Bleeding Through The Stigma
story by Carly Sax & Hope Cox, design by Fae Johnson
According to UN Women, in the US, “1 in 4 teens and 1 in 3 adults struggle to afford period products, especially teens of colour and lower-income households.” Part of this issue arises from the heavy stigma that surrounds menstruation, which affects access to products and education. Normalizing menstruation is essential in combating these issues. To do so, PULSE interviewed students and experts about their experiences and tips to make menstruation more comfortable.
Lack of Education: Why it Matters
Kim Rosas, founder of the company Period Nirvana, says a lack of education can complicate how women handle menstruation. “Some people just have to fumble through it because they don’t have a caregiver or parent to teach them what to use or how to use it.” She suggests many people aren’t using the right product for their flow, which can be an issue. Not knowing what works for you can mean more leaks, pain or discomfort, Rosas explains. “Often, they’re using a product that maybe just isn't meant for their anatomy and they’ve had discomfort or pain their entire lives.”
How to know what product to use
“The more you know about your body, the better your chances of finding something that works for you the first time,” Rosas says. Taking that time to know your body is helpful, not only for finding menstrual products that work for you but also for making sure you are maintaining good hygiene. Using the descriptions of menstrual products provided here, some questions you should ask yourself before deciding what product works for you are:
Do you have an IUD?
If the answer is yes, you shouldn't be using cups. Cups stay in place inside the vaginal canal by utilizing pelvic floor strength and suction. Using a cup increases the risk of IUD expulsion for this reason. An alternative option in this case is a disc, which has no suction, or a tampon. You can also use pads or period underwear.
Do you know your cervix height?
“Get to know your cervix height,” Rosas says. “Measure on the first day of your period and the last day.” She explains that the lowest height of your cervix is the length your menstrual cup should be. Anything larger than that can cause discomfort.
How heavy is your flow?
You should be buying products that reflect your flow – heavy, light or medium. Most tampon and pad companies sell products in multiple sizes to ensure you are getting the coverage you need. Many people experience heavier flow days at the start of their period and lighter flow days near the end, meaning you can have multiple sizes of pads or tampons. Many brands of tampons have boxes with more than one size to ensure the most coverage.
Do internal products cause you pain or discomfort?
If your tampon, cup or disc causes pain when you attempt to insert it, something isn't right. Take a deep breath. Being stressed out causes the body to tense up, and this can make it more uncomfortable. A way to make it easier is by inserting your product of choice at an angle pointed towards your tailbone or back. You can also try shifting your position; if standing isn't working, try squatting or sitting. Stop if the pain or discomfort persists – do not force it. Maybe pads or period underwear would be a better choice for you, and that is ok!
Do pads cause you irritation or discomfort?
Sometimes pads or period underwear can cause itching or discomfort in places you really would prefer not to itch. Nothing is more awkward than shifting awkwardly in your seat in class over and over again because your body itches. If this is the case, maybe you should try an internal product like a tampon, cup or disc.
What is your budget?
Disposable menstrual products can be expensive, especially if you need to get more every couple of months. If that is the case, maybe a reusable menstrual product is for you.
Menstrual Hygiene
Practicing proper hygiene during menstruation is a key aspect of maintaining good health. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has tips for maintaining good menstrual hygiene on their website. These tips promise to help reduce the chances of infections and bad odors and increase personal comfort. They include advice about washing hands and body parts, changing products regularly, wearing loose, breathable clothing and using unscented paper and products, among others.
It’s essential to keep your products clean. Menstrual cups and discs have a different process for retaining cleanliness than your average disposable pad or tampon. During your period, when you remove your cup/disc, the best choice is to briefly rinse it in the sink or wipe it down with a fragrance-free soap. Once a month after your period, you can steam or boil your cup/disc to ensure it is sterile and bacteria-free. The simplest way to do so is to boil it over a stove, but for college students on campus, a steam sanitizer or a collapsible silicone cup sanitizer are options. “You put your cup or disc inside of it, close the lid, and it steams it in five minutes,” Rosas says.
