Content Notice: Some of the outbound links in this article contain gendered language.

During your menstrual cycle, it’s safe to expect headaches, mood swings, abdominal pain, and just general discomfort. This is called PMS or premenstrual symptoms caused by your hormones having a party. Up to 40% of menstruators experience PMS and around 3-8% experience such symptoms at a level that makes it difficult for them to function normally. This is called PMDD or premenstrual dysphoric disorder. So if you think you’re just overreacting or you’re being too soft or too weak, chances are, you’re not. PMDD is a worse version of PMS and it’s very real and it doesn’t make you any less of the kind of person that you are.

Common Symptoms To Pay Attention To

Just like PMS, PMDD symptoms usually present themselves a few days to one week before your period starts, and they end a few days after your period starts. The most common symptoms include mood changes, depression and anxiety, irritability, abdominal bloating, gastrointestinal upset, as well as headaches and backaches. However, PMDD may present rare symptoms such as severe fatigue, fainting, sleeplessness, hot flashes, and heart palpitations. You may also notice yourself becoming more forgetful or having difficulty focusing and concentrating.

When to Talk to Your Doctor About It?

Sometimes these symptoms get so bad, they'll start to interfere with your daily routine and ability to function. This is when it’s advisable to speak to your doctor about it. Aside from taking your medical history, your doctor may give you physical exams as well as blood tests to rule out any medical problems. If you’re speaking with a general practitioner or family doctor, they may refer you to a gynaecologist whose expertise includes PMS and PMDD.

If you have a family history of mood disorders, postpartum depression, depression, and anxiety, studies suggest it is more likely you will experience PMDD. And it’s highly advisable to chat with your doctor to find out the best course of treatment that will fit your lifestyle. Treatments include antidepressants, hormone therapy such as birth control pills, and anti-inflammatory medicines. Your doctor may also suggest exercise to help with stress, as well as a diet change.

The exact cause of premenstrual dysphoric disorder remains unclear. However, medical experts suspect that it is because of the brain’s abnormal response to the fluctuation of hormones during the monthly flow. It’s also worth noting that premenstrual dysphoric disorder can sometimes be difficult to diagnose thus, if you’re unhappy with your doctor’s diagnosis or if you feel like getting a second opinion, that is totally okay.

Additional Acts of Self-Care

Of course, there’s more that you can do - aside from what your doctor recommends - to help yourself cope with PMDD. Consider it the time of the month when you need to be more kind and gentle with yourself. Relaxation therapy, yoga, and talking to a therapist are only few of the many options that may offer additional relief.

At home, you can also consider aromatherapy as it may help improve your emotional health during this time. Chamomile helps promote sleep and relaxation and neroli is often helpful in easing anxiety. Lavender also has a calming effect that may be beneficial with all the anxiety and mood changes. These home remedies, when coupled with medication from your doctor, can greatly help you deal with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. 

Find Community Support

We’d also like to mention the importance of community support. There are lots of Facebook groups out there full of people who are more than willing to hear you out and make you feel less alone. PMDD is often misunderstood and we don’t always get the support we need from friends and family. And let’s be honest, sometimes, it’s much easier to ask questions and discuss emotions with strangers. Facebook groups and online communities are perfect for this. 

Wrap Up

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a chronic disorder that lasts for years. Some folks have it lifelong. But it’s something you can easily manage with the right medication, self-care, and having a solid community. Start by finding a doctor who truly listens and is a great ally. Put yourself first, practice healthy self-care habits, and find a community that makes you feel seen. PMDD symptoms may not disappear completely, but they won’t be as bad as they used to. You will be able to do so much more every day, and your body and mind will thank you for it.

Tammy Danan is a freelance storyteller based in the Philippines. She reports on environmental and social issues. She also covers film, photography, and sustainability and how they intersect with our everyday life. Her words have appeared in Al Jazeera, VICE, Ozy, ZEKE Magazine, Audubon.org, and others.

Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash

Do you have an awesome, sustainably-minded young person in your life who would like to try Aisle? Are you confused as to which products would be best for them to pick out? Don’t worry - we’re here to help! Here’s a summary of some of our most frequently asked questions about Aisle for Gen Z menstruators - and how we can help set them up for a lifetime of waste-free periods.

What should I get them?

Now, we’re going to proffer a piece of advice. We truly recommend that you spend some time together on the site and pick out products together. Period products are deeply personal and the best way to ensure the fit and functionality works is for you to poke through the site yourselves and reach out to our awesome customer support team if you have any questions. We’re going to offer some ideas here, but please recognize that your perfect solution may look different than what we suggest. Just because we recommend it here doesn’t mean that it’s the best solution for you!

And with that out of the way - on to our suggestions!

Suggestion 1: A Period Underwear Sampler

If you’d like to dip your toe into the period underwear life, we recommend surfing over to our Build A Set page and using our kit builder to grab a pair of our full-coverage Boxers and two pairs of our super-popular Hipster undies. The Boxer is great for stress-free period sleep and the hipster provides a super comfortable, flattering fit with four tampons’ worth of absorbency per use. Both of these styles are now available in XXS! The Aisle Set Builder automagically will apply a lil discount as well for your custom bundle. 

If you’re ready to commit to that period underwear life, you can add more to your order (and save more too).  The first thing we’d add to our cart is another pair of Boxers, and then add some Bikini and Briefs as you fancy.

Suggestion 2: Super-Sustainable Stash

Do you want to have the most sustainable period ever? Then we invite you to embrace cloth pads as a period go-to. Our pads are not only cute and durable, they tread very lightly on our planet, making the most impact in terms of waste diverted, greenhouse gases avoided and energy saved (check out the sustainability ticker on every Aisle product for details). 

For your pad kit, decide if you’d prefer a mini or maxi pad (the easiest way to tell is to pick the one closest to your current pad). If you’re still not sure, mini pads are usually better for smaller folks (say wearing a size 10 or below) and maxis are better for folks wearing a size 10 or up. Visit the trusty Aisle Build A Set page and add five of either mini or maxi to the cart, plus two liners for light days. Be sure to add a carry bag to your cart and you’re all done!

Suggestion 3: Heavy Flow Help

Is the phrase surfing the crimson wave a personal maxim? Aisle makes many products suitable for heavy flow, and pretty much every product can work for heavy flow folks. Aisle pads are super-absorbent, and our Super pad provides superior overnight protection. We also sell additional boosters for undies, to allow you to adjust absorbency on the go with a minimum of fuss.

If your teen is using tampons or is open to internal products, our best heavy flow solution is the Aisle cup. It’s soft and comfortable, and can easily hold 30 mLs (or one ounce) of blood. Paired with some Aisle undies, you’ll be comfortable and protected (as a person who has heavy flow herself, this is what I personally use, and it has never failed me).

So, again, back to our Build A Set page and pick out three pairs of undies (I’d go with a Boxer for sleeping, plus a Brief and a Hipster) and add a Size A Aisle cup to the cart.

