If you are a woman of bearing age. Chances are you’ve heard of the term premenstrual syndrome (commonly known as PMS). Whether it is from fellow women or through the media. As a healthcare professional in training, I have already come across several women who complain about menstruation-related issues ranging from dysmenorrhea to menstrual dysphoric disorder. And as someone who has struggled with dysmenorrhea myself, I understand why we hear more of the negative symptoms and not the positive ones. After all, pain and suffering have always demanded more attention. So much so that they often overshadow the little pleasures and victories.

What is PMS?

PMS is a combination of emotional (positive & negative) and physical symptoms experienced by women their monthly menstrual cycle. These symptoms may occur up to two weeks before the start of the menstrual cycle. And often stops when the menstrual cycle is done.

Some of the negative or undesirable PMS symptoms include headaches, breast tenderness, bloating, altered mental stability, mood swings, fatigue, and cramps. Each of which range in severity and duration. However if the symptoms are severe in a way that they prevent the woman from carrying on with her normal daily activities, medical intervention is highly recommended. 

Positive symptoms of PMS

Recently, I read an article that shed a light on my own experience with menstruation-related issues. As a woman I have always associated everything that came with or because of menstruation as negative. Except that it is preparing my womb to bear some fruits in the future. But beyond that periods were painful. That was at least until I read the above mentioned article and I realized that periods do also have some positive effects. Some positive symptoms, that several people, including myself, have experienced include increased appetite, increased sex drive, enhanced sense of smell (especially for food), higher confidence, creativity, and motivation. As well as others like heightened sensibility to nice & meaningful things like art, enhanced taste buds, increased feelings of euphoria, increased affection towards others and self, great dreams, etc… the list goes on.

Endnote

This article is not, in any way, belittling common symptoms of PMS. Instead, it is aiming to help women recognize positive symptoms when they come. Thus not laking periods all about the bad stuff.

The post Bite Size: The positive side of PMS appeared first on Sheevolves.world.

I remember holding the menstrual cup and carefully analyzing it in awe at a cosmetic store. I have had prior exposure to it in books and journals while studying about menstrual barriers as a pharmacy student. but I had not seen or touched one before. The first question that came to mind when I finally got to hold it in hand was how it would possibly and comfortably fit in the vaginal canal?

We can all agree that feminine hygiene and female reproductive health is a topic we cannot ignore as women. It forms part of our lives and should be talked about as much as possible. Not only to inform, recommend, or educate. But also to normalize it to a point where it reaches a level of acknowledged normalcy.

The emergence of menstrual cups, in a rubber form, surfaced somewhere between the 1930s and 1960s. I must admit that finding out that they have been around for several decades shocked me. Not only because they are not as popular but also because I had never personally seen or heard about them until I got the privilege to study them at University.

What is a menstrual cup?

It is a small bell-shaped flexible cup made of silicone or rubber which is used during menstrual periods to collect (not absorb as opposed to sanitary pads and tampons) blood.

How to use a menstrual cup?

The menstrual cup is more convenient when your periods come on the same day every month. Or when your body alerts you before they come. This is because it allows you to put in the cup before you start bleeding and thus helps to avoid any mess.

• Start by finding a comfortable position. It could be putting one leg on the toilet, sitting on the toilet, squatting or just standing up with your legs apart.
• After preparing yourself. Fold the menstrual cup and insert it into the vaginal canal until the entire cup is inside.
• Once inserted, the menstrual cup will pop open and form a seal/suction against the vaginal walls in a way that there is no possibility of leaking.
• The menstrual cup can be left in for a maximum of 12 hours. After which you can then remove it safely and carefully by pulling it out and emptying it and rinsing it before reusing it.

Pros

• They are cost-effective. Compared to other menstrual barriers, menstrual cups are less expensive because you do not need to buy them every month. They are reusable and can last you for years.
• When used during periods, they can last for up to 12 hours as compared to pads and tampons that last for 4-8 hours.
• There is no chance of Toxic Shock Syndrome.
• They also do not contain potentially harmful chemicals such as dioxins.
• They are environmentally friendly.
• When used properly, there is no leaking involved.
• Less or no menstrual-related odor.
• It also helps in retaining normal vaginal pH and sustaining the beneficial bacteria

Cons

• The most notable and common undesirable effect of menstrual cups is that they can be messy when inserting and emptying. This is mostly the case when using public bathrooms. However, this is unlikely since the cup can last you 12 hours – which means the need to change it while you are out and about is minimal.
• It needs maintenance. After emptying, the cup needs to be cleaned and kept sterile. To sterilize/sanitize the menstrual cup, rinse it and boil it for at least a few minutes. If you rather not boil, you can steam it using a steaming bag which you can purchase in various cosmetic stores.
• It is also a disadvantage for people with fibroids or dropped uterus. In which case, you need to speak to your doctor about possible alternatives suitable for you.
• Like tampons, choosing the right size of the cup and inserting the menstrual cup can be challenging at first and it needs patience and practice.