When to Worry
Symptoms of concern regarding menstruation include bleeding for more or fewer days than your personal average (typically 3 to 7 days) or going for an extended length of time without having a period. Other concerning signs can be spotting between cycles, unusually painful periods, drastic changes in mental health or signs of a vaginal infection.
Many people who menstruate can have a variety of symptoms associated with their cycles, differing in intensity from person to person. Some suggested ways to relieve symptoms, from Healthline, include ibuprofen or acetaminophen, heating pads or hot bottles, exercise, birth control (consult your doctor), orgasms, herbal tea and avoiding trigger foods and drinks such as dairy, spicy foods, sugar, alcohol and caffeine.
Where to Find Resources on Campus
The campus student health clinic is a great resource for menstruating students, as is Planned Parent in town. Campus stores sell some menstrual products, but this is limited to around one to two sizes for pads and tampons; you will also see some liners available. Grocery stores in town have significantly more options, including some alternative, less expensive brands. The bathrooms on campus should be stocked with free pads and tampons as well.
The Wildcat Pantry is another on-campus resource for free menstrual products. The staff stock tampons, pads and panty liners of various sizes through bulk orders via Amazon and Costco. Charles Johnson, Wildcat Pantry coordinator, says they accept donations of disposable and reusable menstrual products. “We try to make sure that when we are getting these products generated, that they are in unopened boxes just because it's such a personal product,” he says.
Menstrual Products:
Cups
“A menstrual cup is like it sounds. It's a bell-shaped internal product. It seals inside the vaginal canal and it sits below the cervix,” Rosas explains. Cups can be kept internally for up to 12 hours. To insert a cup, you have to fold the silicone to fit inside the body where it will open, “and they stay in place with a combination of suction and your pelvic floor toneness,” Rosas says. To remove a cup, you can sit, squat, or stand and prop up your leg to reach and pinch the base of the cup to break the seal. From there, you lightly pull it out and dump its contents.
Price: $20-40
Discs
Similar to a cup, a menstrual disc is typically made with silicone (or bodysafe polymers) and needs to be folded to insert into the body (there are both reusable and disposable options). Rosas describes discs as being, “a flat fit type product. It sits higher in the body in an area called the vaginal fornix, which is under the cervix.” She also explains that discs, “look like a bowl instead of a cup.” Discs can also be left inside the body for up to 12 hours before you need to remove them to empty their contents. To remove a disc, you can sit, stand with a leg propped up or squat. You slide a finger inside your vaginal opening until you can feel the disc. From there, you hook your finger under the rim of the disc and slowly pull out, doing your best to keep it parallel to the floor. For some people, it can be easier to deal with in the shower. Some discs come with a tab or silicone string you can pull on to make removal easier.
Price: $20-30
Tampons
A tampon is a menstrual product that is used internally to absorb blood. It is important to note that you should not keep a tampon in for longer than eight hours (some professionals advise only keeping one in for around four hours at most) due to possible but rare TSS (toxic shock syndrome). Tampons are removed by pulling lightly on the string.
Price: $8-20
Pads
Pads are placed on the inside of the user's underwear and absorb menstrual blood through absorbent material. There is a very wide range of sizes and absorbencies to fit all kinds of menstrual flows. Pads should be removed every four to eight hours.
Price: $7-15
Period Underwear
Period underwear looks just like your regular pair of underwear and is worn the same way, but with an added absorbent layer that essentially acts as a built-in pad. Period underwear can come in many styles, including thongs, bikinis and boyshorts. Rosas explains that, “If you aren’t comfortable using internal products, they’re good.” This is especially true if you want to utilize more sustainable, planet-friendly options throughout your cycle while also avoiding the discomfort of inserting a product into yourself.
Price: $9-40
Reusable Pads
Similar to a one-time use pad, reusables are worn inside the user's underwear. These pads are typically made from cotton or flannel and don't have that plastic adhesive backing that disposable pads do. These make for a wonderful option if you want to get something similar to everyday pads, which you are used to.
Price: $15-20
Panty Liners
Panty Liners are not always meant for your period, although you can pair any insertable product with a liner for extra protection in case of leaks. Liners are often used for spotting, light menstrual flow and discharge. Similar to a pad, they are placed inside the underwear and worn for about four hours at most.
Price: $1-15