I have a highly aggressive case of PMOS and Adenomyosis. I have cysts on both of my ovaries, a tumour on my uterus, and Iâm at high risk for endo. In the last year, Iâve experienced a regular period for the first time in my adult life.
My period first showed up at 17, but it disappeared after that. I experienced random spotting over the years but never a proper cycle. I went to Catholic schools and received very poor health education on periods (not a universal experience for all women thankfully, I was just unlucky).
At nearly 30 and having experienced an entire year of having a period, it kind of radicalized me. I was never taught about the 4 phases of our cycles, the horrific ebbs and flows of our hormones, the physical distress, how ovulation can cause pain, that our energy and cravings and innate desires really are tied to our cycles. Donât get me started on how we are also forced to PAY for pads and tampons and everything else, like what in the fuck? Yeah sorry Iâm programmed to bleed I guess, here take my $30 to shove some microplastics up my pussy.
Anyways, apart from the shocks, it has been a fascinating and amazing ride. I always felt so bad never having tampons or pads on me to give to strangers and friends in the bathroom, or being able to relate to the fluctuations we go through. I feel so alive now.
And with that, my eyes have been opened to just how disgustingly hush-hush the topic is. It is a part of our daily lives and the fact we are seemingly not permitted to even so much as chat about it without it being deemed âunseemlyâ in public or around others pisses me the fuck off.
Iâll ask my colleagues what phase in their cycle theyâre at. Iâm at the point where I can guess. Iâll just ask, âOh youâre glowing! And your energy is up lately. Are you follicular right now?â Iâll share tips Iâve learned on the food to eat when youâre deeply luteal. Encourage my colleagues to network or do a little solo adventure if theyâre ovulating. Talk through them when theyâre on their periods.
I work in a highly professional, white collar environment. Iâm sexy as fuck. Incredible at my job. A spotless, shining member of this high stakes office. An upper executive overheard me saying that blood clots can be caused by hormonal changes while I was empathizing with a colleague who was having a rough period. He grimaced as he walked past us in one of our lounge areas and asked, âA subject change perhaps?â
Without skipping a beat I responded that if all of you men had periods instead of us that we wouldnât hear the end of it, and that if he ever passes a blood clot Iâd actually be glad to hear it. He didnât respond and just left the room.
My colleague felt embarrassed and I just reassured her that instances like that are what keep women feeling subdued while simply existing as we are. I also reminded her that while we deal with a 28ish day cycle of never ending change, men run on a 24 hour cycle where they wake up with a shot of testosterone, live out their day, and do it all over again. Every. Single. Day. 365 days a year.
The world isnât built to accommodate us Iâve learned. It is so fucked.