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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you got your period at someone’s house

219 replies

Terrysnotmine · 27/02/2023 20:01

Totally random but I’m suffering from being peri and periods all over the shop, I don’t always have sanitary supplies on me. If you got your period at someone else’s house what would you do?
Im thinking about putting a little sign saying ladies, supplies are in the upstairs bathroom, please help yourself if needed.
YANBU-great idea
YABU-far too weird

OP posts:
Survey99 · 27/02/2023 20:44

We need to remove the taboos about talking about periods, how on earth we are going to do that if some women, especially ones who know each other well enough to be in each others homes, can't even ask another women directly for something when needed?

We have all had periods at some point, we all all be caught short somewhere. Nothing to be embarrassed about!

AffIt · 27/02/2023 20:48

@Survey99

We have all had periods at some point, we all all be caught short somewhere. Nothing to be embarrassed about!

I don't think anybody is saying that it's anything to be embarrassed about, just that signposting people to another room (and calling them 'ladies', FFS) when you could just as easily have supplies on view and to hand in the actual room the would-be user is in is a bit... extra.

WonderingWanda · 27/02/2023 20:50

I wouldn't put a sign, we have under sink cupboards and I keep some in both upstairs and down and wouldn't have a problem with a guest helping themselves to that or getting a new loo roll out. I hope they wouldn't feel they couldn't look for some.

inadarkdarkhouseinadarkdarkstreet · 27/02/2023 20:52

Really? You don't think these theoretical women or girls in your home would just ask or improvise?

sasamummy · 27/02/2023 20:52

Sign is just too weird. Would it be a flashing Neon one...? I'd definitely be tempted to put one up for all the men though...
"Need to take a massive dump? Toilet is on the right, just down the road, at TESCO!!!"

WeightoftheWorld · 27/02/2023 20:53

I wouldn't put a sign up or anything but I've always got some sanitary products in the bathroom cabinet. I'd hope if someone did get caught out like that in my house they'd feel comfortable to have a look in the cupboard and they'd see them straight away and could get something useful out.

melj1213 · 27/02/2023 20:53

If your periods are all over the place you need to make sure you're carrying period supplies at all times.

I always have the odd tampon/pad floating around all handbags at all times as well as in my work locker and gym bag because I have PCOS so my period can turn up whenever it feels like it. During an actual period I don't leave the house without my little pouch with pads/tampons/wipes that I just drop into whatever bag I'm using.

If I went to a friend's house and there was a cutesy sign telling me there were period products in a specific place then it would just seem weird, it's something I'd expect from a public place like a hotel or restaurant, not a private residence. If we're close enough for me to be in your house and in your bathroom then we're most probably also close enough for me to either have a rummage in the bathroom cabinet for supplies or for me to just ask you directly. If we aren't that close then I'd just make do with loo roll and make my excuses to leave asap.

inadarkdarkhouseinadarkdarkstreet · 27/02/2023 20:55

sasamummy · 27/02/2023 20:52

Sign is just too weird. Would it be a flashing Neon one...? I'd definitely be tempted to put one up for all the men though...
"Need to take a massive dump? Toilet is on the right, just down the road, at TESCO!!!"

I have no idea how to add crying with laughter emojis but I would if could!

LibrariansGiveUsPower · 27/02/2023 20:57

I always keep sanitary products in the bathrooms, I’d fully expect any lady who was in my house to grab one if she was caught short.

notacooldad · 27/02/2023 21:00

I have a jar on the bathroom shelf with tampons in. I expect anyone that needs to use one to take one.

When my sons were early teens they asked me to put it in the cupboard away from view but they were swiftly told to do one and the jar didn't impact on their lives whatsoever!

I always have a couple of tampons in my various handbags and coat pockets just in case though.

autocarrot · 27/02/2023 21:02

I wouldn't go in someone's bathroom cupboards/drawers without prior permission....I'd be annoyed too if someone went in mine

I'd fully expect my bathroom cupboards/drawers to be available to anyone who happens to be in the bathroom. I couldn't begin to be concerned about someone looking in my bathroom cupboards. In fact, if they wanted to make some kind of order of the chaos in there while they're at it, they'd be most welcome.

autocarrot · 27/02/2023 21:03

@notacooldad one of my DSs made a similar complaint, and was also told to do one!

TonksInPurple · 27/02/2023 21:08

Just keep some on the side for people in need! All these ‘just carry some’ people clearly are just perfect and don’t have peri brain fog or adhd!