Here’s three suggestions to set up your teen for any period safely and sustainably. Of course, your perfect solution is one personalized to you - that’s why Aisle is focused on providing the best reusables out there. Don’t ever hesitate to email us any questions - we’re here to help, nothing is TMI and we love to hear from you!

And if your teen would like to know more about periods, cycle tracking, fighting menstrual stigma, and more, we've put together the Aisle Youth Period Guide! Click here to sign up for our email list (no spam, and you can leave at any time, promise!) and download it. 

Photo by Daniil Kuželev on Unsplash

An abstract from a 2004 medical paper on “The Prevalence of Endometriosis among African-American and African-Indigenous Women” says “There is also some evidence that endometriosis is more commonly found in African-American patients from private practice than in African-American patients treated in public hospitals” and that very statement is exactly the truth of how I was finally able to access my endometriosis diagnosis and exactly why its so important to tell our stories and raise awareness during Endometriosis Awareness Month.

Living in the UK I had an unfortunate history of being dismissed by the doctors I was accessing through our public health system. Over the years I had mentioned the severity of my periods and life in around them and was simply told to think about going on contraceptives, lose weight or that the symptoms I was dealing with were normal and I should consider if my mental health was manifesting in stress and therefore effecting my period.

In reflection I think back on all my symptoms and the fact that I disclosed my mother’s own history with endometriosis (you see this is a condition that can be hereditary) and often wonder how I wasn’t taken more seriously and able to get a diagnosis sooner, but this isn’t a surprise.

According to an article in Contemporary OB/GYN “Black women are only about half as likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis compared to white women, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis” so is it any surprise that it took me as a Black woman the 10 years it did to finally be diagnosed by a gynaecologist.

You will also notice that many of the studies I reference are American, which further highlights the lack of studies around how endometriosis effects Black and POC globally and further cements the fact that Black and POC are disproportionally victims of medical bias.

My periods were always heavy, and they were always painful, but there were other symptoms that I experienced and spent most of my life hiding away because I didn’t want to appear “weak” because it got to the point where I was believing the doctors and when people would say to me, “it’s just bad period, you’ll be fine”.

Pain in the back and stomach (pelvic pain), pain with bowel movements, sickness, nausea, dizziness, chronic fatigue, bloating, body aches, insomnia, joint pain and a list of other symptoms linked to endometriosis, but I assumed was the normal part of life.

As I reflect on the last decade, I often find that my mind will mine little memories of chronic pain flares that I would ignore. I get flashes of images of me plastering a smile on my face until I could stumble to a bathroom and sit and freely cry!

The turning point for me came in 2019 when the pain levels I usually experienced tripled. I was no longer able to grin and bear it until I got to a safe space. Suddenly the flare ups were even more consistent and even more prolonged. The tools I had been using to cope no longer even touched the surface and I was driven once more back to my doctor’s surgery and for the first time I was seen by a doctor who took my symptoms seriously.

By 2020 my long time suspicions were confirmed and I was felt relief. Relief that I was finally able to confirm what I knew to be true. Relieved that I would no longer have to beg doctors to believe the chronic pain I had been experiencing. Considering there are actual studies on racial bias and pain management, it felt like I had finally won a battle that felt had been raging for as long as I could remember.

Unfortunately, my journey is far from over in terms of facing medical bias for being in a marginalised body, because after finally getting the diagnosis I needed, I was also met with extreme fatphobia in which my health is measured against BMI, something that has been proven for being an inaccurate measure of someone’s health.

It has moved me into considering a more holistic approach to my care and even then it is worth remembering that Black and POC communities typically have a lower access to natural therapies and the anti-inflammatory products and produce they may need to improve their overall level of health.

The work is far from over and sometimes feels has barely begun in getting Black and POC the access they need to proper and fair treatment and care, but we can do better and we must do better so that the generations to come are not experiencing the same levels of medical negligence because of bias.

So during Endometriosis Awareness Month, as our communities fight against a system designed to keep us from getting the help and diagnoses, we may need, remember that awareness doesn’t just become about the individual, but about the collective and reaching those who ordinarily may not have the information they need to reclaim their bodies and their experience with it.

Michelle is an actor and writer passionate about representation for the Black community, inclusion, and body acceptance. She has had her articles and essays published in UK Pride, Huffpost Blog, WFIL, Scottish Wedding Directory The Un-Edit, and The Black British Bulletin. Check out her website or follow her on Instagram to learn more.

I promise, it’s not like that prom scene from Carrie. 

If you’ve been taught that period sex is inherently gross, dirty, or shameful, I have news for you: that lesson was taught by the patriarchy. 

You’re not alone — many of us are taught from an early age that menstruation is gross, shameful, and something that should only be discussed behind closed doors (if at all). It isn’t a coincidence that we’re also taught all of those same things about sex. So, when you take two taboo subjects and put them together, what do you get? “Ugh, gross…”  

The effects of those early lessons about menstruation and sex don’t just go away when we get older; they stick with us as time goes on. So despite the fact that period sex can help relieve cramps, build intimacy, and be pleasurable for everyone involved, it generally gets pushed to the side.

Period sex has a bad reputation, but it didn’t do anything to deserve it. Here are four common myths about period sex debunked, plus what you really need to know about each one.  

Myth #1: “It’s going to be a bloodbath.”

We can chalk this one up as a half-truth. Unless you have endometriosis, PCOS, or another condition that causes extremely heavy bleeding, you probably don’t experience a heavy flow for your entire period. 

The amount of blood involved in period sex is going to depend on how much you’re bleeding that day and if you are using additional lubricants. Using lube doesn’t stop your flow, it basically dilutes the blood so you notice it less. 

If you want to have period sex and want to minimize the amount of blood involved, try: 

• Having sex in the shower
• Sticking to external play 
• Using barrier methods or gloves for easy clean-up
• Laying a dark towel or blanket down
• Using toys over period underwear

None of those things will get rid of the blood, they just create a little mental distance between you and it. There are tons of options, so play around and find something that feels good for you—that’s kinda the whole point! 

Myth #2: “It’ll feel gross for the non-menstruating partners.” 

First off, we each have our own personal yuck-o-meter that gauges how we feel about a particular situation. Second, period sex really doesn’t feel all that different from sex when someone isn’t menstruating. 

I once surveyed my Instagram followers and asked them what period sex felt like; the responses included “extra slippery”, “great, but stickier than normal”, “like a massage”, “liberating”, and “not all that different from any other time.” 

Those responses were from folks who menstruated and their partners. In fact, many folks with penises reached out to say that period sex was really fun and pleasurable for them. So, have a conversation with your partners to see how you all feel about it. If you’re just not sure, you can always try it out and say “hey, it’s not for me.” 

And if you’re down but your partner isn’t, that’s okay—period masturbation can be equally fun and pleasurable. 

