Posted 6:44 PM by heather
PMS Women's literary journal

Posted 8:03 PM by heather
PMS AND CHINESE MEDICINE

In the U.S. today, premenstrual syndrome has become epidemic. The most common complaint associated with P.M.S. is emotional instability. These "mood swings" can last for one or two days or may last as long as 2-3 weeks. Mood swings may present as depression, irritability, easy crying or anger. Other symptoms associated with P.M.S. include digestive disorders, breast swelling and tenderness, menstrual cramping, headaches, edema or insomnia.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (T.C.M.) is able to offer an understanding of the underlying factors that may give rise to PMS. The syndrome becomes a metaphor relative to each woman's constitutional nature, allowing the treatment plan to be refined and customized to individual complaints.

Read more at http://www.acupuncture-nc.com/pms.html

Posted 10:22 PM by heather
From the beginning of 'A Twisted Sense of God pt1' by Chuck D and the Fine Arts Militia

"I was talking to my assistant a couple of months back, and while we were talking about the obvious differences in men and women, I had to give up and say that men couldn't handle the period cycles that women go through. She countered and told me that men do have periods . . . They're called WARS."

Posted 11:15 PM by heather
Resources for women - Great list of resources.

Posted 11:56 PM by heather
Study tests new way to administer 'the pill' to eliminate monthly periods

Given a choice, many women would probably opt out of the monthly cramping, bloating, bleeding and general discomfort that accompanies menstruation. A study underway at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is investigating whether a variation on the traditional oral contraceptive pill can prevent periods easily, safely and effectively.

From Penn State:

Study tests new way to administer 'the pill' to eliminate monthly periods

Given a choice, many women would probably opt out of the monthly cramping, bloating, bleeding and general discomfort that accompanies menstruation.

A study underway at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is investigating whether a variation on the traditional oral contraceptive pill can prevent periods easily, safely and effectively.

Richard S. Legro, M.D., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, Penn State College of Medicine, was recently awarded a $562,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, to conduct a six-month study exploring the risks and benefits of continuous combined oral contraception, which may provide nearly full-proof protection against pregnancy while eliminating monthly menstrual bleeding and its symptoms.

“Menstrual bleeding may be medically unnecessary and can cause undesirable symptoms such as cramping, headaches and mood swings,” Legro said. “Not only is menstrual bleeding often an inconvenience, but it also can be a serious quality of life concern for many women. The idea of giving the pill a 28-day cycle with 21 active pills and a seven hormone-free pills was based primarily on the desire of the pill’s founder to mimic the natural menstrual cycle and reassure women and their doctors that the women weren’t pregnant.”

When used as indicated, current oral contraceptive pills prevent the release of an egg from a woman’s ovary. The hormones in the 21 active pills also cause a minimal amount of growth in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. When the pills containing hormones run out after 21 days, the seven placebo, or non-medicated, pills cause the endometrium to break down and be shed during what’s often called, the “period.”

Continuous oral contraception uses pills that keep hormone levels consistent throughout the month, which may cause an even smaller amount of endometrial buildup in the uterus and prevent the monthly shedding altogether. In addition to reduced or absent menstrual bleeding, continuous suppression of the ovary may be more beneficial for treating gynecologic conditions related to menstrual function such as pelvic pain, endometriosis, and premenstrual syndrome. Some have suggested that the continuous pill regimen also may be more effective at preventing pregnancy because all pills have the same hormone level. So, missing a “key pill” (i.e. the first active pill of a new pack on the traditional regimen) will have no added penalty as it does with traditional oral contraception.

This is the first study to examine the effects of the continuous oral contraceptive pill on both ovarian and endometrial function for an extended period. Legro hopes this longer, six-month study, will show whether the body adjusts to continuous oral contraception, and whether breakthrough bleeding – bleeding that occurs at a time other than a woman’s period – which was a complaint in previous continuous oral contraception studies, ceases.

