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By Erica Red. Blood everywhere. Screams. While this might seem like the description of a scene from a horror movie, that was actually how my first period went. I live in a very conservative country and family. Before the day of my first period, I had no idea what periods even were. I had no older sisters and my mom and I did not have the most comfortable relationship. In addition, I was not someone with a lot of friends when I was in seventh grade, therefore, the internet was all I had when it came to information about periods.
However, searching up the word “period” on google was not much help for me and I was very overwhelmed by all the information that I received. Light flow? Heavy flow? Ovulation? Discharge? I had no idea what any of those words meant, and the huge variety of period products I had to choose from left me confused and with a huge headache. But don’t worry! Today I will be helping you figure out which period product is right for you: pads, tampons, or menstrual cups? In a survey conducted by the period tracking app Flo, it was found that 45% of people preferred pads, 44% preferred tampons, 2% preferred menstrual cups and 9% used a combination of all three products. However, the “right product” varies from person to person and hopefully, by the end of this article, you will know what is right for you. Let’s start with the pad. This is a classic period product that many people start off with and for a very good reason. They are easy to use and not as intimidating as the other products. Pads are made up of one absorbent side and one sticky side. The sticky side can be stuck to the inside of your underwear to keep the pad in place and the absorbent side will be able to catch any blood. When choosing a pad, it is important to look at the absorbency level, which is how much blood the pad can hold. Make sure to experiment and try many types of pads to see which one feels the most comfortable for you. Pads should be changed around every 4 hours, depending on your flow, and there are special “night pads” that you will be able to wear while you sleep! Pads are the products that I started off with and I found them to be very comfortable and easy to put on. However, pads were often uncomfortable for me, especially since I was someone that was very active in sports. Since I have very sensitive skin, pads would also get quite scratchy and hurt my skin. Therefore, a year or so after I got my first period, I started trying out tampons. Tampons can be a little scarier and trickier than pads. Tampons are short, thin, cylinder-shaped products made out of absorbent material. Some tampons also include a plastic applicator over the absorbent material. Tampons with the applicator may seem harder to insert at first, but with practice, I personally find that the applicators make it much easier for me to insert the tampon. So here’s how you use them:
Putting a tampon in for the first time was scary and felt weird, but over time it has gotten much easier. Tampons are more comfortable than pads for me, and if the tampon is far up enough, I don’t even feel anything at all! Tampons also make it much easier for me to do sports and swim, which is why I mostly stick to using tampons these days. You should change your tampon every 4-6 hours depending on your flow. Finally, there’s the menstrual cup. This is one that I haven’t personally tried but have heard great reviews about. Menstrual cups are small, funnel-shaped cups made of rubber or silicone. They can be inserted into your body similar to a tampon, but they collect your blood instead of absorbing it. You can reuse menstrual cups so they could be more environmentally friendly and price-friendly than tampons or pads. You can empty the cup, wash it, and insert it back in. In between periods, it is recommended that you boil the cup in hot water for 5-7 minutes. Since I don’t have much experience with menstrual cups, here is an article for more information: https://www.teenagerswithexperience.com/guest-articles/a-menstrual-cup I know that getting your period can be a hard and confusing time, especially if it is your first. It definitely was for me. I hope that I have been able to help you decide which product is best for you. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to period products and it can take many years to find the one that works best for you. However, with time and experience, I promise that it does get better and much less confusing.
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By Jazz Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects, on average, 1 in 10 people.
