I knew the basics before I got it, but I had no clue…
* The blood wouldn’t necessarily be red. When I first got my period, I spent a few min looking at my underwear wondering how I shit myself. I didn’t know the blood could look brown, or be thick.
* That tampons weren’t a good idea yet. I was 10 or 11 when I got my first period and physically smaller than an adult woman. My first attempt at inserting a tampon was very painful and unsuccessful. I wouldn’t use them until I was around 14 or so.
* That when you use pads the blood can get on your bottom and I’d have to occasionally clean off the toilet seat after using it.
* That getting your first period DOES NOT mean you’re fully developed and fully able to bear children. I could have technically gotten pregnant at that age, but I was still a child and pregnancy would have put my life in danger because I was still physically immature.
* That it wouldn’t be regular for another few years.
* That very painful cramping is NOT NORMAL once you reach your 20s and is cause for concern.
* That the blood and tissue you pass can look chunky or stringy and not like blood from a cut.
* That stress can halt your period for months BUT
* That doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant
Feel free to add your own
Relatable
-passing blood clots is completely normal
-that your period may straight up skip a month when you first get it
-and then it’ll happen twice in the same month
-getting your period does NOT automatically make you a woman
Painful cramping isn’t normal in your 20’s? That’s a little concerning, mine have been getting exponentially worse
It is NOT normal.
I can 100% guarantee you have endometriosis, PCOS, or another hormone problem. If your doctor says it’s normal, DEMAND a second opinion.
Thinking that it’s normal is how people end up infertile or dead. It’s why so many women under 40 these days are having an almost impossible time either conceiving or preventing conception. Because no one teaches anyone that it’s the sign of trouble that can very seriously hurt you.
Anyone who has severe cramps, heavy bleeding, or irregular periods after about 19 years old should seek medical advice. None of those are normal.
If you have skin tags, a hard time losing weight, migraines related to your period, depression that is amplified when menstruating, severe mood swings, sleep disturbances that get worse with menstruation, or any other significant health problem that started with puberty and is worse when hormones are fluctuating you need to be checked.
None of the things that people relate to women on their periods is actually an example of a healthy woman. It’s an example of people who need one form of treatment or another.
For the kiddos (and adults w/issues like me) who have incredibly painful periods:
-bananas are fucking magical. buy a couple bunches a few days before it starts and stuff them in your face like theres no tomorrow
-raspberry leaf tea is too but you have to drink it for several days BEFORE your period and during it for it to help as much as possible (but it’s delicious so it’s not hard)
-drinking warm liquids of any kind helps the pain so chug herbal tea for the week, even if it’s not raspberry leaf. also helps keep you from getting dehydrated due to nausea, which makes the pain worse. do try to avoid caffeine tho that shit doesn’t help
-what works for other people may not work for you, though, so try as many things as possible to help with the pain
-heat on your front AND back. like, put a towel in the drier for a few minutes then wrap it around yourself. Works 3000 times better than just a heat pack on your stomach
–YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE TAMPONS. for me, even if they’re inserted correctly and not causing any pain directly, they make the cramps exponentially worse (and I already tend to do things like puke or pass out from the pain as is). there’s nothing wrong with using pads, it’s not the “kids option” or somehow inferior. if pads work better for you please please just use pads
-if you start to get dizzy or nauseous CALL OUT SICK IF YOU CAN. don’t feel like you’re “faking” or “overreacting” because you’re not. much better to tell them over the phone that you can’t work than to have to explain that you fell over at the cash register bc period
-If someone tells you it’s not that bad and to just suck it up, especially if that person is a woman/also has periods and thinks they’re an expert on your pain levels, ignore them. This shit can be debilitating and you know better than anyone what your body can and can’t handle
-seriously, SELF ADVOCACY. painful periods are not normal. Push your doctor to figure out what’s wrong with you and to work out a long term or permanent solution. until you find one I hope the above tips help!
konekorambles 