In the study, which has already begun enrolling patients, a total of 62 non-smoking women between the ages of 18 and 35 who also meet other conditions necessary for inclusion will be enrolled. Patients will undergo a number of screening tests and will be randomized into one of two study groups. One group will receive the continuous oral contraception with 28 active pills, and the other will receive the traditional 21 active pills and 7 placebo pills. The pill packets will be coded and neither patients nor investigators will know which patients are receiving which treatment. Subjects will be reimbursed for their participation in the study.

Study participants will visit the Penn State General Clinical Research Center at Penn State Hershey Medical Center each month to undergo tests and receive pill packets. An important aspect of the study is the participants’ reports of breakthrough bleeding.

One main goal of the study is to test whether there is a difference between the two groups in number of bleeding days. The study also will look at the actual physical changes in the women’s bodies including ovarian steroid production, the thickness of the endometrium, and other ovarian changes.

“Understanding the potential risks and benefits will allow physicians to give their patients the option of continuous oral contraception,” Legro said. “We hope this study will definitively show whether continuous oral contraception is preferable and beneficial to pill users.”


###
The study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board under FDA regulations at Penn State College of Medicine. For more information about the study or to find out how to enroll, contact Malinda Rivera at (717) 531-4484 or mrivera@psu.edu

Posted 7:29 PM by heather
Introspection by Anne Pyterek - An artist's interpretation.

Posted 7:28 PM by heather
The Straight Dope: What's the link between the moon and menstruation? A skeptic's take...

Posted 7:23 PM by heather
Tampon Wars

Posted 7:22 PM by heather
Industrial Design Awards - 3pac Tampon Container

Posted 7:20 PM by heather
Embarrassing Funny True Stories - A woman's first experience with OB tampons.

Posted 7:17 PM by heather
Heather Weathers Sculpture - Made from maxipads

Posted 7:15 PM by heather
http://www.tobyvision.com/jose/jose5.htm - Weird cartoon, why Fred Savage?

Posted 8:01 PM by heather
UAA student addresses taboo topic
SUSAN MORGAN
arts editor
(Published: April 20, 2003)

The fact that Yulia Kalagaeva's thesis exhibit will be on display at the University of Alaska Anchorage for only five days suits her just fine.
"That's perfect; menstruation only lasts for five days,'' says the Bachelor of Fine Arts candidate.

Kalagaeva's exhibit, opening with a reception and performance from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday in Kimura Gallery in the Arts Building, is all about women's menstrual cycles. It's a subject she's been researching for a year or so, but she still hasn't figured out why it's so taboo.

"Nobody talks about it, yet it's part of every woman,'' she says. "We're not open about this big thing.''

Her multimedia exhibit will include some wall pieces and 2,000 menstrual cups, which she's learned are better for a woman's health and less expensive than tampons or pads. She created 700 of the cups from clay, and the rest were donated by a factory.

At the beginning of the re cep tion, Kalagaeva will perform a work she describes as "movement related to the idea of menstruation ... sort of like a metaphor.''

The show marks a departure for the 24-year-old artist, who previously has created mostly two-dimensional works. She hopes it gets the
message across that menstruation is a natural part of life.

"I want people to be aware this is nothing to be hiding; it's not dirty,'' she says. "It's such a big part of being a woman. I want people to see the beauty in it.''

Posted 7:59 PM by heather
A Mixed Blessing by Amber Madison

"One day you'll be praying for it" my mother used to tell me whenever I complained about having my period."Yeah right" I'd answer. At 15, it doesn't matter if your mother has had three times the amount of life experience, she is never right. But then a couple of years later, I became sexually active. And wouldn't you know it, but actually wanting my period turned out to be yet another item on the "mom was right" list.

Yes, I am a period prayer. Not because I don't use reliable contraception (I do), but because I am a complete hypochondriac. I'm never fully convinced that I'm not pregnant until I've been on my period for two full days.

I think the worst part is waiting for it. As disorganized as I am, the one thing I'm completely anal retentive about is marking a P on my calendar every twenty-eight days. And on the week when I open my planner to find a big black P, I begin to panic. First it's that "the library is closing" voice.