That’s an insanely high number when you think about it and yet, there isn’t a lot of awareness or support for people that have the illness. It’s extremely difficult to get a diagnosis (on average, about a year) and once you have the diagnosis, getting treatment is a whole other battle in itself. PCOS throws all kinds of challenges at everyday life; constant pain, excess body hair, problems with weight and infertility. That’s only the physical side of things too - studies have found that people who suffer from it are also more likely to be diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression. Having a brief understanding of it is quite literally the tip of the iceberg and as someone who was diagnosed with it a little under three years ago, I’m still learning about it everyday through my own research, but especially my own experiences. Understanding the symptoms was the first step for me. Some of them seem very random, and completely unrelated to each other, but it’s important to be aware of them. Of course, these differ from person to person - some might show all of these, and some people might show none at all - but on a general level, these are the most common ones:
I first went to the doctors for irregular periods. I’d always had painful ones - missing a lot of school, uni and work because of them, and struggling to even move from bed some days - but I wrote this off as normal. That’s the one thing I suggest not doing. I cannot stress that it is literally not normal to have periods so painful that they incapacitate you. That’s something people don’t talk about enough! I learnt that the hard way, and the doctor was surprised that I’d waited so long to get help. My periods became more irregular when I was around 18, although they hadn’t been very reliable before that. I was a little confused about some of the questions they were asking me - especially regarding excess weight in my lower stomach and extra body hair. I just remember thinking how do they know? Retrospectively, if I had just Googled all these things then I probably could have been diagnosed a few years earlier but maybe I can blame that on the lack of awareness. This was in early 2021, still at the height of the pandemic, so a lot of my appointments were video calls and over the phone. It was a strange process but I went through almost all the usual stages that someone would have done in “normal” times:
I didn’t have an ultrasound in my case, because my blood/hormone tests and presence of physical symptoms were enough criteria for a diagnosis. On the whole, it took about 14 months for all this, though the estimate for diagnosis will have gone down since the pandemic is over. Because I’m so young, no major courses of treatment were recommended. In fact, they could not have given me more general advice: eat healthy, do exercise and drink less. Basically the three things that are recommended by every health magazine, doctor and lifestyle influencer ever. I learnt my own ways of coping over the last three years. I’m lucky that in my case, my symptoms are usually only really bad when I’m on my period but there is stuff I do 24/7 to alleviate them too. One of the best things I’ve done is go on the mini pill (A.K.A the progesterone only pill); this doesn’t necessarily change my periods, but it does regulate them. This means I can plan ahead for when I know my period is due and can at least be prepared for the pain. I also got prescription painkillers that are a little stronger than over the counter medicine; my doctor specifically gave me mefenamic acid and it’s been the only thing that’s done a little more than just taking the edge off my pains. I do try to exercise and eat well, but I’m only human. I get lazy and I like takeaways and annoyingly, these especially apply when I’m on my period, but I would rather give into my cravings than force myself to the gym or to eat greens when I don’t want to. I’m still learning how to manage the symptoms and I’m seeking treatment that’s a little longer term, like having my cysts taken out via medical procedure and hopefully getting new medication. Long story short, you can live a normal life with PCOS. It is occasionally a little painful and annoying, but the main thing is to speak to someone about it. Suffering in silence because you think your horribly painful periods are normal will only make them worse in the long run. By Mel The menstrual cycle begins with a period when a woman bleeds from her vagina for a few days. This is to show that the female body is working properly and is healthy. The cycle for girls typically begins between the ages of 9 and 15, with an average age of around 12–13.
But it’s normal for it to happen a little earlier or later; it just depends, as everyone’s body is different. Some things that can influence timing include genetics. Moving on to later in life, the cycle helps the body prepare for pregnancy, but even if you’re not pregnant. Your menstrual cycle and period are controlled by hormones like estrogen and progesterone. In some cultures, including India and Africa, menstruation is considered taboo, with a woman considered to be dirty and unclean during her period. However, because of long-standing cultural beliefs, lack of education, and silence around the topic, the taboos all have very different effects, like:
I wanted to address this and ask the real question of why subjects like this are avoided when they’re a part of life. It’s what brings together the signs of life; it’s what completes a new beginning. A strong thing happened back in 2019: a red droplet was launched to represent a period emoji. Now, in my opinion, I thought this was great! It shows that the topic of periods shouldn’t be looked down upon or avoided; it’s a part of the lives we live, and that’s that. So this was a huge outbreak for not just women all around the world, but young girls, too. It is estimated that about 137,000 girls in the UK miss school each year because of a lack of access to sanitary products. So, without menstrual hygiene products, girls have to use:
But over the years, I’ve noticed a huge change in advertisements for menstrual hygiene products, and it’s a good thing to see. It is making it feel normal and bringing to light that it’s a part of life, and there’s a reason for it. We cannot bypass the fact it exists; it’s a part of women’s lives, it’s what comes with the package. Talking about menstruation shouldn’t be something whispered about or hidden away — it’s a natural and vital part of life. The more we open up these conversations, the more we empower women and girls to feel confident, informed, and supported. By challenging taboos and normalising discussion, we create space for understanding and change. By Camille Menstruation. Even writing down the scientific name for periods never fails to invoke painful memories of my last cycle. I wrote this article to educate both sides: anyone with periods, and anyone without any. Anybody with a uterus will tell you that bleeding down there, accompanied with cramping is not a fun ordeal. Menstruation occurs once a month, and normally lasts from three to seven days. Before I get into how to deal with cramps, let’s talk about why we even have our period.
