Victoria M.

Did you know that globally - pads are the most common form of feminine hygiene protection? In some countries, pads are the only form of hygiene products used and many women opt for even more natural options such as reusable cloths or undergarments.

In an effort to not only be more health conscious but eco-friendly- many companies are creating products that are biodegradable, compostable, all natural and made with organic cotton. We applaud all of these innovators (and give ourselves a pat on the back too) as there has not been any true innovation in decades!

A timeline of feminine hygiene products shows that many of the antiquated stances still held true but there are so many boundaries being broken and left behind, which is great!

Here are some eye-opening and interesting facts about menstruation around the world:

Kaitlyn Luckow

Image by Tim Marshall

Imagine having to pay for something that was natural and completely out of your control.

Guess what?

We’re doing it.

Over the past few years, news and social media campaigns have brought light to the issue of the “tampon tax”, also known as the “pink tax”  in America as well as the rest of the world. Perhaps like you, I had no idea that this tax even existed until a few years ago. And I was just as taken aback as many people–and remain confused even today.

People are outraged and are demanding change because of this tampon tax, but do we fully understand what the tampon tax is?

J.B

Image via Brook Lark

Do you suffer from the typical menstrual symptoms?  The bloating, the mood swings, the muscle aches, the fatigue, the cramps (and sometimes severe menstrual cramps)?  Are you convinced that whoever wrote the song “I Enjoy Being a Girl” must have been a man?

You’re not alone. 

But there are some natural, non-pharmaceutical things you can do to ease the symptoms and one of these is diet.   Of course, everyone is different, but there are foods that are generally regarded as being helpful in reducing menstrual symptoms and some foods that can make your symptoms worse.

Xiaolin L.

Many brands talk about how organic pads/tampons are great with no toxins and chlorine bleach, but they barely talk about how it actually feels to use the organic pads/tampons compared to the non-organic ones.

First of all, it is true that our vagina is good at absorbing anything we put in there, which is why some medications are delivered vaginally. So being concerned about what might be absorbed by the body by using tampons made with synthetic fibers is reasonable. However, when it comes to how it feels to use an organic product compared to using a non-organic tampon, there isn’t much difference. Neither is the chance of getting TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome).

Regarding the feeling of using pads made with organic cotton or synthetic fiber, the difference is way more noticeable.

Kaitlyn Luckow

Photo by Matteo Grassi

Just like most things, different cultures and different countries view certain aspects of life in unique manners.

The same can be said for how menstruation and periods are viewed throughout the world. In some cultures, menstruation has long been celebrated, whereas in others even talking about periods is still seen as taboo.

I wanted to take a look at how different countries and cultures view menstruation in today’s world and to take a look at how these mentalities are affecting individuals who menstruate.

By Kaitlyn Luckow

You might remember that day in school where the boys and the girls were separated and your recess time was infringed upon because you needed to have “that talk”. I’m going to go out on a limb here and probably guess that you don’t have fond memories about that day.

I would be surprised if you did. If you were in the girl group, you were told that you were going to bleed out every month forever and that you would have to do all of these things to keep yourself clean and you were probably going to be in pain. Joy.

And if you were a boy, well…chances are you didn’t hear about menstruation at all. Just whispers on the playground about something horrifying that women do every month.

This lack of education, almost solely relied on by rumors, has led to a detrimental misguidance when it comes to menstruation. There are many myths revolving around menstruation and these myths are exactly that—they’re not true.

Regardless, many people go into adolescence holding these myths as true, and many of these myths are held well-on into adulthood.

I talked to many individuals of all genders and asked them about period myths that they have believed in the past. Here are the most common answers and why these myths are in fact just that:

From Sherry Thomas, M.D. 

The traditional way of dealing with menstrual cramps — the good ol’ heating pad — is so yesterday. And in the summertime, who wants to be hugging the equivalent of a toaster oven? The latest research suggests there are much better options for fighting off menstrual distress. Here are my top five recommendations:

1. Stay away from foods that can cause bloating. Some foods that are nutrition super-heroes the rest of the month may provoke bloating right before and during your period. That includes legumes (such as peas, beans and lentils) and cruciferous veggies (like broccoli and kale). Likewise, dairy products and whole grains can be bad factors during this time. Be extra careful to stay away from anything with lots of sodium, which is well-known for causing bloat.  But… this is a good time to be reaching for ginger. It has long been a traditional medicine for fighting inflammatory disease, and recent research says it can help tame cramps. It’s available as a supplement on the vitamin aisle.