Eleven Ways to Use a Period

 

This is not usually the kind of thing I discuss publicly.

I'm going to be talking about periods. But not the punctuation kind.

If you don't want to read about periods, stop reading now please. 

Ok.

I hate having a period. In fact, I was in junior high or high school when I read a news article about how you could skip the sugar pill week of birth control pills and (magically) not have a period. That moment planted the idea in my head that I could have freedom from having a period. The thought was so liberating, and it was what I was determined to do. It wasn't until last August, however, that I was brave enough to go see a doctor about this plan.

And it worked! Well, kind of. It worked until I had chest pain and went to the emergency room and found out the birth control pills had given me a whole slew of blood clots in my lungs and earned me a night in the hospital (which, as a side note, ended up being Huntsman Cancer Institute, since the rest of University Hospital was full--and man, "The Huntsman," as a tech called it, is one nice hospital). As people keep telling me: it could have killed me.

So, I'm trying to be accepting of my period. And, to keep a long story short, this has led me to find out that there are actually a whole lot of options out there for what to do with your period. Also, for whatever reason, I'm finding this absolutely fascinating. I suddenly feel this urge to tell people (um, women) that there are more options than using pads and tampons.

So here I present to you the methods I have discovered so far that female people use to address having a period, kind of organized from less to more effort-requiring and/or invasive:

1. Period Panty

These are underwear designed with an absorbent core and a leak-proof outer shell. From what I've read, you can rely on them during the day (probably not super heavy days, though), or they can just be backup while you go about your regular routine. 

2. Pad

If you're reading this, you probably know about these. They come in a variety of formats, from short to long, thin to awful and thick, or with wings, or organic, or plastic-y and non organic (some accuse these of having carcinogens)

3. Reusable cloth pad  

Why, you ask? Users and vendors cite sustainability, eco-friendliness, lower long-term cost, as well as things like them being natural, chemical-free, and more comfortable for some people. It looks like big sellers are the Lunapad and GladRags, though there seem to be a huge number of cottage industries making these products, including Precious Star Pads, started and run by a delightful British 17-year-old girl who also makes YouTube videos reviewing feminine products and related items. She also talks unabashedly about things like her cervix (which, at her age, I didn't even know existed) and blood stains. She's really quite amazing.

4. Interlabial Pad

These are circle or petal-shaped pieces of fabric that go, well, between the labia. They add an extra layer of protection along with a pad. Did you know these exist? Now you do. You're welcome.

5. Tampon

 

I've heard that these were invented during WWI when the concept was used to stop bleeding bullet wounds. While it is true this kind of thing has been used for wounds, it looks like the concept of tampons for menstruation has existed for at least hundreds of years. According to Wikipedia, women in various cultures and during different time periods have used things like wool, papyrus, soft moss, and paper in this way.

From what I understand, tampons are the only period product that carry the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Although the disease is really rare, TSS happens because the small fibers that form a tampon can become a good place for bacteria to grow. 

6. Sea Sponge

 

I have to admit, to me, this seems like one of the odder options out there. They're what they sound like--absorbent, natural sponges. You use them like a tampon, except you rinse them and reinsert them--so it's a reusable product. Between periods you can sanitize them with things like tea tree oil or hydrogen peroxide (but not bleach or boiling). Reasons for using them are similar to other reusable products, and actually sound quite convincing once you consider them.

7. Menstrual Cup

 

These are small, well, cup, usually made of medical-grade silicone, that is worn inside the vagina where it catches fluid.

At risk of TMI, I just bought one of these. A Diva Cup. And I am amazed. First of all, because it carries no risk of TSS, these can be worn for up to twelve hours at a time--which means you deal with it when you get up and before you go to bed. That's it. Also, when it's inserted correctly, it doesn't leak. At all. Nothing. It does have a bit of a learning curve, but I don't see myself going back to using pads and tampons. Using the Diva Cup, I feel cleaner and I don't have to worry about my period during the day (or night, for that matter). Then there are some added bonuses--not having to buy disposable products, not throwing that stuff away at home or at work or at other people's houses and announcing to everyone that I'm on my period, eliminating the risk of TSS, showing my love for the planet, etc.

8. Continuous Hormonal Birth Control--the pill, ring, patch

 

Like I discussed above, you can eliminate your period by skipping the "off" week of hormonal birth control. You can do this with the pill, or with NuvaRing. I've read one source that says you can do it with the patch, too, and one source that says you can't.

It seems more and more accepted now that women might want to skip periods. I took the generic of Seasonique, called Camrese, to do this, which is designed so you have four periods a year--before, you had to get your doctor to write your prescription so you could fill it a week early each month.

I was initially annoyed at the four-period feature. However, what articles and how-to sites don't tell you about this method of skipping your period is that things can get a little wonky when you do this. It is weird for your body, and there can be issues with spotting. Having an occasional period rather than trying to eliminate it completely keeps everything running more smoothly.

Birth control pills generally come with two options--the "mini pill," with the hormone progestin only, or the more common version that has both progestin and estrogen. From what I understand, the ring and patch also use the combination of two hormones.

And I had problems with both. I used a mini pill and got spotting. And then I took a pill with estrogen and got blood clots. Estrogen is associated with blood clots (though the risk is small). And birth control methods that only have progestin are more likely to cause spotting and irregular bleeding.

The end message? These methods can be safe, but in my experience, what your outcome will be isn't 100% guaranteed. All three of these methods give you enough hormones to circulate through your entire body. And the result can be a little crazy.

9. Hormonal Long-Acting Reversible Birth Control 

So, long-acting reversible birth control refers to two things: the intrauterine device (IUD)--a little plastic T that goes in the uterus--and the implant--like a flexible matchstick that goes under the skin of your arm. In the US, there are two kinds of IUD's: a copper one, and a kind that uses progestin (brand names Mirena and Skyla). We're talking about that kind. The implant also uses progestin.

These are primarily methods of birth control. The period stuff is kind of secondary. While the copper kind of IUD can increase bleeding and cramping, Mirena and Skyla usually make periods lighter and shorter. For this reason, they are sometimes used by women with trouble with heavy periods to help them out with the issue. While it hasn't been reported with Skyla, periods stop all together for a portion of women who use the Mirena. Because it works with a similar mechanism, the implant also causes periods to get lighter and shorter, and might cause them to stop all together.

10. Endometrial Ablation 

This is a procedure where the lining of the uterus is destroyed--meaning, that even when the ovaries release an egg, the endometrium isn't going to get ready for it, and isn't going to shed if that egg isn't fertilized.

There are a few different ways this procedure is done. It might be performed with an epidural or under general anesthesia, then by using heated fluid, radio waves, microwaves, an electric current, or freezing to destroy the endometrial tissue.

The procedure eliminates periods, and it also eliminates the possibility of having children in the future.

11. Hysterectomy 

This is the surgical removal of the uterus, or possibly the uterus and ovaries. This one (hopefully obviously) also means you won't be able to have kids in the future.


So there you go! Is there anything I'm missing?