Myth #3: “You can’t get pregnant during period sex.”

This myth ultimately depends on your cycle, but in general—yeah, you can get pregnant if you have penis-in-vagina sex without using a barrier method while you’re on your period. The chances that someone who is menstruating would get pregnant are pretty low, but not zero, and it gets higher the later into your period you get.  

Your personal risk will depend on how long your cycle is, how consistent your cycle is, and what day sex happens. To minimize that risk, you can: use a barrier method, emergency contraception, or another form of birth control. You can also stick to types of play that can’t result in a pregnancy, like oral sex, mutual masturbation, or using toys on each other. 

Myth #4: “Having sex on your period is always painful.” 

Periods can come with physical discomforts, like back pain, muscle fatigue, and abdominal cramps. Some people also experience vaginal pain during their period, describing their vulva and vagina as feeling tender. Or, your cervix may feel particularly sensitive while you’re menstruating. 

That doesn’t mean that period sex is or should be painful, though. 

If you aren’t actively seeking out pain during sex, painful sex isn’t normal, so if you are experiencing pain during sex, talk with your doctor about it. I recommend keeping a journal monitoring your pain—what it feels like, what level it is, and what triggers it. Bring that journal with you to your appointment so that you have a clear record of what you’re experiencing. Pain with penetration can sometimes point to an STI, endometriosis, vaginismus, or vulvodynia. 

It could also be that you’re experiencing tissue inflammation, which can be painful. Try non-penetrative types of sex, like mutual masturbation, oral, or using fingers or a toy on your clit. If you still want to try out penetration, using a tool like the stackable rings by OhNut or a slim, short dildo can help make you more comfortable. 

You may have been raised to believe that period sex is totally off-limits and never OK, but the only person who can decide that is you (and your partners). If you decide it’s not for you, that’s fine! Just don’t let the misinformation and shame you were taught make that decision for you. 

And if you do decide that period sex is something you want to add to your sexual menu, then cool for you. 

Cassandra Corrado is a sex educator who works with adults to unlearn the harmful myths we learned when we were younger. Head to her website or Instagram to learn more!

Image via The Gender Spectrum Collection

We recently had Kim Rosas from Period Nirvana take over our Instagram Stories to answer some frequently asked questions about menstrual cups! Here's a recap, just in case you missed it. If you'd like to watch the videos to see visual examples of what she's describing, head to our Cup 101 highlight on our Instagram!

What’s the best reason to switch to a cup?

This biggest reason to switch to a menstrual cup, I always say, is comfort and convenience. And while that may be hard for some people to process because tampons seem so convenient, you just throw them away, and pack them and go, the convenience of not having to change anything for up to twelve hours is huge. You can go morning to night without having to think about locating bathrooms during your day or packing extra products for the day. In addition to that, menstrual cups are just so comfortable because they warm to your body’s temperature. They don’t rub, they’re not rigid, they’re not dry, and they don’t dry you out. In the end, you just have a far more comfortable period with a menstrual cup than you do with tampons.

Can a menstrual cup get stuck?

Sometimes it might worry you that your menstrual cup can be stuck, but this is really not possible. If you feel like the cup is stuck, know that you can remove it! You just need to break the suction. To do this, reach inside and pinch the cup to break the seal. You can either just pinch the base, or reach all the way up to the rim to give it a good squeeze. And then just gently pull down once the suction or that seal is broken. 

Tips for less painful cup removal?

So I think I actually got this tip from Lunapads, now Aisle, when we were talking about cups at an event and so I’m happy to share the tip that they gave to me that I’ve passed along numerous times. The pain or discomfort you feel when pulling the cup out is usually because you’re pulling it out unfolded when it went in folded. So it does make sense that you might have some discomfort. What I recommend is, instead of pulling straight down, you actually tilt the cup as you remove it, because that reduces the overall diameter as it exits. Of course, this might be a little messier, so make sure you’re over the toilet or do it in the shower, but that will definitely help.

What about cups and IUDs?

I want to preface everything I’m going to say in this segment with the fact that I am not a trained medical care provider or a doctor. But, I have spoken with and worked with care providers who have that training to get an understanding of how safe it is to use a menstrual cup with an IUD. And my assurance has always been that it is safe, you can use a menstrual cup with an IUD. What you need to do is always break the suction, the seal that the menstrual cup has, as a safety, just, even though from what I’ve been told it’s not enough to expel and remove an IUD based on the suction alone, it’s just good practice. And on top of that you want to be aware of where your strings are. Those will be shortened to the length that your care provider has cut. Make sure you’re not grabbing those when you do remove your menstrual cup.

What are the pros and cons of soft cups vs firmer cups?

Firmness is very subjective but what I will say is that softer cups are usually ones that more experienced cup users prefer because they are more comfortable, especially when it comes to outward pressure that can sometimes cause bladder pressure, or the urge to urinate, or even restrict urine. They are harder to get open when you fold them because they just need a little more assistance. I call them fiddle cups, sometimes you have to give them a hand. Something that’s firmer can be better for a first time user because firmer cups want to pop open and seal so there’s less chance of a leak, but, and they’re also better if you are very active and might have a strong pelvic floor that pushes against the cup, but then you have the issue of pressure. So you have to decide what’s going to work best for you and sometimes it’s trial and error. 

Can they be messy or leak?

I was very worried about the mess when I considered switching to a menstrual cup, which was eight years ago. And that’s still one of the biggest worries people have but I like to reassure everyone that it’s not a massacre or a scene from Carrie, it’s really not bad at all. What will happen is: you remove the cup, whether it’s full to the brim or just a little. As you pull it down, of course breaking the seal, you pull it down and it stays upright, everything stays inside of the cup. So when it’s removed, it’s still upright, and then you dump it out. My biggest tip if you’re brand new to cups and worried about the mess, is to remove it for the first time on your period in the shower. This is basically like a big splash zone for you so you don’t have to be worried about the mess. You’ll find that you’ll have little to no blood on your hands when you remove it straight down. 

As for the leak part of that question, menstrual cups can leak, and it often takes between one and three cycles to troubleshoot and get the cup working for you. If it continues to leak, it could mean it’s not the right cup for you, it could also mean you need to do more troubleshooting. Those are things that take time and, if you do need help, reach out to the manufacturer of your cup. They often have a way to help you, and they will message with you. You can also reach out to me @periodnirvana or there’s a group that I have on Facebook called Period Nirvana Community where you can do some troubleshooting amongst your peers. 

Can you dispel this myth regarding cup and body size that says fat people always need to size up?

When you are deciding on a menstrual cup size, size large or size small, it has nothing to do with body weight, or body size, or height, or any of those attributes. It is truly determined by your pelvic floor muscle tone and health. And those do somewhat align with other things that you might see in guided recommendations in age and pregnancy history. But again, it’s not a rule, it’s a guideline to just give you some reference for what size might be best for you. The more you know about your body, the better when it comes to picking the right size. So, under 30 and/or have not given birth tends to be the smaller size, due to the muscle tone-ness. Age tends to relax those pelvic floor muscles, unless you are continuing to exercise in a way that would strengthen them, or having had a pregnancy has loosened those muscles, so they say the larger size. And when I say size I’m always referring to diameter, and that is how menstrual cup brands will size their cups. It’s not about length. 

