Menstrual Hut

[april-wine]

Hey can I join this party?

I am lucky, in my teens i had horrendous cramps, and heavy bleeding for 7 days ughhhhhhh.....Now, I am in my thirties the pain is dull at best for the first day, the bleeding isn't as heavy and only lasts about 5 days yeahhhhhhhh.....

I remember the first BLEEDING lol, my mom was so excited, I of course was totally embarrassed.....I think she rounded up all my aunts and we had party lol, or at least they did.....I was the flushed red cheeks in the corner lol........

 

[roxie]

Thank you Starfish!

This is such a wonderful thread as I agree with the others. I have immensely enjoyed reading all of your stories. It has really made my day better as mother nature played a trick on me today, we have been on fertility drugs for a few months now, and since I too have never had regular menstruation, they hurt like hell! I never experienced any of this before so it's been a real eye opener. But I too cherish the fact that I am a woman....I've almost gotten used to it, but only with A LOT of help from pamprin!

 

[Starfish]

I think you should read The Red Tent.

Oh, yes, I agree. I am going to be up at my book store soon, and I plan on picking it up. I only know a little about it, but I am sure that it will be a read for all of the women in my life too.




I carefully read these wonderful and revealing (for good) posts, and I can't help but say for Morgaine's sake, that It doesn't take menstruation to make you a woman. It is your effecting role you play on others in life, that makes you a woman.

If you celebrate your influences and make good of them, then the flow of life is within you to give into others, no matter what you can create with it.

 

[espressolover]

Mae...
you are so right!
This has been a wonderful sharing experience.
*Hugs* to you, too!

It was a wonderful time for me when I walked cross-country with the Indians. I learned of their gods and ways of worship. We slept together, woke in the morning and ate and prepared for the long walk ahead by standing in a circle while the eldest holy man said blessings of strength. He would come round the circle and brush us with sage smoke to give us strength.

In the moon tent it was a beautiful sharing, caring experience.
We talked of Grandmother Moon and her blessings for us as women.
I am so happy for a forum to share this with all of you.
Thank you Starfish and the blessings of our mother to you all!

 

[pipercatt]

Mae...
you are so right!
This has been a wonderful sharing experience.
*Hugs* to you, too!

It was a wonderful time for me when I walked cross-country with the Indians. I learned of their gods and ways of worship. We slept together, woke in the morning and ate and prepared for the long walk ahead by standing in a circle while the eldest holy man said blessings of strength. He would come round the circle and brush us with sage smoke to give us strength.

In the moon tent it was a beautiful sharing, caring experience.
We talked of Grandmother Moon and her blessings for us as women.
I am so happy for a forum to share this with all of you.
Thank you Starfish and the blessings of our mother to you all!

Expressolover,

I am a little envious of your beautiful experience, but I thank you for sharing it.

 

[Guest]

 

[roxie]

I carefully read these wonderful and revealing (for good) posts, and I can't help but say for Morgaine's sake, that It doesn't take menstruation to make you a woman. It is your effecting role you play on others in life, that makes you a woman.

If you celebrate your influences and make good of them, then the flow of life is within you to give into others, no matter what you can create with it.

Yea what she said!


Day 1 here, day after tomorrow starts a new round of Clomid, cross your fingers for me that it works this time!

 

[Rubyfruit]

Fishie, I'll send you The Red Tent. Don't go buy it, unless you don't want a copy that's been read by at least 3 other amazing women.

roxie, I'm crossing my fingers and toes for you. Clomid worked for me, twice.

 

[espressolover]

You're very welcome, pipercatt!
It's so great to be able to share this experience with all of you.

 

[BustyTheClown]

Envious but happy...