The reason people with uteruses deal with the curse is because every month, our bodies prepare ourselves for pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, then our uterus sheds its lining which is where the blood comes from. But hey, at least you can dance because you are not pregnant. How can we stop the curse? Get pregnant or go through menopause. While you may not have a period throughout the duration of your pregnancy, having a child is a big responsibility, and on top of that, the first period after birth is absolutely horrid. As for menopause, you cannot force that upon yourself, that comes with age. I suggest constantly changing your pad, so you do not feel icky down there, and there are methods that supposedly cause your period to end faster. Essentially not having a period will bring other consequences. Another big thing that comes from periods are hormones. The hormone changes that accompany the menstrual cycles typically indicates to other people that we are on our period. When our emotions change and they influence us heavily, people label that as “PMS-ing”. PMS stands for premenstrual syndrome, and the biggest symptom is irritability. The PMS cycle is caused through changes in three hormones: estrogen, serotonin, and progesterone. Before you use PMS-ing as an insult, remember that changes in our hormones are out of our control. I unfortunately do not have any advice from this one because my emotions take a big hit when it is that time of the month. As if bleeding through the most intimate part of our body and hormone changes are not enough, cramps make themselves well known during menstruation. Cramps can range from mild to severe and are typical indicators for most people for when they start bleeding. During the menstruation cycle your uterus is contracting to help shed its lining. When the uterus is contracting, it releases a compound known as prostaglandins, when you have an excess of these compounds, cramps can occur. Personally, birth control has been a big help since it can help you have less periods per year, and cramps do not occur as often and severely. For the people who do not suffer from periods but buy period products for loved ones, brand and type matter. After experiencing menstruation for years, people with vaginas learn about which period product works well for their body. There are a lot of brands and types to choose from: diva cups, tampons, pads, etc. So, before you complain or chastise someone about their preferences, you need to realize that they are only asking for what is making them comfortable. Personally, I find thin pads to be the best for myself because they feel as though they are not there. But make sure to experiment to find the most comfortable products. As someone with a vagina, I totally get the struggle of menstruation. We are stuck dealing with it for years before we are thrown into the throes of menopause. On top of the advice I have sprinkled throughout this article, I have included some websites that help alleviate the stress and pain that comes with periods. Whilst these articles are good for reference, they unfortunately do not sponsor TWE.
As people with vaginas grow older and go through puberty, we have to deal with menstruation. As explained above, menstruation is accompanied with vaginal bleeding, premenstrual syndrome, and cramps. So, for anyone that does not suffer through periods, please refrain from commenting on our complaints because this is something we go through 12 times a year. And for anyone that does suffer from periods, please take care of yourself and watch out for any abnormalities. Periods are not easy, and I commend every single person who combats it while continuing to live their life. Disclaimer: This article is only my experience and uses rather theatrical language. If you came here seeking a realistic portrayal of periods, either refer to the last paragraph or talk to a trusted adult or doctor.
Since the beginning of time, women have had to deal with blood streaming out of their vagina while their hormones wreak havoc on their emotions and their uterus tries to consume them from the inside out; or at least that’s the description I use to terrify my guy friends. In reality, it’s pretty manageable for most. Let’s start with the science behind menstruation: It normally starts between the ages of 8 and 16 and continues its cycle until your 40s or 50s, when menopause begins (Read “Your Menstrual Cycle” on womenshealth.gov for more information). Each cycle lasts approximately 28 days; this includes the start of your period, the end of your period, ovulation, etc. Basically, during the 2-7+ day period, your eggs are maturing, meaning it’s ready to be fertilized. With this, your uterine lining thickens to prepare for the release of the eggs. If you don’t get pregnant during this ovulation period, your uterus realizes there is no use for it and sheds the blood that was making it thick and squishy. The tissue, blood, and nutrients flow out of your vagina – hence the red stained underwear - and you thank goodness you aren’t pregnant (Unless you’re trying to get pregnant, obviously)! This process causes physical symptoms such as cramps, bloating, nausea, breakouts, sore breasts, and fatigue along with emotional symptoms like mood swings. Well, that was more than school will ever teach us about the female body! Now that we have that out of the way, I’ll explain the less gross and more mentally draining portion of periods. Keep in mind that periods are different for everyone. Some may have a short, light, and fairly easy experience while others, like me, book a vacation to hell for over a week. In fact, I’ve been described on many occasions as Satan while on my period, which is fair. I have a love/hate relationship with my menstrual cycle. On one hand, it’s a sign I’m not pregnant; on the other, it pulverizes my physical and emotional being (which is just a bit dramatic). Before my lovely first visit from Aunt Flow, I was a rather stable person (excluding the severe depression, but that’s an article for another day). Then, I became this dramatic, sensitive, malicious blood-spewing ball of negativity. Anything and anyone irritates me, I feel like crying every 5 minutes, and my depression becomes seemingly amplified. If my mood swings weren’t enough, I also undergo truly monstrous cramps, an unnecessarily heavy flow, and extreme nausea. Thankfully, I only endure this side of myself like 2-4 times a year as it’s quite irregular. If you also endure the devil in your uterus, here are some things I have found to be helpful during those times:
For those of you who haven’t experienced your period yet, the depiction mentioned above is a dramatic way of describing my experience. Like I said before, no menstrual cycle is the same. You might not have a terrible cycle – however if you do, refer to the advice above. They also aren’t some nasty, taboo thing that shouldn’t be talked about. They’re something normal that should be talked about more. Always remember your body is a perfectly beautiful and normal thing! -Katelyn Periods are natural and nothing to be ashamed of. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. We must not only normalise the physical impact they have, but also the effect they have on mental health too. Instead of shaming others, we must focus on promoting love and support during this stressful time. Whether you are reading this and relate to menstruation affecting your mental health, or want to help those close to you, I hope I can offer some useful tips in tackling this monthly battle.