So the other thing you want to think about, completely outside of diameter is cervix height. So you will want to measure your cervix on your period, by basically reaching in with a finger (if you’re doing it yourself), finding your cervix, determining if it’s high, average, or low, and also making your choice based on that. Because a cup that’s too long and will not fit because you have a lower cervix is not going to work at all. So that is also as important, if not more important, than the diameter because diameter, if you just size up, vaginas are meant to accommodate and stretch. Typically I say just go ahead and size up if you’re on the fence, it should work out.

Is it just me or does the cup slip down a bit during the day? Is there a reason for this?

It’s not just you! Here’s my number 1 tip to keep it in place. I have given this tip, probably a thousand times, but it is my first line of defense when people tell me that their cups are slipping down during wear. One of the reasons could be that it’s too small of a diameter, one of the reasons could be that they need a firmer cup. But before you look at other cups and decide you need to spend more money, try this tip. As you are inserting your cup, bear down with your muscles like you’re having a bowel movement. So you’re basically pushing against the cup with your muscles as you insert. When you get it nice and high, release those muscles, and when you release them, it pulls the cup up and that can give you a very nice, secure fit, hopefully, that doesn’t walk down during the day, to the extent that you are birthing your cup.

What’s your favourite cup tip that helps many but often gets forgotten or overlooked?

So I just shared my favourite tip for fit, but one thing I do like to share is, when it comes to cleaning your cup, something that not everyone thinks of. So I like to fill my cup with soapy water, with a cup-safe wash, and then put my hand over it, flip it, and squeeze. And what this does is expel any of the gunk that tends to accumulate in the small suction holes. It’s my favourite way to wash the cup. 

That’s it for me and this takeover! If this was helpful and you need more menstrual cup help, I couldn’t get to every single question, so you can always find me @periodnirvana on Instagram. And I also post tons of informational content on the Period Nirvana Youtube and on periodnirvana.com

Our blog post today is brought to you by the team over at Flax Sleep.

Your period is nothing to lose sleep over, but unfortunately, menstruation and overheated, uncomfortable and disrupted sleeps often go hand-in-hand. While there are a number of factors that could cause sporadic and sudden temperature increases in the time around or during your period, hormones are often a key player in that game. Here are a few at-home remedies to help you limit those side effects and grab some much needed zzz’s.

Limit Your Caffeine Intake

Aside from blocking sleep-inducing chemicals in the brain, caffeine produces adrenaline and increases the heart rate - two things that definitely do not equal a good night’s sleep. The faster your heart rate is at the time you’re trying to doze off, the more likely you are to sweat and overheat. While it’s a good idea in general to steer clear of caffeine during menstruation in order to reduce cramping, abstaining may also help you keep those night sweats at bay.

Stay Calm

Easier said than done, right? We’ve all been there - not being able to fall asleep because you’re stressing and then stressing out more because you can’t fall asleep. It’s a sweaty, unpleasant and frustrating cycle that’s a tough one to break. Since stress is one of the main reasons why folks have a hard time falling asleep under any circumstances, finding a way to wind down and relax is absolutely beneficial to a good night’s sleep. Whether it’s something as simple as taking deep breaths or putting on audio of falling rain or other relaxing noises, it’s important to be mindful of your stress levels and to take the time to center yourself.

Avoid Eating Heavy Foods Before Bed

While you sleep, your body is still very much on the clock. Therefore, being mindful of what you eat directly before heading off to bed could help you get a better night’s sleep. Digesting and processing food takes energy and energy generates heat. Consuming foods that are high in saturated fats or animal proteins right before dozing off means that your body is going to kick things into digestion high gear and use an increased amount of energy, which ultimately contributes to overheated sleeps.

Go Au Naturel

A few practical changes to your bedroom and bedtime routine can make a big difference when it comes to temperature regulation while you snooze. Synthetic materials are more likely to trap in heat and make you sweat, so it’s best to avoid those as much as possible. Instead, opt for loose-fitting pajamas made out of natural fabrics and bedding made out of breathable, cooling fabrics such as linen.

Menstruation takes it out of you, plain and simple. Keeping cool, calm and collected during this time can seem daunting and unattainable (especially in the summertime), but with a few small actions, you’ll soon be on your way to a better night’s sleep.

The internet is great and all, but If you are experiencing severe and uncharacteristic overheating and sleep disturbances during menstruation, please go see your doctor to ensure that you are a-okay.

Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash

With so many types of reusable products out there, it can be tricky to figure out which ones to invest in! Since switching to reusables comes with a bit of a learning curve, one of the best things to do is find a product that suits your current lifestyle.

So let’s break it down and take a look at what kind of products you might use, depending on your flow.

Menstrual CupThe menstrual cup is a powerhouse, and if you were looking for just one product to carry you through your entire period, this would be it! The Aisle cup comes in two sizes, holds up to 30ml of fluid, and can be worn for up to 12 hours so you can sleep, swim, stretch & slay all day.

Best for:

• Moderate - Heavy Flow
• Physical activities (think swimming, hiking, etc)
• Overnight

Things to consider:

There’s a bit of a learning curve associated with inserting and removing the cup without making a mess, but there are a lot of great tutorials out there that will help you with that! It’s best to practise insertion/removal around the house so that you feel confident and comfortable with the whole affair before attempting it out in the wild!

Cups are meant to form a seal that prevents leaks, but if you’re worried about leakage of any kind, wearing a liner or period undies as a backup is a great option!

If you’ve got a tilted uterus, a cup might not sit right. You’re not meant to notice it when it’s inserted properly, so if it’s causing you pain or discomfort of any kind, you might have to consider contacting your OB-GYN or trying a different style of cup or menstrual product.

You can totally wear a cup on lighter flow days as well! I just find that I personally don’t like having anything inserted when my flow is really light, I’d rather just use a liner or pair of undies. 

Period Undies
Ok, so maybe we’re a little biased, but we love our undies. With two tampons’ worth of absorbency in the gusset itself, plus the flexibility of being able to add another two tampons’ worth with the included booster, the undies are just really versatile!

Best for:

• Light - Heavy Flow
• Binging shows on netflix, riding your new bike around town, and socially-distanced park hang-outs.
• Overnight (Specifically, the Boxers!)

Things to consider:

If you have an especially heavy flow, you might want to pick up some extra boosters for your undies! They’re really easy to swap in and out, and doing so will keep you feeling fresh all day without having to change the whole pair of underwear throughout the day. 

The absorbent panel on our boxer cut goes all the way up the front and back of the undies, so they’re great for feeling secure while you sleep!

