice, too. Iron tablets can also help if you ever feel particularly weak. You lose a lot of iron on your period
7.) MOONCUPS. Yes! There’s more for periods than just pads and tampons! Mooncups have been around for quite a long time (I remember finding one in my mum’s makeup bag and having NO CLUE what it was) but are only now beginning to pick up in popularity. They’re little silicone cups which collect any menstrual fluid throughout your day to dispose of when it suits you. They’re easy to insert, hassle-free, REUSABLE and will save you a LOT of money in the long run. A pack of regular tampons can cost £4, whilst a Mooncup can be bought for as little as a tenner, saving you SO much money really quickly. The fact you can use it over and over is so useful, too. AND it reduces waste and isn’t uncomfortable! And it’s got a really cute name so there’s that, too.
7.) Keep yourself safe and clean. I’m a lazy butt who procrastinates showers but if I’m on my period, it’s absolutely top priority. Keeping clean not only feels nice and refreshing, but also keeps you healthy and keeps your downstairs area free from debris and excess blood. And please, please make sure you change you tampon at least every 8 hours, even if this means getting out of bed at 9am. You may have seen the words Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) on the side of your tampon box, but it’s never really explained. TSS is caused by either Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria which are really harmful bacteria getting into your system. This happens by leaving in a tampon too long, or using the wrong absorbency for your flow (there are other, non-period related causes too). You should NEVER use a high absorbency tampon on a regular or low flow as this also increases your chances of getting TSS. Although rare, it is very dangerous and you should see a medical professional ASAP. Seriously all people should educate themselves on TSS because it can be scary shit.
8.) Contrary to beliefs and what you see in adverts… It usually doesn’t just come pouring out of you! I can personally go a good few hours without wearing a tampon due to my flow. Yes, sneezing is terrifying and risky, but those people who experience a light or regular flow can usually get away with not using period products for a few hours if needs be (kudos to those with a heavier flow. I salute you).
9.) SEX IS FINE! I don’t know who decided sex was banned on your period but 9 times out of 10 it’s exactly the same! I tend to avoid it because I’m more grumpy and I have quite bad period pains but if you’re with a partner you trust, periods should not be an obstacle at all.
10.) Tampons are freaking expensive. Everyone by now has heard of the tampon tax. I personally get through about ¾ to a whole box of tampons each period, and each box is £3.50. £3.50 every month? That’s 42 quid a year! It sucks. Which is why Mooncups are such a great alternative. I’ve also seen several adverts for a new underwear called Thinx which do look uber comfy. They are a bit more pricey at around £25 but they claim to hold 2 tampons worth of blood and are reusable and leak-free. And you don’t have that gross, damp feeling you get with pads.
11.) When I was 15, I found tampons very scary. Shoving something up there? AGH! What if I get the wrong hole, or it gets stuck there forever or if I lose my virginity (something that still kinda peeves me)!!? Honestly practice makes perfect. You can tell when it’s not right or not inserted all the way because it’s uncomfortable. Applicator tampons are the best first step and are the easiest way to go about learning. It’s easier if you have your foot up on a surface or on a toilet seat but whatever you find most comfortable.
12.) You can still do things! Like those happy women in tampon adverts! You can still go on nights out, go to festivals and even go swimming (just make sure you use a tampon or a cup). You don’t have to, though. I personally enjoy just making a nest of blankets and duvet, popping on some Iplayer and watching some Attenborough with a nice hot chocolate and a hot water bottle. You do you!
13.) Some feel it a lot worse than others. I was told that period pain was just like a bit of a tummy ache. Damn I was told wrong. Some people are lucky enough to only have a faint pain if no pain at all, but it can honestly be excruciating. I have on some occasions fainted from the pain, whilst I’ve known of a girl who thought she was just having period pain, but turns out her appendix had burst! Everyone feels it differently so be kind and helpful where you can.
So this is just a small lil compilation of things I’ve discovered, but I’m certain I’ve missed things out and forgotten things. Feel free to help eachother out and add more things, or share this list to educate some people (like a poor idiot on Twitter who thought Periods were just women wetting themselves).
Whatever you do, stay safe and be happy!
Picture credit: Gemma Correll http://gemmacorrell.tumblr.com/
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