Everyone knows that girls get their periods. But Sarah Pfander clarifies how much women actually have to go through when it's that time of the month — and how this natural occurrence doesn't need to be taboo.

SARAH PFANDER
Gargoyle assistant editor
Posted Monday, Jan. 8, 2007
Opinions

I UNDERSTAND THAT a woman's uterus lining and egg are necessary for the continuance of our species, but that doesn't explain why once a month women must endure their periods.

One of my good friends, Ruthie Welch, has recently been complaining of back pains due to the fact that she is currently “surfing the crimson wave.”

Last week, worried that she would be unable to play in our basketball game against Decatur Christian and finding herself at school without a tampon, Ruthie was in an uncomfortable position.

And, it raises certain questions in my mind. Why must women bleed from the vagina for one week every month?

For starters, let me explain to you what a pain in the butt (or should I say vagina?) a woman's period truly is. We experience cramps that can force us to remain at home. We must learn how to use a tampon (that or deal with bulky, bloody pads). For those who don't quite understand this concept (ahem … all you males) imagine sticking a wad of cotton up your vagina.

Back pains, such as the ones Ruthie was experiencing, are common. With hormones raging, we often experience premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, where mood swings, crabbiness, and lethargy fill our days (and, it is a myth that PMS is only a pre-menstrual problem).

During our period, we also feel bloated and disgusting, and encounter mild to excruciating discomfort in the vaginal area. Plus, if a girl has a boyfriend, she might have to put her sex life on hold until “that time of the month” is over.

All in all, the “monthlies” are a bummer. It would be bad enough to deal with the bleeding, but for some reason our bodies feel the need to plague our lives with pain and nastiness.

I know guys don't like hearing about it and girls usually don't like talking about it, but I would like everyone to take a moment and acknowledge how awful life is for females (considering the worst leakage guys have to deal with is the occasional wet dream).

To add insult to the injury, it seems most males don't fully appreciate the crap women have to go through when they receive a visit from “Aunt Flow.” So, it would be a nice change for guys, rather than be disgusted by the sight of a tampon, to show a little bit more compassion and sympathy.

However, when I think about it further, it is kind of interesting the way society thinks about a woman's period. It is basically a taboo subject. Perhaps girls discuss it among themselves, but in truth, this entirely natural and monthly occurrence goes unannounced.

Of course, I wouldn't feel comfortable screaming down the halls that I just started my period. But at the same time, I shouldn't have to slip out of class, slickly pocket a tampon, and sneak to the bathroom.

It seems that everybody's attitudes toward periods need to change. Not just guys who treat the subject with immaturity and disgust, but girls who feel embarrassed and shy about the entire menstrual cycle.

Women don't need to feel gross about their period. It sucks, and perhaps bleeding from the crotch is a little unpleasant, but that doesn't make us disgusting.

RELATED

— The basics: Women's Health Information

— History of attitudes toward menstruation: Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health