If you want to transition to only using undies for your period, it can be a pretty big investment up front! You can always try swapping out a couple of days for reusables to start, and then once you figure out what suits you best add more products to your roster later. It’s a big transition! You don’t have to swap over all at once. 

PadsOur pads combine edge-to-edge leak protection with a patented cotton top layer that wicks fluid away from your body, all while feeling like your comfiest pair of cotton undies. They hold up to 4 tampons’ worth of fluid and come in various lengths: Mini (8”), Maxi (10”), and Super (13”).

Best for:

• Moderate - Heavy Flow
• Strolls around town, or your 8th Zoom call of the day
• Easy transition to reusables

Things to consider:

Since our reusable pads are the most similar to their disposable counterparts, these might be the easiest jumping off point for your transition to reusables! They also have a lower price point, so you can try them out without breaking the bank in a big way. (When I made the switch to reusables back in university, I started with reusable pads!)

Since they don’t have any adhesive on the back, it’s good to wear them with a close-fitting pair of undies, to ensure they don’t slide around. If you’re worried about coverage, you might want to consider getting a size up from the length you would normally get.

These work great for bladder leaks as well! And, if you’re looking for an overnight pad option, you definitely can’t go wrong with the Super.

LinersOur liners combine ultra-thin leak protection with a patented, high-performance cotton top layer, so they’re perfect for your lightest days or to have with you just in case. They also come in two lengths!

Best for:

• Light Flow
• Back up for a cup or tampon
• In case of emergencies!

Things to consider:

You’ll need to pair liners with some other form of protection on your heavy flow days! They’re super thin, but that also means that they’re not as absorbent as our other products. 

These are great for small bladder leaks as well as spotting.

Remember:

Your period, your body, your rules!

It’s totally ok if you just can’t get behind using a cup even if your friends rave about how much they love theirs. It’s also all good to take your time and try different options to see what suits your lifestyle best. At the end of the day, you want a product that helps you feel comfortable and confident, no matter your flow. 

An estimated 1 out of 5 folks with a uterus have what is known as a tilted uterus, and they might not even know it! Here’s everything you need to know about having a tilted uterus, including causes and the potential effects it can have on menstruation and conception. 

What is a tilted uterus?

A uterus can lean forward, called an anteverted uterus, or backward towards the rectum, which is known as a retroverted uterus. While a forward-leaning uterus is considered “typical,” approximately 20 percent of folks with a uterus have a retroverted tilt. Other names for a tilted uterus include a backward uterus, retroflexed uterus, and uterine retroversion. 

What causes a tilted uterus?

For most people, a tilted uterus is simply a physical variance that one is born with (other individuals may develop a tilted uterus as they grow older). While less common, a tilted uterus can also be caused by fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, pelvic surgery, and pregnancy (due to ligaments surrounding the uterus over-lengthening during the gestation period). If you’re unsure whether or not you have a tilted uterus and you’re comfortable having a pelvic exam, your physician can easily check to see how your uterus is positioned. 

Does a tilted uterus have an effect on menstruation?

The vast majority of people with a tilted uterus won’t experience any disruptions in their menstrual cycle. Despite this, there are some folks who may encounter exacerbated cramps or lower back pain before and during menstruation due to the position of their uterus. It is very common for those with a tilted uterus to have trouble using tampons or a menstrual cup. In fact, many people inadvertently discover they have a tilted uterus after repeatedly struggling to insert a tampon or menstrual cup. If these types of menstrual products are used, folks are more likely to experience leakage because of how the uterus is positioned.

What are some other symptoms of having a tilted uterus?

There are many people who have a tilted uterus who don’t realize it; that is to say, there are plenty of folks who won’t experience any of the following symptoms. Others might encounter one or several symptoms — the presence or frequency is entirely dependent on the individual’s unique body.

Pain during penetrative vaginal sex

Having a tilted uterus can make certain penetrative sex positions uncomfortable or even painful. The positions themselves vary and are deeply personal, but certain sex postions — such as from behind, reverse cowgirl, or any position that emphasizes deep thrusting — seem to be particularly problematic. Again, this is dependent on many individual factors, so an open dialogue with your partner is the best way to enjoy pain-free and pleasurable sex.

Difficulty conceiving

It’s important to note that most people don’t have trouble conceiving due to having a tilted uterus. Complications can arise if a tilted uterus is the result of fibroids, endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease. If having a tilted uterus is having a negative effect on efforts to conceive, minor surgery is sometimes recommended to remove excess scar tissue surrounding the uterus. 

Other symptoms of having a tilted uterus include:

• increased frequency of UTIs
• issues with incontinence
• lower back pain when pregnant or menstruating

On the whole, a tilted uterus is nothing to worry about! However, if suspect that you have a tilted uterus and it's affecting your ability to go about your day-to-day life, be sure to get in touch with your doctor or OB-GYN.

Ashley Linkletter is a mental health, food, and nutrition writer based in Vancouver, BC. 

Photo by Nick de Partee on Unsplash

Weeks ago, a once-beloved children’s book author sent a tweet she seemed to think was clever or funny. Replying to an article about creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate, J.K. Rowling wrote, “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” 

The tweet sparked immediate backlash from followers who saw her “funny” words for what they really are: an invalidation of transgender people. 

“What's happening right now with J.K. Rowling and the trans-exclusionary folks who have said very clearly that the only people they consider to be women are people who have uteruses is really painful,” says Tess, a transgender woman and professor of informatics. 

It’s painful for transgender men and nonbinary people who have uteruses and are hearing that their body parts define their gender. And it’s also painful for transgender women like Tess, who don’t have uteruses and don’t bleed on a monthly cycle, but who are women and many of whom do have a period. “As a trans woman, obviously you don't have a monthly bleeding cycle, you don't have a uterus, you don't have ovaries. But you'll hear trans women talk a lot about having their periods,” says Meghan, a transgender woman and officer in the Royal Canadian Navy.

We’ve spoken with six transgender women, including Tess and Meghan, about their experiences with menstruation, from dysphoria to PMS. Read their stories below: 

On periods and pregnancy: 

Many of the transgender women we spoke to said they never felt much dysphoria around menstruation itself, but did start feeling dysphoric when they connected periods with pregnancy. 

“It’s very confusing to feel the urge to have a child when you can’t,” says Mia, author of Yes, You Are Trans Enough. Some of the women pointed out that this is also true for cisgender women who struggle with fertility — yet, their inability to menstruate and to conceive a child doesn’t negate their womanhood.

Yet others watched their partners through pregnancy and birth, and felt a longing for that experience. “My body regrets not being able to have children. When my wife and I were planning to start a family, I was much more interested in childbearing,” Tess says. “She said, ‘I guess we could have switched.’ I would have done so in a heartbeat.” At the time, Tess wouldn’t have described wishing that she could switch places with her pregnant wife as dysphoria. “But I can retroactively understand what I felt as a form of dysphoria. While my wife was pregnant, when she was breastfeeding, I strongly empathized with her, and identified with her, and felt blocked from being able to do so because I was still presenting male.”

