Ok so, I haven’t read too many blog posts about this topic (on the blogs I read anyways), and I would like to know your thoughts on this issue since I know this is something every since girl has been through, and that is…menstrual problems.
BUT FIRST, A LITTLE (MENSTRUAL) HISTORY OF MY OWN…
I got my first period when I was 13. At first, I didn’t even realize that it was my period until my mom confirmed it. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and was so scared to even leave the house, I thought I was going to leak and everyone was going to laugh at me. I think the shocker was when I realized how uncomfortable was to wear a pad, almost like a diaper. It was so frustrating to think that I was going to have to live this uncomfortably every month for a good part of my life.
This only turned worse because, as some of you know, I used to dance ballet,and dancing with a pad was so uncomfortable, and I would also get a rash down there just from the heat. So you wonder maybe, why didn’t you try tampons? I was horrified of tampons. I still am. I don’t understand how you insert that piece of cotton and move on with your life. I tried using one once, but when I started reading the toxic shock warning on the box I gave up. I freaked out and thought it was an unnecessary risk even though I hated wearing pads.
NOW FOR THE WORST PART…
I don’t remember exactly how long it took for cramps to make an appearance, but I remember the first few times I didn’t have any symptoms at all, but oh boy when they started, I entered my version of hell. Up until a few years ago, the first day of my period was absolute hell. I’d get such horrible cramps that I remember fainting just from the pain a few times. I remember times when I was so desperate that I put my hot hair straightener directly on my skin just to east the pain. Oh the horror. I would also throw up, get super dizzy and get cold sweat from time to time. It was something I had to prepare mentally because I knew there was no way around it. I don’t know exactly why but I never went to the doctor to get this checked.
Time went by and I learned to live with my “condition,” I would take pills (Hyoscine butylbromide mainly) to help with the pain. It wasn’t until I stopped eating meat, about 10 years ago, that the pain decreased, only getting a few really painful ones sporadically. This was around the time that I discovered that a lot, if not most, popular pad and tampon brands used all kinds of synthetic materials and chemicals on their products, that would cause rashes and other issues. From this point on I started buying organic pads, and even though the rashes stopped and I felt more at ease knowing there were no chemicals involved, they were still very uncomfortable.
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL…
As I started reading more and more about the issue, I came about an article that talked about a menstrual cup somewhere on the internet (I think this is it). It talked about all of the pros about using a cup instead of tampons and pads. The only con was that you would have to wash and rinse it before each use and therefore see and even touch your own period blood. After reading the article I started really researching about it. I was so curious about how you had to insert it and how was it possible that it wouldn’t get lost in there. I realized then how little I knew about my body. But my interest was piqued and after realizing how life changing this cup could potentially be, I decided to order mine. Worst comes worst and I would go back to using my organic pads.
WHAT IS A MENSTRUAL CUP?
For the ones that haven’t heard of menstrual cups, let me introduce you. A menstrual cup is a little cup made of flexible medical grade silicone that you insert in your vagina and it catches all of the period flow without leaking. So, you insert it like a tampon but instead of the blood being absorbed, it collects it in the cup, you only have to remove it to empty it and wash it, then its ready to go again.
It’s been about 4 years since I got mine and the truth is that it has changed my period game for the absolute BEST. Even though it took some adjusting with putting it on and making sure that it was placed the right way, and how to take it off without turning your bathroom into a murder scene (it may have happened once) I can only say that it is absolutely worth it.
There are a lot of brands out there, but I chose the Lena Cup, which felt much less intimidating in size compared to the ones that where available at the time. Most brands have at least two options, one for girls that have had kids before, and one for girls who have not. Even though my dancing days are over, never in a million years I thought that I would be able to go to a yoga class and not worry of me leaking while doing a bird of paradise or even going to the pool or the beach while on my period! Before I wouldn’t even go near my yoga mat during those days just to avoid the frustration and embarrassment. Now I even forget that I have my period, which I thought was impossible.
MY LIFE NOW…
I now get very little to no cramps, and I feel this also has had to do a lot with the fact that I don’t eat a lot of greasy food anymore, which seems to be what triggered the cramps. Nowadays I get light headaches, my boobs get super sore, I get a little bloated and I break out. I still keep pills nearby in case it gets out of hand, but I recently found a herbal tonic by Chicken Coop Botanicals that helps to ease cramps and let me tell you it does work and it is awesome!
I am so lucky I have found these two products and that I can share them with all of you because I know there are girls out there struggling with their periods every month. I hope this was very helpful for you and if you know of anybody that this information could be useful for, please share!