"Amber...you have not gotten your period yet. You could be pregnant. Maybe, the conservatives were right...abstinence is the answer."
Oh god, I know I'm not supposed to get it for another four days, but I think I just felt something kick! And then comes the call to the boyfriend.
"Ok, Hun, don't freak out, but I think I'm pregnant."
"Well, are you late?"
"No... but... it's not coming this month, I can feel it"
"Amber, you go through this every month. Tomorrow you're gonna call convinced you have an STD, and the day after that you're gonna get your period, and be fine. But babe, its 3 a.m., and I have to go to bed." Click.

Ok, I know I'm not religious, but God, if you're up there, could you just help me out this once? All I want is my period, and I promise I'll never complain about it again. Pinky swear, just please let me not be pregnant!

Sure enough, a day later, I'm running out to the store to buy tampons. But as soon as I get over the initial joy of knowing that I'm still eating for one, I remember why being on your period is a mixed blessing for the sexually active. The good: no pregnancy. The bad: five days, no boom boom for soul sister.

NO boom boom because Boo Boo would go catatonic. I find that nothing strikes fear into the hearts of men like the word "menstruation." It's the only force strong enough to repel the sex drive of an 18-22 year old male. The mere sight of a Tampax box is enough to send a grown man into a five-minute seizure.

Of course, we always have the brave, or maybe just the super horny, who are macho enough that a little bit of blood isn't going to come between them and their sex life.

For those horny enough to engage in sex during menstruation, there is an upside and a downside. One obvious plus is that is that while the no period sex couples are enduring five days of sexual frustration, the period sex couple is still getting laid. In terms of pregnancy prevention, during menstruation is a great time to have sex. The first day of your period is day one of your cycle, and since you don't become fertile until around day twelve-ish, there is an extremely low risk of pregnancy. ("ish" because every female's cycle is different and one's fertile period can vary significantly form woman to woman).

As far as STDs are concerned, however, the period sex couple may want to reevaluate. According to the Center for Disease Control, the more bodily fluids involved, the higher the risk of contracting an infection. Of course going into battle with armor always increases the chances of survival. Wearing a condom will help protect against HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. However, condoms, like armor, are not fool proof. HPV (the virus that causes genital warts) and Herpes can still be easily spread even when a condom is being used. Also, due to the extra fluid, its important that when taking off the condom, one is careful not to let whatever is outside the condom drip onto the penis.

Obviously, whether or not to have sex while on your period is a very personal decision. Should you decide to take the plunge, it's more important than ever to use a condom. And if you decide to wait it out, don't complain: not getting off for five days is better than being knocked up. As much of a pain as having your period can be, my mother was right: dealing with cramping is less of an inconvenience than dealing with labor.

Lots of stress, a change in diet, and excessive exercise can all cause a woman to be late or even skip periods. If you have any other questions about STDs, menstruation or anything else related to sexual health, the CDC has a 24 hour hotline: 1-800-227-8922. Feel free to contact me at sex@tuftsdaily.com.

Posted 7:39 PM by heather
MOON LODGE WOMEN'S FORUM

I am seeking actual menstrual lodges, huts, circles etc. for a film on reclaiming menstruation. Does anyone have contact information for women who would like to share what they have created? Also, I am seeking grant money for this film if anyone has those contacts as well.
Blessed be
Artemis Moon

Kelly Rose In response to: menstrual movie
Dear Artemis Moon,
What a wonderful project. I have built a moon lodge on land I lived on in Big Sur but it no longer exists as I moved to the Bay Area last year and took her down. We are getting ready to build one in the Esalen Community also in Big Sur, CA and I am going to Oregon next month to help build another one. I would be happy to share whatever info I can to help your project. Also, Brooke Medicine Eagle has a video where she talks about this subject called "Wisdom Women of the 90s". It is on her website.
Blessings,
Kelly Rose

Sarah In response to: menstrual movie
Greetings Artemis!
I hope you connected with Kelly. Her teaching is beautiful. I have done work as well on creating Moon Lodge, more for myself than for a large commmunity. I would be happy to share what I have learned with you as well.
Blessings,
Sarah

Desmond Clark In response to: menstrual movie
May I refer you to susunweed.com she is well versed in the wise woman way.
Desmo

Posted 6:35 PM by heather

Stress Proofing the PMS Week
Anticipating the time each month when the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome start interfering with your life will go a long way to decreasing premenstrual stress.

