Taboo or not Taboo: Tell FabLittleBag how you really feel about periods. £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

FabLittleBag is interested in finding out how you feel about your periods and have a few questions for you to answer on the topic.

Here’s what FabLittleBag have to say: “At FabLittleBag, we talk to lots of women about periods. We’re always surprised at the different attitudes and experiences. Not a frequently discussed topic, we often assume everyone feels and does the same as us. We're working with Anglian Water who are spreading the word about keeping unflushables out of the toilet and our pipes clear. So with your help, let’s lift the lid and shed some light on the subject…

FabLittleBag is on a mission to help women and girls feel more relaxed about periods and disposal in particular, as it is an ignored part of the process and one which sometimes feels awkward or embarrassing. We believe discussion is the way forward. With your help as experienced women in this area, some of you with daughters, you can make a HUGE difference to how periods are perceived for the future generations. It’s good to talk - so let the chat begin!”

Here are a few questions from FabLittleBag!

• Do you believe that periods are a taboo topic, and if so, how does this affect you?
• Do you hide the fact that you're on your period? (e.g. not carrying tampons publicly)
• When it comes to disposal, do you know if your close friends are flushers or binners?
• Are you a flusher or a binner?
• Do you ever worry about blocking a toilet or adding to beach pollution?
• Does having a very heavy flow or very bad cramps limit your lifestyle or require certain ‘regimes' each month?
• What word or phrase would you use to describe how you feel about your period?
• Have you ever experienced a toilet blockage?

Everyone who posts will be entered into a prize draw and one person will win a £300 voucher.

Standard Insight T&Cs apply.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

• Do you believe that periods are a taboo topic, and if so, how does this affect you?

Not taboo but they were never really discussed in my family. I don't really talk about them to my friends or husband but I am quite a private person.

• Do you hide the fact that you're on your period? (e.g. not carrying tampons publicly) I guess so but again I feel its a private thing.
• When it comes to disposal, do you know if your close friends are flushers or binners? No idea
• Are you a flusher or a binner? Binner but I use pads and can't imagine that anyone would try and flush them.
• Do you ever worry about blocking a toilet or adding to beach pollution? No
• Does having a very heavy flow or very bad cramps limit your lifestyle or require certain ‘regimes' each month? It did before I had my kids. I used to need lots of painkillers and would affect my sleep.
• What word or phrase would you use to describe how you feel about your period? Necessary but no fun.
• Have you ever experienced a toilet blockage No

• Do you believe that periods are a taboo topic, and if so, how does this affect you?

Don't see periods as a taboo topic.

• Do you hide the fact that you're on your period? (e.g. not carrying tampons publicly)

Depends on the setting. At work I'd take my bag, containing sanpro, to the loo. At home or with friends, I'd be more open or casual.

• When it comes to disposal, do you know if your close friends are flushers or binners?

No idea.

• Are you a flusher or a binner?

Binner, providing there is a bin

• Do you ever worry about blocking a toilet or adding to beach pollution?

No

• Does having a very heavy flow or very bad cramps limit your lifestyle or require certain ‘regimes' each month?

Yes, I have to get up during the night on my heaviest days

• What word or phrase would you use to describe how you feel about your period?

Burden

• Have you ever experienced a toilet blockage?

No.

• Do you believe that periods are a taboo topic, and if so, how does this affect you?

When my own periods started age 13, I never told anyone, which caused me nothing but problems, I even thought they were called Pyramids! I was embarrassed, felt like it was the end of the world, and would use nothing but bunched up loo-roll in my pants, and hope and pray I got pregnant at an early age, to stop them, thats how messed up I was, later found out my Mum had never been able to talk about hers, and this had been passed down to her!

• Do you hide the fact that you're on your period? (e.g. not carrying tampons publicly)

No! I am quite happy to let the bloody (sorry!) world know! I am very open with it with my family as I don't want my own girls to think its a taboo subject, not ever! Same thing with my boys! I ask my husband and eldest son to get my tampons, and they do it quite happily. My eldest son bless him will even go out and specifically buy me chocolate raisins too when I'm 'On' because he knows they cheer me up for about ten minutes....then I will cry because I'm fat, and then he'll help me by telling me a list of famous people who are fatter than me...my son will make a great husband to some lucky girl one day lol

• When it comes to disposal, do you know if your close friends are flushers or binners?

I would hope they are binners!

• Are you a flusher or a binner?

Binner! We even have a special bin for us girls in our house! My own daughter hasn't started hers yet but shes hoping its soon lol.

• Do you ever worry about blocking a toilet or adding to beach pollution?

Nope! I make sure I bag em n bin em!

• Does having a very heavy flow or very bad cramps limit your lifestyle or require certain ‘regimes' each month?

Yes. Ever since my last child was born my periods have been so heavy, I have to change my pad every two hours (at the longest!) and use tampons, and my periods last for 9 days! So have been checked out and all is fine, I'm just unlucky! I don't actually get much pain with my periods, its when I'm ovulating I suffer terribly from Mittelschmerz - ovulation pain, which has been so severe in the past Doctors had thought my appendix had burst! Sigh! Things with me are never simple! lol. But my periods are actually heavy, but painless! Its just I haven't yet found anything strong enough for me to be able to rollerskate happily and play tennis in! ;-)

• What word or phrase would you use to describe how you feel about your period?

