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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not get the attitude to periods

182 replies

mytartanscarf · 06/02/2015 22:17

Some people seem to think there really is something horrible about them. People always urge sanitary protection to be given in food bank parcels. Someone leaving a sanitary towel out is treated with horror.

I don't get it. I've occasionally found myself in a position where I don't have sanitary towels in. I don't think a used sanitary towel is necessarily any worse than anything used for bodily fluids! I think there are more prevalent things on the minds of homeless women than periods.

Aibu? Not being an arse: I don't get it!

OP posts:
itiswhatitiswhatitis · 06/02/2015 22:28

I think crackers was rather polite actually. I have no manners so am happy to tell you I think your an idiot. What a stupid post.

scarletforya · 06/02/2015 22:28

People don't like to bleed all over the place. It's just basic cleanliness really.

WhatsGoingOnEh · 06/02/2015 22:28

But but... If you don't use sanitary protection, doesn't blood leak through your underwear and onto your clothes?

Or do you mean you use loo roll instead? I don't understand...

AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves · 06/02/2015 22:28

What a really stupid OP. I assume you have a couple of days of painless light flow. And if you don't, you are stupider than I thought.

Agreed in spades. I'm on the way to the menopause now and it's great because I don't have to contend with the mess, hygiene issues, pain and sheer tiresomeness of periods any more. It must be a million times worse if money and poor housing conditions make it difficult to deal with them in privacy and comfort.

ghostyslovesheep · 06/02/2015 22:28

I need protection otherwise I'd bleed all over the chairs at work - does that answer your point?

I could take 3 days a month of work sick or I could use a towel...

DropYourSword · 06/02/2015 22:29

Prepare to die phlebasconsidered!

Sn00p4d · 06/02/2015 22:29

Ummm, Do you mean people are offended by the sight of a sealed, new sanitary towel or a used one, frankly I'd rank all materials used for disposing of bodily fluids as equally rank if left lying about in plain sight and not disposed of properly!

I don't know what kind of periods you have if you're able to have one and don't require any products to deal with it but I'm jealous! They're expensive, even the absolutely shite budget ones, surely that's why they're recommended by food banks, if you have three quid and a family to feed most women would feed their family over buying sanitary products, it shouldn't be a choice they have to make.

Original poster
mytartanscarf · 06/02/2015 22:29

Well, I hope I've clarified matters now; I'm not drunk, or on drugs, or glue.

I don't think anybody should have to go without any basic need but I was wondering why lacking one basic need (sanitary protection) was seen as 'worse' than others (soap, loo roll, washing powder?)

If I made little sense I apologise; I've been at work since 7 :)

OP posts:
XiCi · 06/02/2015 22:29

So you're happy to go to work/ school drop off / lunch etc etc with blood dripping down your legs and think that is not an important thing to be concerned about?

Incredibly odd post

MrsJohnLewis · 06/02/2015 22:31

So OP are you saying you're on your period right now and you're not using any sanitary protection?

MrsTawdry · 06/02/2015 22:31

I practically BIRTH some of the blood clots I pass OP...it's certainly not pretty. I have to have multiple showers or my fur bikini starts to resemble a battered viking leader.

And that...well it needs the dignity of proper protection.

Original poster
mytartanscarf · 06/02/2015 22:31

whats yeah I use kitchen roll but pretty much. Of course I recognise from others' descriptions that I'm lucky in this area and I dont think anybody should have to but then they shouldn't have to go without soap either if you see what I mean yet no one has ever said 'God how awful, imagine not ever being able to wash your hands!' Or not as much anyway!

OP posts:
LeSaor · 06/02/2015 22:31

If you had to walk round all day with wet, colour staining soap smeared all over your underwear then it'd be the same.

ghostyslovesheep · 06/02/2015 22:31

is it seen as 'worse' - can't say I've ever encountered that

is this a TAAT op?

mixedpeel · 06/02/2015 22:31

I don't really know what you mean.

To me it is ensuring dignity during a difficult time. By 'difficult time' I mean requiring the food bank, not the period itself.

AnyFucker · 06/02/2015 22:31

perhaps op is a FreeBleeder

Charlotte3333 · 06/02/2015 22:32

There's nothing undignified about periods at all. No sir. Because who doesn't love flooding their clothes/underwear three times a day? My periods are the vilest things, heavy and (tmi, I know) horrendously clotty. Without good, clean, quality sanitary stuff I'd have to stand in the shower all day 5 days a month while I slowly bled to death.

Hygiene products are absolute essentials when it comes to food banks. I'd not consider going to bed at night without brushing my teeth; I regard sanitary protection as being in the same category.

TalkinPeace · 06/02/2015 22:32

Mirena?
No periods for the last 15 years
sloping gently into menopause
why go through the hassle when its optional ?

DropYourSword · 06/02/2015 22:32

Ok OP, let's break this down, much like GCSE revision, into bite size chunks!

I am not saying protection shouldn't be provided. I'm genuinely wondering why there's this horror surrounding it

What horror? Is there? Is this a thing? Wanting to provide some to food banks does not equate to me horror?!

MrsTawdry · 06/02/2015 22:32

I also don't think that going without tootpaste or soap is made to seem "Less" OP. I often see advice on here to include it in foodbank shops.

People have suggested all of those as well as flannels and things.

MistressMerryWeather · 06/02/2015 22:32

Well! You clearly have never had the experience of such a monstrous period that even the most super of tampon/sanitary towel combo didn't stop a conker sized clot roll down the leg of your linen trousers and fall out with a plop beside your sandal at a family BBQ.

Hip fucking hip horray for you.

Original poster
mytartanscarf · 06/02/2015 22:32

Sorry to hear that Tawdry. That must be painful for you Sad

No, I'm not saying I think anyone should have to go without sanitary protection; just that it's one thing on a long list of things that would be horrific to go without.

OP posts:
CaptainJamesTKirk · 06/02/2015 22:32

I can think of a hundred worse things than being on my period and not having sanitary protection.

I'm not sure I can. I think every woman should have the supplies they need and if that means donating them to food banks then so be it. It would be utterly humiliating and degrading and uncomfortable and downright unpleasant to have a period without adequate sanitary protection. Read this OP.

ilovesooty · 06/02/2015 22:32

I think homeless women and those on limited budgets and dependent on food banks can do without having to struggle to access basic sanitary protection as well. Did you know it's often not available in hostels?

It's fundamental to dignity and self esteem.

fustybritches · 06/02/2015 22:33

I think soap, loo roll and washing powder are also foodbank items OP ....