You know how some things just make you go "mmm"? Well this thread is one of them. I must admit, I'm not a big fan of my period -- I bleed rather heavily, have pretty painful cramps, with all the other stuff like bloating, over-emotionality, irritability, etc... On top of that, my period was never something my mom and I talked about. Reading about your Red parties and stuff sounded so romantic, but I have to say I was a little weirded out by it, too. :> Not because they were a bad idea -- I think they sound lovely! -- but I was never... hm, what's the word I'm looking for? ... *embraced,* I guess, for starting my period. I was 11 when I first got it, and I just woke up to find my pink sheets all red instead... I was scared at first, but took the sheets off my bed and ran in to tell my mom that I'd started my period. She smiled, I think, but kept on ironing or whatever she had been doing. That night, I had some terrible cramps and was up until 3 am crying by myself because of the terrible pain. I'd learned about my period from a book and never fully understood it all until I'd been having my period for about 6 months -- mom never really offered to sit down with me and talk about it. Needless to say, I'm terribly envious of the wonderful experiences you all seem to have had starting and continuing your periods! lol This board is so warm and inviting though... it displays the best qualities of women, if you ask me. It's rich with caring and sensitivity, as well as with understanding and various levels of wisdom. I can understand why men have been threatened by such attitudes in the past -- this truly is incredible, and I think it really is something exclusive to women. I'm not saying that makes us better than men, it's just something I don't think they'll ever fully understand.
Anyway, do any of you have suggestions as to how a relatively young woman (at 19... so young and yet so jaded!) can relieve some of her period-time tension, sans Midol? Medicine is good for physical pain, but it can't soothe the emotional pain attached with my period. Any ideas? I'd love to be as happy about my period as you all seem to be about yours.
Oh, and for those of you who can't have your period for one reason or another, my heart goes out to you. You are beautiful, and are most definitely part of the "club." Womanhood is so much more than periods, breasts, vaginas, and whatnot... women like you prove that perfectly.
Take care, you gorgeous women, you. I look forward to reading more of your messages. This really has been enlightening.

P.S. Orgasms help me with my cramps, too (although I'm not sure about orgasms from sex yet <blushes>). Chocolate is always welcome! And fishie, I'm with the others about that grant for a moon hut thing -- sounds awesome!

 

[espressolover]

Hi Busty...
Nice to meet you. Thank you for your wonderful comments!

As for the pain thing....I've always had horrid cramps with mine. I was like you...they started when I was young...at 11, and it never has stopped being painful.
But I do cherish them. Even through the pain. I learned to meditate through it and to relax and let the rhythm of my body carry me along.
It is just such a special time...as some of the women have alluded to previously, all senses are heightened. The Indian way reads as such that during our moons the walls between the living and the dead are thinnest. We can communicate with our ancestors.

Also our strengths are ampified during that time. So I have just learned to go with it, and enjoy it. At my age, it won't be long now that I'll have them.

 

[BustyTheClown]

Sounds like what I need to do is stop trying to get my body to shut up and just listen to it. I'll try and pay more attention to all my symptoms, emotions, etc., next time.

Does anyone keep a journal, or did they used to?

 

[espressolover]

I do keep a journal, Busty.

I write down my dreams during that time, they are always more lucid. And I also write poetry...it just seems to flow during that time.

I know it's hard to pay any attention when you're hurting so badly. Do you take anything prescription for them?

 

[BustyTheClown]

I don't know if my cramps are bad enough to require anything prescription... it's more extreme discomfort than unbearable physical pain. I always figured it was just something I'd have to sit out.

 

[HotXBunz]

Pain...yep, part of the deal no doubt.
Over the counter, my Dr. recommended Aleve which is non prescription Anaprox.
We have also used a tincture called Anti- Spasmodic. It is completely organic made by a master (mistress) herbalist and has the extra bonus of being made with the lunar cycle and blessed. It has crampbark, blue cohosh, white willow and scullcap. Her address is on the bottle. it is a couple of years old and we are not sure if it is still current but will pass it along if interested. The lable name is Coyote Moon and she has incredible products.

For period tension chamomile tea and laying off of the caffeine seems to help.
We also eliminate noise. No TV, music unless it is soft and soothing etc. We have found we are easily over stimulated and this makes the tension worse. Warm baths are wonderful with a "soothing" bath oil.

We also warn people close to us we are edgy and emotional and they cut us some slack...or die. LOL

We really try to pamper each other during this time.

Wow Busty, what a lonely walk to have to make by yourself, especially at the tender age of eleven. (((HUG))) There is lots of company to be had here.

This ought to be Lit's Red Tent. Wouldn't it be neat if this turned out to be the place the women of Literotica came for comforting women's space and virtual chocolate when they need it? I have truly enjoyed this thread. The comraderie has been exceptionally special. I thank everyone (even our brave guy who ventured in) for giving of yourself here.

 

[HotXBunz]

There are lots of copies of The Red Tent on eBay for those who are interested.

 

[Laurel]

My parents gave me a funky little book called "What's Happening to Me?" It has cartoon drawings and funny but accurate descriptions of all things puberty.

It's my time of the month, and I am driving myself and others crazy. I've heard that women who are around each other often will start to cycle together. I wonder if this is true onine as well. Who here is swimming the red river right now? Hands up!

 

[Guest]

 

[Laurel]

OMG! I had "Where Did I Come From?" too! I forgot about that book! Wow...memories...

I was the first of my friends to have a period. I also had pubic & armpit hair in 4th grade, way ahead of everyone I knew. Of course, I didn't get boobs till I was 15, and then it was hardly worth the wait, but at least I was ahead on something.