Even though PMS is generated by the interaction of your hormones with your brain, avoiding situations that are potentially stressful can diminish the intensity of the symptoms.

Write down the most difficult symptoms and situations characterizing your own premenstrual days. It is helpful to list them in categories such a physical symptoms, eating control problems and mood changes. Draw a line from the symptoms to the situations that are made most uncomfortable for you by these symptoms. Doing this allows you to alter or avoid activities that exacerbate the premenstrual stress.

For example, if physical symptoms are a problem plan activities that give you more time to rest or do not exacerbate the symptoms. Rock concerts or rock climbing are not recommended if you suffer from migraines or cramping. Mood changes that leave you feeling fuzzy headed, irritable and short-tempered should cause you to avoid major presentations, complicated event organization or difficult family interactions. Try to delay making important decisions alone or with others; you may be too impulsive or impatient to make wise choices at that time. Stock your house or work site with the low-fat, low-calorie munchies and meal foods that your body craves along with PMS Escape so you do not find yourself consuming 5000 calories of chocolate chip cookies or French-fries when you have PMS snack attack.

Prevent yourself from becoming overwhelmed when you are premenstrual. This means saying no to voluntary obligations, asking for help in meeting daily demands such as household chores, errands, meal preparation, explaining to trusted co-workers that you may need more time and/or assistance to accomplish tasks that are easier to do when you are not premenstrual, and allowing yourself private time to rest and withdraw from the demands being made on you.

Posted 6:33 PM by heather
Pretzels with Hershey Kisses (PMS snack)
Source of Recipe = My Friend Cindy
Recipe Introduction

This is a favorite for parties and women with PMS, because you get your salt and your sweet all in one bite.

List of Ingredients



Pretzel rounds (usually these are entitled Beer Pretzels, they are circular pretzels) (a couple of bags if making for a party)

M & M's (one big bag)

Hershey Kisses (a couple of big bags, if making enough for a party, you will run out of these first)
Recipe


Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

Put pretzel rounds on the cookie sheet, as many as you can fit in one layer.

Unwrap the Hershey Kisses and put one in the center of each pretzel round. (try to stand them up straight as much as possible, but don't press down or you will break the pretzel)

Bake at 275 degrees for about 3 minutes (you are just cooking enough to soften the Kiss and not melt it)

Remove from the oven and press an M & M in the middle of each Kiss until the Kiss is pressed to the sides of the pretzel. Don't press down to the bottom of the cookie sheet, that is to far, about even with the pretzel is far enough.

Put tray in the refrigerator until chocolate becomes solid and the snacks can be picked up and eaten, a 1/2 hour at least. These will go fast and are quite addictive so make plenty.

Posted 6:19 PM by heather
TRANSITIONS: MOTHER - DAUGHTER MENSTRUATION WORKSHOP
Designed for : Girls, grades 6 and up. Also available for faculty and administration.
"Am I normal?"
This is the most universally asked question of the young adolescent. Fears and anticipation about growth, development and the onset of menstruation preoccupy girls as they desperately want to be like their friends.
In this workshop, the physical changes and the process of menstruation are demonstrated, including a review of female reproductive anatomy. Different brands of menstrual products are compared and rated on packaging, ease of use, absorption, comfort and price. Mothers and daughters become more comfortable talking about body changes, menstruation and beginning sexuality issues. A bibliography and activities to continue at home are included.
Our goals are to help students :
Describe physical and emotional changes of puberty
Identify female reproductive anatomy and physiology
Evaluate various feminine hygiene products and become familiar with their use
Feel more comfortable discussing their bodies and sexuality issues with each other
Average length : Workshop : 2 hours
Recommended number of participants : 8 - 12 mother/daughter pairs

Menstrumonials 2001
Professor Elizabeth Kissling at Eastern Washington University is hosting her second Menstrual Monday Party, and writes: "As a scholar of communication and taboo (focusing on menstruation) and as a feminist, I love seeing this kind of public (and positive!) discourse about menstruation."