Meghan has a similar experience. Thinking about periods leads her to thinking about pregnancy, and even though she and her wife have three children, she feels like she missed out on experiencing pregnancy for herself. 

For Aurelia, who works in tech policy, wanting to be able to get pregnant led to obsessive thoughts about periods. “I had a real fixation prior to coming out and realizing that I was trans about being able to have kids and therefore have a period as symbolic of that,” she says. “It was this thing I was endlessly curious about and endlessly fascinated about. I thought it would be nice to have that cycle.” 

On clueless things cisgender women say (but shouldn’t): 

“The only negative emotions I’ve had relating to periods is when cis women tell me I’m ‘lucky’ for not having them,” Mia says. She understands that it’s meant to be a joke about how terrible periods are, but it’s a hurtful comment nonetheless. “If I had a choice of my body having a period or not I’d choose not, but if you take a second to think about why I don’t have one it’s because my body can’t bear children. There’s nothing ‘lucky’ about that,” she says. 

Even well-meaning cisgender women say hurtful things like this to transgender women about menstruation. “It's similar to the first time you get catcalled as a trans woman or the first time you get talked over at a meeting or interrupted. A well-meaning cis friend will say, ‘Welcome to being a woman.’ And that can be problematic because I have experienced being a woman and not being seen as a woman for years. And these things make it seem like my womanhood is contingent upon presentation,” Tess says. 

On PMS symptoms: 

Meghan was once in the camp that trans women can’t experience PMS. “I thought it was maybe wishful thinking or psychosomatic,” she says. But then she started feeling PMS symptoms herself when her endocrinologist switched her to a new antiandrogen, which prevents androgens like testosterone from affecting the body. “Within a couple of weeks, I started getting much more emotional than I used to. My emotions started bombarding me and I would have these crying fits.” One day, Meghan came home from grocery shopping and, as she was unpacking the bags, her wife asked if she remembered to get diapers. “I said, no, I forgot, and I immediately started bawling my eyes out,” she says. 

Eventually, the mood swings became cyclical, showing up every three to five weeks, and Meghan started feeling some physical symptoms, too. “There have been about two or three times when I've actually experienced physical cramping in my lower belly. And anytime I heard other people say they experienced cramping, I thought that's not physically possible. We don't have the parts,” she says. Now, Meghan feels much more sympathetic to other transgender women who talk about their periods. And the experience seems pretty common — Tess, Aurelia, Crystal, and Angela, a writer and developer, also feel PMS symptoms. 

“I tend to have trouble seeing the bright side. I tend to get pretty grumpy and moody,” Tess says. “I also get some of the gastrointestinal symptoms of menstruation. I get cramping. My girlfriend who is also trans gets more serious cramping.” 

For Crystal, “it's a predictable pattern of weight gain, listlessness, and being done with the world. Once in a blue moon it comes with some minor cramping for a few days, which is honestly a little upsetting because wtf down there is even cramping?” she says.

Aurelia, who has bipolar type two, started getting severe emotional swings after starting HRT (hormone replacement therapy). “Having mood swings on top of a disposition to have mood swings is not great,” she says. It took a while to figure out how to manage her moods, and Aurelia was having severe cramps on top of that. “It's definitely a thing I am very aware of now that I might have a week where I'm just going to have an anxiety attack every day. I can understand what I need to do and take a week off or reschedule my day,” she says. 

Angela’s experience has been more positive. She says, “After a year, I added progesterone to my HRT, and the staccato moodiness of my ‘second puberty’ took on a wave-like quality, ebbing and flowing. After a few months on progesterone, I found myself having PMS-like symptoms, generally around the same time as my wife, a cis woman. Those symptoms include greater emotional extremes (both good and bad), sentimentality, defensiveness, an increased craving for certain kinds of food (salt! chocolate!), bloating due to water retention, greater likelihood of migraines, and less energy. This lasts five or six days. I think the experience actually causes a kind of gender euphoria in me. It was an unexpected development but it feels correct. Like something my body wants to do.”

On period-tracking apps: 

As they started noticing PMS symptoms coming every month, many of the women we spoke to started using period-tracking apps to know when to expect mood swings or cramping. “I'm in the process of trying to map something, because I'm noticing that there are some weeks when I’m just feeling bitchy. I don't want to be, but I can't help it. And it seems to be cyclical,” Tess says. She’s started using a period tracker to track her symptoms, and while she’s had to disable some of the features — she doesn’t care about ovulation or whether or not she might be pregnant — she’s able to see the emotional cycle. 

The same is true for Meghan, whose period often lines up with her wife’s. “We get very snappish and we are very, very, very emotional. I even downloaded a period-tracking app so I could see that every three to five weeks I would have these peaks and valleys when my hormone cycles were kicking in,” she says. 

On commiserating with other women about their periods: 

It’s a common experience for people who menstruate to complain to each other about their periods — the cramping and mood swings that affect their days. Many of the transgender women we spoke to say that as cathartic as complaining about your period can be, for them it’s also validating. 

For Aurelia, complaining about her PMS symptoms to a friend helped her realize that’s what they were. “I was talking with one of my dear friends about feeling bloaty and crampy and I hadn't quite figured out what was happening yet. And they said, ‘Oh, you're having your period,’” she says. That conversation led to her friend giving tips about how to manage her period. 

Meghan’s period confidant is her wife, who will notice her mood swings and make fun of her. “She’ll say ‘I know you're on your period because you’re being moody, you're emotional,’' Meghan says. She says comments like this feel “strangely validating” and “wonderful.”

Tess leans on a close group of friends, both cis and trans, when complaining about her period. “I haven't had to go in-depth with my [friends] about the biomechanics of my period. But they understand that I’m experiencing something that parallels what they are experiencing,” she says. There is this sort of shared solidarity that you get from sharing suffering about what your body does to you, whether you want it to or not.”

Kasandra Brabaw is a freelance writer and editor with focus on health, sex, and LGBTQ+ identity. You can find her work at Health, Bustle, Women's Health, Allure, and other publications. 

Image via Broadly.

If you think you might be experiencing Gender Dysphoria and want to learn more about it and your options for treatment or support, take a look at this article by Choosing Therapy.

Getting your period is a significant time in a young person’s life. Depending on how periods have been discussed at school, and what your kid’s friends are saying about periods, it can be something they’re desperately excited to get, or, it could be something that’s causing them a lot of stress.

Want to give guidance and be there for them? Amazing! Here are some tips we’ve got to help you start the conversation.

Just talk about it!

I was a very awkward youth who didn’t really feel comfortable discussing my period with my parents. We just didn’t talk about it, so I also never brought it up. Periods and sexual health were just glossed over at school unless you were talking about the horrors of STIs, which were, of course, discussed at length and in great detail (ah yes, the classic Catholic School Board curriculum). 