Appreciation - They have meant I have had four gorgeous kids! Pain in the bum sometimes, but I'm sure when my pubes turn grey I will miss them!

• Have you ever experienced a toilet blockage?

Yes, on holiday, my second period started the very same minute I sat down to go on the plane to Menorca on holiday. I was 13, I had to keep my legs so tightly crossed the whole way there, then, during the holiday, I was using almost half a loo roll rolled up and put into my pants to act as a pad, and then of course flushing it away, until it stopped working....but before they could call the hotel handyman, I came clean and felt mortified....Mum bought me pads after that!

Do you believe that periods are a taboo topic, and if so, how does this affect you? Yes, it's not something that's often spoken about

• Do you hide the fact that you're on your period? (e.g. not carrying tampons publicly) No because I had the coil fitted to prevent periods
• When it comes to disposal, do you know if your close friends are flushers or binners? Absolutely no idea and would never ask
• Are you a flusher or a binner? If I need a panty liner or my past periods, always bin.
• Do you ever worry about blocking a toilet or adding to beach pollution? No.
• Does having a very heavy flow or very bad cramps limit your lifestyle or require certain ‘regimes' each month? Yes it used to.
• What word or phrase would you use to describe how you feel about your period? Utter hate.
• Have you ever experienced a toilet blockage? Not from sanitary waste, no.

• Do you believe that periods are a taboo topic, and if so, how does this affect you?

I don't shout about them daily but certainly not taboo either!

• Do you hide the fact that you're on your period? (e.g. not carrying tampons publicly)

I use a moon cup so nothing to hide

• When it comes to disposal, do you know if your close friends are flushers or binners?

I don't know

• Are you a flusher or a binner?

If I use panty liner I bin.

• Do you ever worry about blocking a toilet or adding to beach pollution? Yes, I worry about it for people that still use towels or tampons.
• Does having a very heavy flow or very bad cramps limit your lifestyle or require certain ‘regimes' each month?

Mine are heavy but I just take painkillers and get on with it. Up a few times overnight in the first few days which is a pain.

• What word or phrase would you use to describe how you feel about your period?

Could do without it!

• Have you ever experienced a toilet blockage

Nope

• Do you believe that periods are a taboo topic, and if so, how does this affect you?

No, I'm open about my period. My husband and sons are very good at getting me a cup of tea and a hot water bottle when I'm not feeling well!

• Do you hide the fact that you're on your period? (e.g. not carrying tampons publicly)

I'm more discreet when I'm out, but amongst family and friends I don't try to hide it.

• When it comes to disposal, do you know if your close friends are flushers or binners?

Not sure - although I presume they bin.

• Are you a flusher or a binner?

Binner

• Do you ever worry about blocking a toilet or adding to beach pollution?

Yes, I'm careful about not flushing.

• Does having a very heavy flow or very bad cramps limit your lifestyle or require certain ‘regimes' each month?

Yes, my periods have always been heavy, but have become even worse as I've got older. On heavy days, I rarely leave the house, unless I absolutely have to.

• What word or phrase would you use to describe how you feel about your period?

HATE - I can't wait for them to end. The actual bleeding lasts for 11 days, with about 3 days being so heavy, I'm scared to leave the house. Super Tampons and night -time towels worn together flood though in about an hour. And the pain is awful.

• Have you ever experienced a toilet blockage?

I've experienced blocked drains, which I had to pay to have fixed, despite the fact that it was my neighbours' waste that had blocked them. It was full of sanitary towels, baby wipes etc ie things that did not come from my home. It was very annoying.

• Do you believe that periods are a taboo topic, and if so, how does this affect you?

No, not really. I'm on the mini-pill, though, so only get a couple a year, very light ones.

• Do you hide the fact that you're on your period? (e.g. not carrying tampons publicly)

I don't pin them to my coat...

• When it comes to disposal, do you know if your close friends are flushers or binners?

Binners, but we don't tend to discuss disposal.

• Are you a flusher or a binner?

Binner

• Do you ever worry about blocking a toilet or adding to beach pollution?

N/a

• Does having a very heavy flow or very bad cramps limit your lifestyle or require certain ‘regimes' each month?

N/a

• What word or phrase would you use to describe how you feel about your period?

Routine

• Have you ever experienced a toilet blockage?

No

• Do you believe that periods are a taboo topic, and if so, how does this affect you?

No and I'm happy to talk about them to anyone

• Do you hide the fact that you're on your period? (e.g. not carrying tampons publicly)

No

• When it comes to disposal, do you know if your close friends are flushers or binners

I don't know.

• Are you a flusher or a binner?

A binner, I use cheap nappy bags to put tamping in.

• Do you ever worry about blocking a toilet or adding to beach pollution?