Feminists for Change at St. Olaf College in Minnesota (the self-proclaimed "Menstrual Monday Capitol of the World") are also having their second Menstrual Monday Celebration, as is the "Politics of Menstruation" class at "Floberlin" College in Ohio. Hope everybody liked their bumper stickers!

On Sunday, April 29, in Fairfax, Virginia, Kristin and her group held a "Stich'n'Bitch" pajama party. She described it this way: "We are having a menstrual monday slumber party this sunday night (april 31st?), and we will send you pictures and an article to go with it afterwards. we're gonna have a stitch n bitch (sewing cloth pads) and play old school sleepover games like truth or dare while celebrating in the spirit of grrls and our bloody cunts. i got the video [Molly Strange's flofilm "In Search of Juan Colorado"], so we'll put it on and then i'll send it back to you-thanks mucho! *love*kristin

On May 4 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Vanesa Littlecrow Colon-Ortiz hosted a "Whatever Happened to Friday Night...It Turned Into Menstrual Monday" art event, as part of a weeklong Process Event. To read more, go to Vanesa's website. She'd emailed the other night as follows:

"I wrote the uncensored positive and negative comments about "In Search of Juan Colorado" [the Molly Strange flofilm] from our mixed gender audience during the flofilm screening. It was very interesting to observe. I am sure you will find it interesting too..."

M: "Oh my God, it's crayons! The diagrams are made out of crayons."
F: "I told you this was like a twisted after school special."
F: "Man, she's sure butch."
M: "Hey, I like butch!"
F: "I used to be a tomboy, but look at me now. Man, where did I go wrong?"
F: "Linda Blair should be in this"
F: "She hasn't had her period yet."
M: "Turn it up! I got to hear every word."
M: "They are seriously trying to be artsy."
M: "You do know what the English translation of Don [sic] Juan Colorado is, don't you?"
M: "More blood! Yeah!"
M: "The cheese factor in this is outstanding."
F: "The theme music is stuck in my head."
M: "We got to get a big screen and surround sound to enhance the badness of this film."
M: "Not true [what they said about Emily Dickinson.] Emily was a very saucy lady."
M: "The clean blue pool of water will be dirtied by her blood. BWHAHAHAA"
F: "She's going to her other world."
F: "I don't think I dreamt about [my period.]"
F: "I thought I had gotten diarrhea when I had my first period. But my grandma explained."
F: "She's like all embarrassed."
F: "It smells like the earth? Ewye!"
M/F: "Yuck! Now they're all smelling it together."
F: "Did they paint their foreheads with the blood? Ugh!"
F: "Some cultures actually do that as a rite of passage."
M: "They have a "D" for Don [sic] Juan Colorado."
M: "This is just messed up, this is just weird."
F: "Are they going to form their own cult?"
F: "It's like Lord of the Flies."
F: "'Goodbye blood, have a safe trip to the sea.' That's the quote of the evening!"
[My favorite line also! -- GMK] M: "You're going to have much more special blood honey."
F: "I hate to ride my bike when I wear a pad too!"
F: "I like the way how she's not rail thin in this movie. She looks healthy."
F: "All the kids in this movie look much more normal and healthier than the rail thin girls in films today."
F: "No farting!"
F: "Arrrgh! She has her bloody panties on the wall."
M: "This is the best thing ever. I wish this was a full-length film. My friends would love this."
F: "Molly Strange sure lived up to her name."
M: "It's so cheesy, it's good!"

Cheers, Vas"

Both Kristin and Vanesa have already sent in photos, so hopefully (sometime in June, after I've finished writing a paper for a conference!) we'll have everybody's photos and accompanying articles on site.

Fran in Missouri wrote:

"I received my two Menstral Monday Celebration kits today and LOVE them. Thanks for all the hand made goodies and the time you take to put them all together. I work in the Women Studies program at the University of Missouri and we all loved the kit. I actually started my period today so I am wearing the Power egg as a corsage and we hung the menstral drop and splash in our doorway as decoration. The ovum fan really came in handy as we are having a real heat wave here in the mid-west this week. So glad I found your site and info. Hope to have a party this year...but it is during finals week so I might postpone it a little. Thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks!!!