I don’t even really remember my mother explicitly mentioning that she had periods, or cramps, until I was about to start my own. I felt woefully unprepared, and I also felt very nervous about asking more questions. Why hadn’t she brought it up before? Was it bad to talk about? Would I have felt differently if at some point she’d lain on the couch in front of the TV with a heating pack and complained loudly about cramps?

Mentioning periods or cramps outside of the formal context of actually teaching your kids about them will make the experience of learning feel like less of a big deal. Kids are naturally curious about pretty much everything, so if you happen to leave a box of pads out by the bathroom sink sometime, they’ll probably ask you about it. Instead of hiding them away with a sheepish grin, just mention casually “oh they’re for my/my partner’s period,” and see where it goes from there. They might not ask any follow up questions, but those kinds of interactions are great for normalizing the idea of periods!

When you’re getting ready to have a proper chat about it, try setting the stage by telling them about your own experience. Was there a then-traumatizing-now-kinda-funny moment that you can share and both laugh about? Most kids love to hear embarrassing stories about their parents. Of course, you know your kids best, so if they get really bad second-hand embarrassment, maybe bring it up a different way.

Let them know that you’re available to answer any and all questions, that no question is wrong, and mean it. Above all else, let them know that they’re supported and loved, no matter what. 

An important thing to note is that it’s important to have these conversations and interactions with all your kids, even if they’re never going to have a period! The more we normalize conversations about menstruation, the less stigma will carry forward from generation to generation. 

Help them put together their first period pack

New stuff is exciting for everyone! One way to both teach, and get a young person excited about this big part of their life is to help them pick out their first period products. You can talk about tampons and disposables, but we’re a little biased here and think that showing them some cool reusable pad patterns or underwear styles would be a lot of fun too. The cup is also a great option, but the pads and undies have a little less of a learning curve and may be easier products to introduce them to. The important thing is to let them know how many options are out there! You can even talk about how cool it is that there are so many menstrual products available now that may not have been when you were first growing up. 

Do your own research, and let them do the same

Remember how much you loved to learn something new and then tell literally everyone about it? There are a lot of great resources available now for youth wanting to learn about their own bodies, and they might feel more comfortable chatting with you about periods if they feel fully informed about them first.

For parents, we did a “How to Teach Sex-Ed at Home” facebook live with Jessica Wollen that’s available for free, and has some great resources linked in the comments! (Content warning, mention of sexual assault, some gendered language). Jessica also shared this incredible booklist that covers the (BC) curriculum from K-Grade 12.

For kids in grades 5 and 6, Amaze.org is a great resource (There’s also Amaze.org/jr for kids in grade 4 and under).

We’ve also put together the Aisle Youth Period Guide that’s all about periods! It’s full of tips for cycle tracking, what kinds of products are available, and fighting the stigma that comes with menstruation. And, it’s available for free! Click here to sign up for our email list (no spam, and you can leave at any time, promise!) and download it. It’s a great way to give the young folks in your life power over learning about their body, and open the floor for any questions they might have for you. 

If they ask you a question you don’t know the answer to, don’t be afraid to say you don’t know! It gives you the opportunity to look into it together.

You’ve got this!

You know your kids better than anyone (except themselves) and you love them. Be open, honest, and vulnerable with them, and they will respond in kind.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Booster, oh booster, what are you for?

Did you open your Aisle order and find that your undies came with a little extra piece of fabric? This is the almighty booster! It might look like just a thin piece of fabric, but it’s really high-tech & powerful!

It’s a blend of hydrophobic (wicks moisture away from you) and hydrophilic (absorbent) fibers, creating a bit of tech that keeps you dry and feeling fly. Unlike the undies themselves, they are not leakproof, and are merely designed to be a low-bulk way to add absorbency. All of our products outperform disposables; however, keeping absorbency adjustable helps us help you meet your menstrual needs with the product you prefer.

Our undies absorb 2 tampons’ worth of fluid on their own, but if you need a little extra you can add the optional booster for an extra 2 tampons worth. Just tuck the ends into the slits at either end of the gusset, like this:

Two tampons is already a lot, why would I need a booster?

Using a booster is totally optional, but here are some reasons you might want to use one:

Today is a heavy day. 

Having the full four tampons' worth of absorbency may be something you need on your heaviest days, depending on flow. If you’ve got a super heavy flow and know you’re going to need more than four tampons’ worth of absorbency in a day, picking up some extra boosters and swapping them out as the day goes on is an easy and inexpensive way to top up without having to change undies.

You want that fresh undies feeling.

If you want to wear one pair of undies all day and are experiencing a moderate flow, a booster allows you to get that fresh undies feeling without having to change! Just swap out a used booster for a spare (or even just remove it), and you’re good to go. You can put the old booster in a carry bag, or a toiletries bag.

Even if you’re not having a heavy flow day, it can be nice to change it up when going to the bathroom. (Especially if you spent too long scrolling through insta on your phone & the blood in your undies feels a little colder than you’d like!)

To rest easy.

Our undies are super comfy for sleeping (especially the boxer, highly recommend!) If you want to feel doubly sure that your undies can handle the night shift, equipping them with a booster to get a full four tampons’ worth of absorbency is a good way to do it! 

How do I wash them?

The same way as our other fabric products! Rinse it out when you get the chance, then put it through your regular wash/dry cycle (as with other fabrics, wash with like colours).

Overall, the booster is an inexpensive way to add some extra absorbency & help you feel fresh as you go about your day.

Think back to middle school. If your experience was anything like mine, this is when your friends first started talking about periods. Except they didn’t speak about periods in the grown-up, sophisticated way many of us do now, using medically-correct words like vagina, vulva, and menstruation. Instead they giggled and whispered, using silly euphemisms like, “I’m on my ‘dot-at-the-end-of-the-sentence!’” 

Even worse than the euphemisms were the myths. “I can’t run today,” one friend told me. “You can’t exercise when ‘Aunt Flow’ is in town.” Another told me bears can smell the period blood, so don’t ever go camping when you’re on your period. 

Some of the myths surrounding menstruation are downright silly, and easy to dismiss once we grow a little older and wiser. But others are more complicated — maybe it really is worse to exercise when menstrual cramps are already beating up your insides. 

Below, we explain what the experts and research really says about 8 common period myths. 

Your period will sync with your friends’

Although almost anyone who has a period can recount a time when their menstrual cycle “synced” with a roommate or friend’s, the idea that periods sync up isn’t backed by solid science, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 

The myth of syncing seems to stem from a 1971 study in the journal Nature, which looked at 135 women in a college dormitory and measured when each woman’s period would start. Seeing “a significant increase in synchronization of onset dates,” the study’s author theorized there might be something phermonal going on. 