 

[RisiaSkye]

Wow. I don't know what to think of the "red party" stories. My mom shoved a box of Stayfree at me and said "well, kid, sorry."

I don't get the "Gee, I'm so connected to the earth and moon" thing either. And I'm a freakin' pagan, so that one really bums me out. Instead, I get body shattering pain that lasts 2-48 hours. Often, the endometriosis sets off false labor--contractions, which start prostaglandin problems, which means 6 hours or so of unpredictable vomiting spells.

Or, alternatively, I get a toradol/vicodin/percocette induced haze, and only minor cramps. And, the internal scarring from the endo (and a few other problems) means I probably can't conceive. Not *definitely*, which would at least save me the cost of birth control. Grr...I feel so left out of the big Cumbaya spirit of this. I wish I could have that too.

I don't know why I felt the need to share all that.

I guess I'm just bitter.

Have fun in the red tent, ladies. I'll be thinkin' of you while I'm laying on the bathroom floor.

 

[Guru]

 

[espressolover]

Oh Risia,
I'm so sorry to hear that. I've always had bad menstual pain, but nothing on that scale.
I hope one day the pain will lessen for you. I don't think it ever truly leaves for us, though.

You are in my thoughts.

 

[daughter]

In other cultures

Starfish--

I've read that in many cultures menses actually isn't as severe as what we suffer in most Western societies. The cycle is considerably shorter and the blood loss is minor in comparison.

I'm afraid other women aren't hemorrhaging like us. There have been studies that argue that what we experience is really abnormal. Our bodies were not designed to bleed like this. Do some research. Diet, lifestyle, stress are significant factors that contribute to the phemenon.

I have met women who have altered their diets and no longer menustrate. This is fairly common among Vegan women, and they are completely healthy, and they have not undergone menopause.

And menustration is not necessary to conceive. Ovulation is. But soaking pads is not a sign of fertility.

So, to go back to your original question. If you lived where they used leaves, that's likely all you'd need and it wouldn't last more than 2 days if not hours. You wouldn't have enough fluid to paint with.

Peace,

daughter

 

[Cheyenne]

There's an old thread floating around here somewhere from back in summer of 2000. One of the reasons I turned down Depo Provera for bc was that there was a huge chance of my period disappearing completely while using it. When it came right down to it, I didn't want to alter the cycle of my life so much that it didn't exist. BCP does make the flow lighter each month for me, but it is still there. I like it that way.

This is also the perfect thread to bring up another of my favorite products- the Keeper. It's much better than pads or tampons- take a look on the internet for it if you're interested.

 

[Starfish]

Ruby, I'd be honored to borrow that copy.

Laurel, it is so odd to know that we learned about sex through the same outlet! A cheesy cartoon book. Do you remember the people they drew in those books? The where very round, and I remember the guy being bald, with one or two strands of hair popping out of his head. I said... "oh look, just like dad". LOL.



Anyway, I am not surprised to hear at least one person bring up the differences in blood loss rates being higher for American women, over that of other cultures. This is a sort of half truth. It is true, but not for all other cultures. There is a lot of misinformation out there.

The known facts are that only those who eat a low fat, Soy based diet, in combination with other factors, experience low bleeding rates. There is no other normal factors known, biologically, that reduce the rate of bleeding in way that is safe and natural. This is all due to the isoflavones in soy, that increase the follicular stage, which staves off menstruation. It is believed that this is due to the nonsteroidal estrogens of the isoflavone class, which behave as partial estrogen agonists/antagonists.

That is why a vegan would experience reduced to no bleeding. I will not agree that this is fully healthy or normal. If a fertile woman experiences no bleeding, there is a problem.

I eat a vegetarian diet, and have 3 day periods. I bleed hard for a day, and then 2 days of spotting very lightly. I have even had them as light as 1 day. This is normal.

If you study the diets of primitive cultures that would instill a menstrual hut like concept for the women, you'll see that they didn't eat soy, and that indeed they did bleed for a length of up to 7 days, at rates that exceed the normal 2 to 3 Tbs, that is typical for someone that eats a low fat, high soy diet.

When I took Anthropology, one of the things we focused on for the Yananamo of S.C. America, was their diet, and the effects it had on health of both the men and the women of the culture. The women would tend to be in 'hut' for 3-4 days.
This is normal, based on their diet.

Asian women are of the only known cultures that significantly experience different menstruation rates. There are also many other factors, such as herbal supplementation (Dong Quai for example) that gives these cultures a benefit to comfortable menstruation that we, in western cultures, lack.