-Fran

And from Jennifer at Bowling Green State University, who had their event way back on April 5:

"Hello:)

I've been meaning to write. . .we had a GREAT turn-out (at least that's what I think, as does the rest of the group!) We had about 25-30 people for the red-bag lunch and discussion. . .that went well! Everyone enjoyed the film. . .we cut it a little short by starting in the middle of the film--and it started some interesting discussion of myths and our own experiences with menstruation, and keeping it quiet! The open house then started to pick up--it was busiest from about 1:00 to 4:00. I would say we had about 100 people or more walking in and out! We had some great menstrual art! I may send you a few of the art pieces people made--very creative. I think my favorite as far as creativity went was a Pan-flute made out of tampon aplicators (made by a male:). We had some other really great art pieces as well. Let's see what else did we do. . .we had a tampon toss--that was great! Then the tampons were reused for the menstrual art:) We had some sidewalk drawings done, with sidewalk chalk--there was a great power egg that was drawn! People really found the information quite crazy. . .i think the most shocking information was what other cultures did and how they viewed mensturation. Also, the alternatives to tampons and pads blew a lot of people away as they had no idea that alternatives even exsisted. Everyone enjoyed the chocolate and steam-hut. . . The women's center was the perfect place to have it--we were allowed to rearrange it some and it turned out great for the day--many people just chilled out on the couches discussing and reading some books we had set out.

Even though the event is over. . campus has not forgotten about it. I wrote a letter to the editor--hoping it would get published the same day as our party. I don't know if I told you how we had had problems getting some of our fliers approved--but the office of Residence Life on campus, censored our posters and would not let us put up signs with the word menstruation. The letter did get in the paper the day after our party--and it raised quite a bit of an uproar on campus about censorship. This week there was an apology letter in the paper from the director of Residence Life, and sometime next week I believe there is going to be an article about censorship--which I have already been interviewed for. So not only did we raise a lot of issues about Menstruation to those that came, but we also raised some issues about freedom of speech across campus.

I will get that video out to you on Monday. Thanks again for all of your help! It would not have been as successful without it! I hope you have a great weekend!

THANKS,
Jen:)

And from Sera at the University of Montana: "i'm writing from the university of montana's orgainzation STUDENTS FOR CHOICE to let you know we are having a party on menstrual monday to honor the significance of our monthly power surges! this is our agenda:

a healthy menstruation workshop
art projects with various anti-woman "sanitary protection" devices
a sharing circle to value one another's monthly menses
an honoring ceremony for the young women who have not yet started bleeding every month
and much much more!

thanks for the flyers and the fun stuff you sent our way! we just wanted to wish you and yours a happy, healthy, menstrual monday!

~sera
UMT, students for choice

We hope you will find inspiration to create your own "MM" celebration -- we are already planning a big postcard mailing for the upcoming Halloween holiday, suggesting a Menstrual Monday theme for costume parties -- i.e., get dressed up as Juan Colorado, Emily Dickinson, or Tampon Man; Aunt Ruby, Popeye the Sailor Woman, the Duchess of Chocolate, or Aunt Fa-Lo; your interpretation of Kirstin's Queen Periodia, and so on. Think of it this way: Blood is an important element of Halloween -- why not make it menstrual blood this year, and celebrate Falloween (as in fallo-pian tubes, get it) instead? Or dress up in a flow-dyed t-shirt and headband, like you're on your way to "Bloodstock" Music Festival!

Let the good times flow!

Adult Parenting
This two hour mother/daughter workshop facilitates the discussion about this important life cycle. A bibliography and activities to continue at home are included. Suitable for girls ages 9 12.

Instructor: Connie Poor, R.N., sexuality educator at HiTOPS.

Bramwell Living Room
1 session (2/26)
10-81616 Wed.6:30-8:30 pm
$25 per couple member
$35 per couple non member