More recent studies, however, haven’t been able to replicate these results, nor find any biological reason one person’s period would intentionally match up with another’s. In fact, a 2006 study attempting to replicate the 1971 paper’s results (again studying women living in dorms), found that the 186 women in their sample did not sync up. More tellingly, the researchers revisited the 1971 data and found that any syncing was actually the result of chance. 

So when it feels like biology has purposefully made you sync periods with your roommate, best friend, sibling, or partner, either pairing you with a perfect commiseration partner or getting the misery over in one fell swoop, what really happened is purely math. Mathematically speaking, since menstrual cycles aren’t a perfect, regular 28-days for everyone, your period will eventually cross over with that of anyone else in your house who bleeds.  

Periods attract sharks and/or bears 

While this one might seem too ridiculous to even warrant debunking, it actually has basis in history. According to the National Parks Service, two women camping separately were attacked by grizzly bears in Glacier National Park on August 13, 1967. Following the attacks, there was speculation that the bears were attracted to these women by the smell of menstrual blood. 

A similar myth follows sharks. You may have heard from friends growing up, or from The Cosby Show on Nick at Night (like I did) that sharks can smell period blood — so stay far away from the ocean when you’re on your period. 

Yet, there’s no scientific evidence that either animal will sniff menstrual blood and think, “mmm, dinner!” 

Studies that analyzed hundreds of grizzly bear attacks found no correlation with menstruation, and a study that recorded the responses of 26 black bears to both menstruating women and used tampons found that the bears had no attraction to period blood. Further analysis of bear attacks in Yellowstone National Park between 1979 and 2018 found that of 50 attacks, 78% were on men, and of the 11 women who were hurt in bear attacks, most wandered into the bear’s path on a hike (and the attack had nothing to do with menstruation). 

The same is true of sharks. While sharks do have impeccably good noses (able to sniff out blood at one part per million, according to the American Museum of Natural History), there’s no evidence they’re attracted to period blood.

For one thing, menstrual blood isn’t the same as blood from other parts of your body. It’s a mix of blood, vaginal fluid, and the cells and fluid from the endometrial lining. It’s also not the same as seal’s blood, which is much more likely to attract a shark who likes to eat seals (not people). 

According to the Florida Museum, roughly 80% of recorded shark attacks happen to men, mostly because men are more likely to do sports that put them in the path of sharks (surfing, diving, and spear fishing). Yet, as more women and gender nonconforming people have taken up these sports, there has been no uptick in shark attacks. 

You can’t take a bath when you’re on your period 

Like many period myths, this one lies firmly in the “ew factor” associated with period blood. Some people consider taking a bath when you’re on your period to be unhygienic because blood can leak out and “infect” the bathwater. 

But there’s no real safety risk in taking a bath during your period. John’s Hopkins Children’s Hospital says that blood won’t even leak out most of the time, but if it does “it’s not a big deal.” And the Mayo Clinic actually recommends a hot bath when you’re menstruating. The heat of a bath surrounding your abdominal muscles may be just as effective at relieving menstrual cramps as over-the-counter painkillers, according to the clinic. 

So go ahead, turn on the tap, pour in some bubble bath, and sink into the water. 

Your period will stop when you go swimming

This is one myth that’s actually semi-true. As John’s Hopkins said about baths, most of the time, period blood won’t even leak out. 

That’s because the pressure water puts against the vaginal opening where period blood comes out is often enough to counteract the gravity pulling the blood out when you’re above water. Water pressure is your friend when you want to go swimming without a tampon or menstrual cup.

However, what the myth gets very wrong is that swimming doesn’t stop your period. Even while in the water, you’re shedding your endometrial lining and it’s got to go somewhere. If you cough, sneeze, or move around too much the pressure will change and you will leak small amounts of blood into the water. And when you get out, the blood will start flowing again. 

Periods make you moody

We’ve all heard the barb: “Must be that time of the month.” A common phrase that’s often used to dismiss someone's valid feelings of anger or frustration.

First, let’s address the truth: PMS is a very real medical condition that affects many people who have periods. And it can cause dips in mood that sometimes look like depression or irritability, according to Planned Parenthood. So yes, periods can make you “moody.” 

But let’s go back to that line above — one too many of us have heard from our brothers, male friends, partners, and fathers. PMS is not to blame for every strong emotion we have, and certainly not valid anger. Too often, menstrual cycles are used to brush aside womxn’s anger. We have a right to be angry. 

Period sex is unhealthy 

This is another one that stems deep into the “ew factor” of period blood. Cisgender men interviewed about period sex in the 1930s and 40s said they had learned from friends that sex with someone who was menstruating was not only unsanitary, but would also cause their penises to fall off. More recently, a 2009 study which interviewed 108 women and 12 men found that of those who were sexually active, about half of women said they would never have sex while on their periods. Yet most sexually active men (7 out of 9) said they would have sex with someone who was menstruating. 

Over the years, it seems cisgender men have learned that no, your penis will not fall off if it touches period blood. But there does still seem to be some disgust, and possibly shame, around period sex for cisgender women. 

We know, however, that there is nothing unsanitary about period sex — and as long as everyone involved consents, it’s perfectly safe. In fact, starting in the 1960s, sex education literature made it clear that period sex is totally fine. A 1962 guide stated, “having intercourse even during menstruation can be comforting and good,” according to The Modern Period: Menstruation in Twentieth-Century America. 

Later guides even started explaining the benefits of period sex. Far from being unhealthy, period sex, especially sex that ends in orgasm, can be very helpful in relieving the pain of menstrual cramps! 

You can’t (or shouldn’t) exercise when you’re on your period 

If you, like me, had friends use the period excuse to try to get out of gym, you might start thinking they had a point. How did those gym teachers expect us to run a mile or play volleyball or soccer with menstrual cramps tearing up our insides?

Well, turns out the gym teachers were right — periods are no real reason to skip out on exercise. Research has found no difference in menstruating people’s ability to exercise when they’re on their periods vs. not, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In fact, some research has suggested that people get fewer menstrual cramps when they exercise regularly. So there’s a chance choosing not to skip your run when you’re on your period could actually make you feel better. However, exercising too much can lead to missed periods or can cause your period to stop altogether. Irregular or missing periods are common in athletes who work out hard, but suddenly starting a vigorous exercise routine when you haven’t been working out before could also lead to missed periods. Be sure to talk with your doctor if this happens to you to make sure you’re exercising safely. 

Periods are just for women 

This myth is as outdated as the gender binary it’s based on. As celebrities like J.K. Rowling insist that only women bleed (by which they mean only cisgender women), they ignore the bodies and experiences of transgender men and nonbinary people who have uteruses. All bodies and all genders are valid, and everyone who experiences menstruation deserves recognition and respect for what their body goes through. 

Kasandra Brabaw is a freelance writer and editor with focus on health, sex, and LGBTQ+ identity. You can find her work at Health, Bustle, Women's Health, Allure, and other publications. 

Photo by Margaret Delamater on Scopio