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For a long time, I saw tampons as a thing made for different classes and races. Don’t get me wrong, this was just a misconception I had created for myself with no underlying stereotypical cause. Growing up in the rural areas, all I had known as a menstrual barrier was pads and pads only. This was until I went to university and learned that there was something called a “tampon”. But still, I thought it was not made for me.

Like most people, I had this belief that tampons could potentially break one’s hymen. A hymen is “The hymen is a thin, fleshy tissue that’s located at the opening of your vagina” and is often broken during intercourse (hence bleeding when you first have sex) or while doing rigorous sport not by using a tampon. Nonetheless, tampons do have some cons that come with them. And this applies to other menstrual barriers like pads, menstrual cups, sponges, amongst others.

Comparison between tampons and pads health-wise.

Rita Rubin, wrote an article in 2015 titled, ”Are Feminine Hygiene Products Safe?”. In it she shows that, over the years, research in this concern has not been incontrovertible enough. There has been much debate about whether the ingredients incorporated in sanitary pads, tampons, and other feminine hygiene products have a risk of causing irreversible damage to the gynecological organs.

However, since the data and research are insubstantial. We can not in any way say whether this is true or not. Which is why it is important to do your research. After all, we use feminine hygiene products every month for most of our lives. Let’s look at some cons and pros of using tampons and/or sanitary pads.

Tampons: Pros and cons

The good thing about tampons is that they are easy to carry around. Because they are small, they can easily fit into your pocket. And once you get used to using them, after a while you forget you have something inside your vagina.

However, you must keep track of time when you have a tampon. This is to avoid leaving it on for a long time. If a tampon is left in for too long, i.e, for more than 2-8 hours at a time (depending on the menstrual flow). It can expose your vagina to infection-causing bacterias and cause a condition called toxic shock syndrome. One of those bacterias is called Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

To avoid this, avoid wearing tampons overnight if you are a deep sleeper. Or you can also use them alternatively with pads whenever possible.

Pads/sanitary towels: Pros and cons

Unlike tampons, pads can be worn for at least 12 hours, which means that you can wear them overnight without worrying about the time. This is also of course dependent on your flow and the absorption capabilities of the pad. With pads, you do not need to insert anything in your vagina, therefore, there is no discomfort, irritation, or pain experienced (which usually happens with first-time tampons users).

If worn for an extended period, pads can however produce a foul smell. And can also irritate the skin around your labia and perianal area. Making it itchy. Which is why it is important to gently wash your pubic area with warm water every day to remove any residual blood from wearing a pad. This is also true for tampon 

Now the question is, amongst women of colour especially black communities, “What is more predominantly used between pads and tampons, and why?”.

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Ah period’s. That one time of the month when, for some of us everything seems to stop. All of sudden you can start to feel more tired than usual, irritable and even upset at everything and everyone. For someone like me, my period is one of the worst weeks of the month. Not just for me but for everyone around me. About a week before my period starts I become very irritable and angry at everyone and anyone. I start crying about everything and I even start craving chocolate and sweets which I usually stay away from.

Since I’ve had my period now for more than 10 years, I have come to learn some tips and tricks to make my periods a little more tolerable for myself and everyone around me.

1. Start the pill: This is not the best option for everyone, and for a long time I was against it myself. I didn’t like the idea that there was something like the pill that controlled my period. But after struggling with bad period pains I was forced to take the pill. After just two months, I must say, it has helped a lot. Not only are my period pains less painful. But they are also less heavy. Again, this would not have been my first option, but it has been the best one.
2. Eat more red meat and dark green vegetables: Have you ever felt very tired around your period? Well I have. After talking to my DR I learn’t that because I don’t eat much red meat and dark green vegetables, I was becoming iron deficient around my period. This meant that I needed to supplement my diet with more red meat and green vegetables around my period to replace the iron I loose when I lose blood around my period.
3. Have hot baths: Ah, nothing beats a hot soak. Not only is the heat soothing, but it also works to reduce pain in my back and stomach.
4. Exercise: I know this is probably the hardest one to follow but it does work. Not only does working out and moving get your mind off of the pain but its also good for you in the long run.
5. Eat good food: As much as I am often tempted to binge on ice-cream and chocolate, this is the time when the body needs to be functioning at its best. Which means helping it by filling up on wholesome and nutritious foods.

So ladies, there you have it. I hope this will help you when that time of the month comes around.

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