Over 90% of menstruating people suffer from at least one symptom of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), including headaches, feeling upset, anxiety, irritability, tiredness and bloating. Linked to this, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a health problem similar to PMS but causes more serious symptoms, like severe irritability, depression and anxiety, and these can present themselves a week or two before the period actually starts and ease two or three days after it has begun. Yet, there is still the stigma that people on their periods are overreacting and seeking attention, even though they may be having an internal war with themselves, facing a formidable opponent to their personal growth and success. While hormones are real chemicals that affect us, the destructive thoughts they bring do not in any way represent who we are, our intelligence, our talents and our overall mental health. It is natural to feel so emotionally distressed during menstruation that you may feel you can’t get out of bed. Hopelessness may cripple you, isolating you from the happiness you may have felt the day before and the happiness that may be found in the future. I assure you, the thoughts that are engendered during this time of the month can be soothed and there is always a way for you to prepare yourself mentally, before this self-deprecating version of yourself takes your place temporarily. Before I began to question why I was feeling so despondent and angry during my period, I felt lonely and frustrated with the fact that I couldn’t control my emotions. This still happens now; sometimes I don’t even recognise who I am on my period. I find my thoughts being damaging towards my dreams, my regrets and my self courage. As someone who isn’t a stranger to ill-temper, I find that before, during and after my period, I react badly to those around me and I’ll admit, I say things I don’t mean and find no relief in slamming a door or two after an argument I caused to erupt. Feeling alone, I become restless, unable to sleep and losing passion for my interests. Finding control during menstruation isn’t a simple process and even after finding ways to cope, I sometimes find it impossible to counteract unhealthy thoughts. Imagine training to become an Olympic athlete, being dedicated to wake up early every morning and train, only to be told by your biggest supporter, AKA yourself, that you don’t deserve to succeed/ you can’t succeed/ you don’t want to. Not everyone has a lifelong ambition to become an athlete, but as humans, we strive to become better versions of ourselves, in whatever makes us happiest. Personally, I love to write, but I’ve found that on my period, I tend to doubt my writing ability and words I’ve written before suddenly seem worthless and terrible. I also find my brain trying to convince me I hate my favourite book and it can be difficult to find enjoyment in anything. This is reality; this is life, for a lot of us. But don’t be deterred from trying a few coping mechanisms, because I assure you, you don’t have anything to lose and some of these have really alleviated the symptoms I experience when on my period. How to care for yourself during menstruation:
How you can help others:
I cannot stress enough the importance of understanding mental health during menstruation, as if you’re not self-aware, you may not only hurt yourself but also hurt others. If you think you have severe symptoms, please don’t hesitate to see a doctor. There are many options out there and people who can help, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and fluoxetine- an antidepressant. If you already have a mental illness, your mental health can ameliorate during your period and you should never suffer alone. Talk to a loved one and explain how you’re feeling, as even if they don’t comprehend it now, they will once you have. We’re here at TWE to help if you ever have any concerns or doubts and honestly, contact me or anyone from the team if you ever need someone to talk to. -Nicole https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/ https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/ |
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Teenagers With Experience is an online organisation created to provide teenagers worldwide with an online platform to share their own experiences to be able to help, inform and educate others on a variety of different topics. We aim to provide a safe space to all young people.
Please note that the content on this website is created by teenagers. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful information, it is important to remember that we are not professional experts. If you are experiencing a crisis or need professional advice, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional or a helpline. |