To today HATE being a woman?

[TookALittleLongWayRound]

Not seen my boyfriend for 2 weeks and have a big night planned tonight and lo and behold AF makes a big fat appearance. Four days early

Sometimes being a woman just sucks! There is zero point to my thread other than to whinge!

I have often wondered how on earth did evolution get this so wrong?!

Why do we not just reabsorb whatever is not needed each month or have a uterus lining that just contantly renews itself? Other organs seem perfectly capable of functioning without bleeding 13 times a year. Why, just, why?!

I have had a hysterectomy now and, while it was not a pleasant experience and the recovery was pretty grim, now I am through the other side, it's fantastic. Did my fair share of taking the horrible old bag with me as an unwanted guest on past holidays though! In later years she invited her cousin Fibroids along for the ride to share the joy!

This always seems to happen to me! I took back to back packs of the pill to stop my period during our honeymoon - I don't usually take the pill and the change in hormones resulted in my period dithering about for far longer than usual and was still going on for the wedding…….First night away after dcs (6 years!) - period! Booked in for knee surgery - period due so rearranged it, and then period also rearranges itself to be due for the new date! My dsis takes cerazette, which stops her period completely - I, on the other hand, get constant light bleeding! Not fair.

Really? Your af stops you from doing fun stuff?

Yes Jackie. Because it isn't fun to be around people while gritting teeth and clenching or unclenching core muscles against the pain, while big clots of blood run down your leg because it was an hour since you last changed the layers of armour to the nether regions. Did you not know? Some of us don't live in a sanitary products advert.

Last June, DH and I were looking forward to an unprecedented 5 DAYS without DS. We had lots of things planned, the primary thing being lots of ahem uninterrupted time at home.

so of course, on day one, AF turns up 2 WEEKS EARLY, unusually heavy and painful, for the whole 5 days I think it was actually an early MC

Sex is good for period pains!

I lost my virginity when I had a period- I wasn't going to let that stop me having fun. Painkillers & condoms, problem solved.

Jackie well aren't you lucky to have found a man/men who aren't completely turned off by the idea of putting it into a bleeding orifice

You can get tablets to delay your period from boots online. I took them last year for my holiday. Worked a treat

I was like jackie and surprised periods stopped people don't stuff - sorry!

Painkillers & condoms, problem solved.

How does that solve the floods of blood all over the bedding?

I was like jackie and surprised periods stopped people don't stuff - sorry!

I can only assume you are able to be away from a toilet for more than an hour when you have your period.

It's not just sex though is it Jackie. Who wants to be lounging about in a bikini worrying about leaks. Or sightseeing with crippling period pains. Some people suffer with very heavy, painful and/or emotionally difficult periods so your "oh just get on with it" attitude doesn't really work does it?

Jackie, I've had sex when on my period....with everyone I've ever had sex with, in fact. (Wtf have condoms got to do with it, the blood still goes everywhere and then you also have a condom swinging around afterwards ). However, paracetamol and ibuprofen don't reach the places that, er, can be reached while having sex. It hurts and that isn't fun, and no it isn't good for that amount of pain, dear, I've tried. DH and I are happy enough to kiss and cuddle if one of us isn't feeling like dtd. You knoe it is possible to have a perfectly happy and loving relationship and not have sex every week, don't you?

It's only since having children that my periods have turned into a complete bloodbath and thus a problem. Before, they didn't really interfere with anything.

Soup - yes, mine are light I suppose. I've never really discussed them at length. It wasn't intended critically. I can get by with one sanitary towel a day after the first day and that's only two.

My fave euphemism is shark week.

I think those of us who tend to have lighter periods might be thoroughly shocked to hear what those who aren't so lucky go through. My mum was always 'checking' on me, and I thought she was weirdly nosey until she revealed that on the first day of her periods, she had to wear super size tampons, mattress equivalent sanitary towels and still had to change the lot approximately every 30-60 minutes. A massive PITA at the best of times, but trying to find public toilets at 30 minute intervals when on holiday, not being able to swim or lounge on the beach, constantly checking clothes to make sure there are no leaks and generally being aware of it the whole time must be awful.
I would be astonished if those on this thread who think it 'shouldn't be a problem' didn't know at least one person who suffers like that, although they might not talk about it openly.

I bought a pack of soft cups once as I had a hotel booked & at the time I was suffering from heavy painful periods.

They were like a disposable diaphragm, designed for use during periods. So a couple of painkillers, some wine & one of these enabled mess free sex!

They were pricey though & I wouldnt use them all the time.

It's not even just the pain or the flow control either. I find I am forgetful and get easily lost, it's harder to make plans and stick to them...Last time I was on holiday I had a great day out planned but it took a while to marshall myself out the door, then I got lost and then I realised I'd remembered everything else I'd want for the day out, but forgotten to pack any money, so using a cafe toilet was out and so I just called it a day before it even got off the ground! By the time I got back I needed another shower.

And painkillers to have sex? Really? If I'm going to have sex, I do want to enjoy it and feel aroused and sexy. Not numb and messy.

And no, it isn't that time of the month for me, it just really gets my goat when even other women can't imagine everyone else doesn't experience AF exactly the way they do.

I've only ever shared info about my periods with MN :)

Yep, painklillers for after, orgasms make my cramps much worse!

Jackie's responses remind me of the men on the Independent discussion page who were flabbergasted by Heather Watson's "revelations" this week. One particular gem of a human being was revolted by women being "unable to control their bleeding" to the extent that they worried about leakage onto their clothes and it showing. Presumably this character had neither sisters nor had ever had a female partner, or friends.