To not get the attitude to periods

[mytartanscarf]

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!

Tartan I PROMISE you that given the choice, I would choose sanitary protection over toothpaste, soap or bog roll.

I just would and bet others would too. It really is THAT important.

I'm certainly not trying to wind anybody up, and if I was, I like to think I would choose a better topic!

Thank you ilovesooty

I suppose it is easy to think of your own 'typical' period as the norm.

Tawdry I am grateful for you taking the trouble to "educate" me :)

Thanks. I'll pop a box of towels in the trolley at tesco tomorrow for the food bank - hope I don't get funny looks!

You can almost hide not washing yourself or your clothes.

You can't hide blood running down your leg.

Tartan you're welcome. You needed it.

I suppose it is easy to think of your own 'typical' period as the norm.

yes, and that would denote a sore lack of empathy and education

arrrgggghhhh .... this is such a stupid thread.

You really can't see the difference between 5 days a month of pouring blood without anything to catch it with & not having loo roll?

tartan, you just use kitchen roll? I also use kitchen roll. At the same time as tampons, towel, black clothes, and towels to sleep on. Without the sanitary protection I would probably be unable to leave the bathroom for 48 hours.

I could manage without protection since I had endometrial ablation, I am very jealous if your periods are like that naturally.

MrsTawdry yes I do agree that it would have been my priority too. I am very glad it's over and I don't have to suffer like that any more. I don't have to take buckets of iron tablets and make excuses to work at home, ignore friends at the school gate because they might want to chat when I knew I needed to get home because I had a 15 minute tampon change interval etc.

Tartan please remember any funny looks you get whilst sticking a pack of super towels or tampons into the food bank box are far less damning than you'd get if you were bleeding down your legs :(

I don't lack empathy AF - I just don't know a huge amount about other women's periods.

Education - I'll concede to that but am trying!

I think I have fairly normal periods but I can't understand how anyone cannot understand how massively physically difficult it would be to have your knickers and trousers soaked in blood for 4-5 days at a time. You wouldn't be able to sit down anywhere, or go to bed without covering everything in blood. You would be wet and uncomfortable and if you couldn't change your clothes every few minutes you would eventually end up encrusted with blood. That's just some basic physical problems without any psychological baggage.

If I couldn't afford loo paper I'd get some from public loos, I wouldn't just piss in my jeans and walk around in it.

Woah no I refute 'being deliberately obtuse'. I have conceded to being unreasonable, and have thanked people for taking the trouble to explain

why is going without a sanitary towel worse than going without loo roll or soap or washed clothes?

But without adequate protection you would need to wash yourself and your clothes more.
I do see what you mean OP in that having your period is a normal bodily function and therefore nothing to be ashamed of. That said so is having a shit so I guess you think we shouldn't bother to wipe our arses either.

You do know that flushing kitchen roll down the loo will block up the toilet or drains don't you?

Captain - at the risk of being called names again I genuinely didn't know people had such heavy periods without being unwell in some way.

Do you expect women to just go around bleeding all over the place?

I suppose a handful of moss would help, or perhaps some rags.

In a way it's not really your fault Tartan.

Periods and period problems are treated as something women just have to get on with regardless of how differently we all menstruate and how difficult it can be for some of us.

Pip - I don't have a 'proper' loo here; I have to throw out the kitchen roll. It's only temporary - I'll pick up some sanitary towels tomorrow.

I do (honestly) know I am extremely lucky to have good health and I hope you will all believe me when I say I never take it for granted and am hugely sympathetic to those of you who have difficult periods.

Do you know Merry there are NO pictures online. how is anyone meant to know what's normal and what's heavy etc?

Right! Everyone take a sanny selfie...or a tammy selfie....and upload it!

only joking. Sort of.

When I was 16 and temping in an office, I walked across the room and my sanitary towel fell out my knickers and on to the floor (80s ra ra skirt). That is all.

Why would you get funny looks if you give towels/tampons at the food bank??!! This is nuts

You don't have to have heavy periods to comprehend this surely - most periods involve blood which needs catching doesn't it?
I've not had periods for years but can still appreciate this!

ok, leave her (him??) alone now, she has said sorry, and is going to put some towels in the collection for food banks..... it is quite refreshing to meet someone prepared to read responses with an open enough mind to change their opinion.

Agreed Caronaim!

Lol Tawdry.

I get horribly MOODY and depressed just before my period, I find. I am normally a fairly cheery sort of soul and yet two days before I am praxtically suicidal!

I need to keep better track of them really.