I don't put things down the toilet so no

• Does having a very heavy flow or very bad cramps limit your lifestyle or require certain ‘regimes' each month?

No, I do get bad headaches but paracetamol eases it a bit and it only usually lasts a day or two.

• What word or phrase would you use to describe how you feel about your period?

Just something that happens each month

• Have you ever experienced a toilet blockage?

No

Not taboo at all. Fortunatly though, I am on my third Mirena coil now, and don't have periods at all with it

I don't think that periods are a taboo subject, I just don't get too technical. I keep tampons wrapped up in my bag and don't put them on display unless absolutely necessary. Discreet. I don't know if my friends are flushers because I will bag my tampons when I am at other people's houses. I flush tampons at home. Because the packet says flushable I do, but also I worry about toilet blockages and beach pollution. It's a dilemma. Heavy flow and cramps will naturally make me commit to less, but I just get on with it if I have to. I would use the word 'inconvenient' to describe how I feel about my period. I've never experienced a toilet blockage through flushing.

Do you believe that periods are a taboo topic, and if so, how does this affect you?

No, It's just a part of life

• Do you hide the fact that you're on your period? (e.g. not carrying tampons publicly)

In work, yes

• When it comes to disposal, do you know if your close friends are flushers or binners?

I have no idea

• Are you a flusher or a binner?

Binner

• Do you ever worry about blocking a toilet or adding to beach pollution?

Nope, I don't flush

• Does having a very heavy flow or very bad cramps limit your lifestyle or require certain ‘regimes' each month

• No, but I do get very tired and have acne the week before

• What word or phrase would you use to describe how you feel about your period?

Inconvenient

• Have you ever experienced a toilet blockage?

Nope

• Do you believe that periods are a taboo topic, and if so, how does this affect you?

No I don't believe it is a taboo subject but it's not a subject people like to discuss as it's such a personal issue.

• Do you hide the fact that you're on your period? (e.g. not carrying tampons publicly)

Yes it's not something you want to advertise to everyone it's a private matter.

• When it comes to disposal, do you know if your close friends are flushers or binners?

I don't know how my friends dispose of there feminine products I would like to think they are binners

• Are you a flusher or a binner?

Binner

• Do you ever worry about blocking a toilet or adding to beach pollution?

No I don't because I don't flush feminine products or anything that your not supposed to flush down the toilet.

• Does having a very heavy flow or very bad cramps limit your lifestyle or require certain ‘regimes' each month?

Yes it affects me a lot as I have fibroids so my periods are extremely heavy and painful so I have to do a lot of juggling with work in order to not take time off work.

• What word or phrase would you use to describe how you feel about your period?

Inconvenient

• Have you ever experienced a toilet blockage?

No i haven't experienced toilet blockage

I HATE periods!! I got the coil fitted so I don't really get them anymore, yay!! . But my daughter gets them and they're really heavy. She gets quite poorly with them and often has bad cramps and headaches. The doctor is suggesting she goes on the Pill to make them more bearable. Poor thing has only had them for 2 years and has a whole lifetime left of them.

I hate being on my period and am just waiting to come on now :(
The before is horrible i pmt bad, I feel so stroppy and stressy.

Then il be on my period tommorrow, waking up to cramps and feeling so hott, needing windows open and covered in sweat.

I also hate going to the gym when im on as i get paranoid im going to leak through to, I wish men had periods xxx

• Do you believe that periods are a taboo topic, and if so, how does this affect you?

It makes men very uncomfortable so i only dicuss with women.

• Do you hide the fact that you're on your period? (e.g. not carrying tampons publicly)

No, i don't see the need to hide it. I'm always prepared so i always carry sanitary products.

• When it comes to disposal, do you know if your close friends are flushers or binners?

I've never actually taken that much notice of what others do or thought to ask but i guess a lack of a bin at a friends my indicate they are a flusher?

• Are you a flusher or a binner?

I do not use tampons as i hate the feeling of them so i bin towels.

• Do you ever worry about blocking a toilet or adding to beach pollution?

Nope as i don't flush.

• Does having a very heavy flow or very bad cramps limit your lifestyle or require certain ‘regimes' each month?

I tend not to exercise on my heaviest day or wear any light coloured clothing but it's only one day.

• What word or phrase would you use to describe how you feel about your period?

Not an issue business as usual.

• Have you ever experienced a toilet blockage?

No

Congratulations to @PerspicaciaTick for winning the prize draw!

I do think periods continue to be a taboo topic, how women sneak a tampon or sanitary towel from their handbag in the office and hide it up their sleeve or in the waistband of their trousers. It's as if it's a dirty subject we should keep hidden from view. Also buying sanitary items in the supermarket, it feels odd if you come across a work colleague and you have a box of 40 super plus tampons in your trolley, it shouldn't but it does.

I do worry about beach pollution, especially with pollution being a much more talked about subject but I don't think this is entirely to do with sanitary wear, I think plastic has a far more damaging effect to our environment.

The word or phrase I would use to describe how I feel about my period is .... uncomfortable for many reasons, the pain, the cramps, the mood wings that I and lots of my female friends get.