Goodread1 · 27/02/2023 21:08

Hi Op
The way your thread was coming across I thought you were a Landlady of a guest house establishment or hostel place,

So I was thinking a discreet small sign would be OK, or this type of situation,

I think 🤔 you should have enough right kind of sanitary protection as much as possible, so don't get caught out,

I used to have seriously heavy periods and I was in a thought pattern of almost constantly, either worrying I would potentially could flood underwear or having flooding accidents,
I was worried that I would have accidents more often,

My solution to this issue was the Mirer coil birth control protection what a game changer that was Op,

I dont know your thoughts on Mirer birth control coil Op
,
I think what could help you too is looking at period underwear specifically at Internet websites to order online,

WiddlinDiddlin · 27/02/2023 21:08

A sign?

Pft, go the whole hog, have it in 6 inch wall decal, rhyming of course...

'Live, Love, Flow
Our San-Pro
Can be Found Below'

Over a big basket of neatly arranged products of all shapes and sizes.

Surely if you've loo roll they can use that, and if they know you well enough they'll either rummage for themselves or yell and ask?

Wrongsideofpennines · 27/02/2023 21:09

I think just keep them somewhere that wouldn't take much looking for so a friend could find them if they needed.

I remember being an 11 year old at someone's house and having a panic that I needed to change my pad but it was in my bag downstairs and I didn't want to make it obvious by having to go back to the loo carrying something. I've made sure I'm well stocked from then on.

Goodread1 · 27/02/2023 21:10

Oops i ment to say OK,

Typo mistake or is

LaughingCat · 27/02/2023 21:10

BabychamGlass · 27/02/2023 20:34

A sign IN the bathroom would make a tad more sense (but a basket of tampons etc on the side would probably suffice).

The OP was suggesting a sign elsewhere in the house, directing people to a specific bathroom Grin

Show quote history

OOOOOHHHHH…yeah a sign anywhere else would be weird. I would never take anything that was on the side, even in a friend’s or family member’s bathroom, without asking. But a little sign in there saying help yourself, would be massively appreciated! Can’t tell you the number of times I’ve nipped upstairs to the loo
in someone’s house but left my bag with the tampons in downstairs. Wedged loo roll folded in down there just…shudders…isn’t nice.

prescribingmum · 27/02/2023 21:11

I would hope anyone who is in my house would be comfortable asking me if they needed anything. Saying that, I don’t actually have any in the house as I use period pants, maybe this thread is a sign I should keep a small amount in case a guest does need!

Okunevo · 27/02/2023 21:12

If you were going to put a sign then surely it would make more sense just to leave a pack of supermarket branded pads instead?

EffortlessDesmond · 27/02/2023 21:13

I am post-menopausal but still have supplies left over. I leave them in the cloakroom bathroom cabinet, and suggest that DS tells GFs where to look if there's a crisis. I don't want to be invasive, but hope something would be available and helpful in a crisis. But I don't restock like a branch of Boots either.

AllWorkYoPlait · 27/02/2023 21:15

Where's this sign going? Just put supplies on display.

Goodread1 · 27/02/2023 21:15

@BabychamGlass
Yes discreet sign obviously in the bathroom would be OK good to know , where sanitary protection are kept, of course.

Don't see anything wrong with that,

Obviously a sign anywhere else in Op house would look weird 🤔

Sunsetintheeast · 27/02/2023 21:16

JudgeRudy · 27/02/2023 20:39

I wouldn't go in someone's bathroom cupboards/drawers without prior permission....I'd be annoyed too if someone went in mine.

Show quote history

What you’d be annoyed if a friend was caught out with their period and had a look for some protection? Wow.

melj1213 · 27/02/2023 21:16

I wouldn't go in someone's bathroom cupboards/drawers without prior permission....I'd be annoyed too if someone went in mine

As a general rule I would agree about people going into cupboards without permission as I don't want people rummaging through my cabinets just for the sake of nosiness but in a bathroom emergency - an unexpected period, toilet paper/soap running out etc - I would be totally happy for anyone to open the cupboard to find any necessary supplies.

Tbh all we keep in the bathroom cupboards are extra toiletries (shampoo, shower gel, conditioner, razor heads etc); bathroom supplies (extra toilet paper, hand soap, toothpaste, new toothbrushes, sanitary products etc) and cleaning supplies (surface spray, bleach, sink unblocked, cleaning cloths, loo cleaner etc) in one and towels and wash cloths in the other so it's not like they're full of the crown jewels.

Of all the cupboards in the house the bathroom cabinets are the most "public" ones - I fully expect people to look in the bathroom cabinets in a way I wouldn't expect them to go through a bedroom or kitchen cupboard.

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