Unfortunately, girls and women are often targeted with conflicting advertisements about disposable menstrual products. Tampon ads tell girls to hide tampons in their purse "so nobody will know you have your period" the ads then proceed to tell us never to be embarrassed to buy their products. If menstrual products are nothing to be ashamed of why tell us to hide them away where nobody can see them? The bottom line is profit. If girls and women switched en masse to reusable menstrual products, the profit margin of the feminine hygeine industry would fall drastically. The way these companies keep us using their products is by shaming us into believing our bodies are dirty, telling us their products are more hygenic, more convienent and easier to conceal away so nobody will know our little secret.

For decades, we have been confronted by advertising campaigns designed to undermine our confidence in our bodies and our cleanliness. In 1928, the Lysol corporation advised women that the key to "good hygeine" and pleasing their husbands was to spray their vagina's with lysol. The ad stated that "feminine hygeine wrongly practiced does more harm than good" (source: the Musuem of Mensturation. Archives) In my opinion, spraying your body with lysol would most certainly do more harm than good. Personally I would not use the stuff in my house, I would never spray it on my body. YUCK!

Times have not changed much. Take a gander at any drug store and you will find a plethora of products desiged to elimated supposed female odor. Women are constantly being told there is something wrong with our bodies, and within arms reach there is some product we can buy to make it all better. The key to feeling better about our bodies is to accept ourselves for who we are! Love your body, you will feel better for it!!

There is nothing unhygenic about menstrual blood. Menstruation is the lining of the uterus (endometrium). This lining is shed each month if the egg released at ovulation is not fertilized. If conception does occur the lining of the uterus remains intact to nourish the egg and provide a place for implantation. If menstrual blood was dirty or somehow polluted, it could not be such an integral part of the reproductive process. Personally, I think menstruation should be celebrated, not denigrated. For if it were not for menstruation there would be no human life!. Now that's something to think about!

Many women experience discomfort each and every month with their period. Problems range from bloating to moodiness to cramping and back pain.

• Eliminate caffeine.
• Eliminate refined sugars.
• Eliminate animal products (dairy included) Series two prostaglandins affect muscle tension. These chemicals are linked to menstrual pain. Series two prostaglandins are found in dairy products, eggs and red meat.
• Increase intake of grains, fruits and vegetables, these contain series three prostaglandins which help ease muscle tension.
• Increase calcium intake. Green vegetables such as kale, collard, brocoli, dandelion greens are excellent sources of calcium, as is tofu, and fortified soy milk and rice milk.
• Deep relaxation/medition, acupuncture, exercise (yoga works great)
• Multivitamin supplement
• Think positive about your period

RESOURCES & FURTHER READING

Full cycle: Taking the mystery out of menstruation
By: Lauri M Aesoph N.D.

Go With the Flow
By: Jenn Shreve

Tampon Safety
Statement by Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney

What Are Menstrual Cramps?
By: Susan M. Lark M.D.

Cycles Page
Personal Fertility Tracking

Tampaction Campain