Time for a girly chat

I should probably apologise to those of you who got the impression that this was a gaming blog. It isn't. This is my personal blog, where I type up whatever I feel like. Normally, that does happen to be gaming notes. Right now it's menstruation.

No one here who doesn't want to be?

Kay.

So, I used to assume that the amount of blood I lost was average (average being 30ml to 80ml per month). I'd complain about cramps for four days, and be annoyed messing about with stupid sanitary things. Then I got a menstrual cup, which is freaking awesome (just saying). It also had the side effect of letting me know exactly how much blood I lost each month.

It averaged out to 20ml, which is very much below average.

I felt a little bit ashamed of myself for complaining. In my defence, I've never been anyone else, so I assumed everyone was about the same as me.

I asked a couple of people on an LJ comm how much they lost, and that was generally around the 110-130ml mark. And I felt both embarrassed and incredibly lucky.

Three months ago, I was fitted with an IUD. Since this was a flexi-T 3000, it had the effect of making my periods heavier. I knew that it would, but I figured, since I was so far below average, I'd take that rather than the hormones in the mirena.

So now I'm losing 40ml a month. I'm just about average, if on the low side.

It's not fun.:(

Mooncup

An email inquiry I sent to the Mooncup company through their website;


A few days ago, I had an appointment at the Brook, and the nurse and I began talking about my use of the Mooncup. Although she had heard of them before, the information had consisted of a ten minute talk during her training, and she'd never actually met a cup user before. On hearing my positive reaction, she wondered if perhaps cups were something that the Brook could learn more about, and suggest to girls.

I think this would be a wonderful idea. My knowledge of menstrual cups came solely from a livejournal group on the subject ( http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups/ ), and when I went to buy mine from Boots, the sale assistant was initially confused as to what I was looking for (she did eventually figure out what I meant and was able to locate them, but it clearly wasn't a well known product).

So, my query is, would it not be possible to offer more information about the Mooncup or menstrual cups in general through health services such as the Brook? Even something so simple as leaflets in the waiting room, or nurses or gynacologists with more information would make a difference. I feel that it would also be helpful is Mooncups were discussed in schools, as part of sex education, or PSME lessons. Even if people don't act upon the idea right away, at least they're aware of it, and may check out more information online, or be more open towards the idea the next time it comes up.

Are there any leaflets or any other information easily available which I can carry around with me to show to people when the subject comes up?

Thank you for your time.

Just by the way, I find your reaction to the Keeper Company's unethical business practices very classy.

I sent it under "all other enquiries".

The Brook is a charity which provides free confidential advice and contraception to young people under the age of 25, and PSME was, in my school anyway, Personal, Social, Moral Education. We did two years of it in secondary and had a few odd lessons in primary school. In primary school it was all about people with disabilities, and racial issues, while in secondary it was mostly about sex, and growing up.