Welcome to the October 2020 issue of the PAD Digital Magazine! Check out our social media and let us know what you think of this month's issue!
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Period Activists at ‘Deis (PAD) fights for menstrual justice and seeks to uplift the voices of all menstruators. We strive to facilitate access to menstrual products and education, dismantle the menstrual stigma, and advocate for policies that protect the rights of menstruators.
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PAD Executive Board: Cassady Adams, Sydney Carim, Ilana Feldman, Savannah Jackson, Madison Leifer, Kyla Speizer
The financial and environmental costs of modern period products.
Tampons
Around $84 per year
Disposable products, without a doubt, do not satisfy our need for sustainability. Moreover, tampons are wrapped in plastic and are often filled with chemicals that pollute the earth in landfills. More modern applicators for tampons are plastic, and for sanitary reasons, are not typically recycled, therefore continuing to increase our carbon footprint.
Pads
Around $84 per year
Pads, like tampons, contain myriad plastic components. Not only are pads wrapped in a plastic liner, the cotton absorption material often contains synthetic plastics to prevent leaks. While this product is convenient, it fills landfills with plastics harmful to the environment.
Diva/Menstrual Cups
Between $15-$32 lasting 10 years
Diva cups, besides their entertaining name, provide a reusable, washable option for individuals menstruating. Diva cups are made of silicone, a more sustainable plastic that is biodegradable. Additionally, this product can be used for up to 10 years, helping to alleviate the one-use-addiction that pollutes our earth and is less of a financial commitment.
Period Underwear
Around $30 per pair
Period underwear is also a reusable option catering to the needs for comfort that most pad consumers desire. This product requires maintenance that has the same environmental costs that come from washing a load of laundry. Because of this, they have a high-water usage cost, but considerably low eco-impact compared to one use products.
"The healing available to contemporary women through our willingness to face the dark is key to our own development. What we're afraid of is actually the treasure at the center of our being, the female energy source from which we have so long been severed."
- Vicki Noble
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PERIOD PRICE TAGS
Illustration by Kyla Speizer. Photo from Here For Her brand from @sf.photo.graphy
KAITLYN GREENBERG
We empty our powers to return and feed back to the earth,
Gifting our potion of life force to the mother cauldron.
Pulsing, aching, vibrating and oozing.
We breathe.
Drop by drop that potion gets stronger.
With the tide it is pulled out, further and further into the depths,
Chasing the waning moon.
ANONYMOUS
Witching Hour
LET'S TALK ABOUT PERIOD SEX, BABY
YOUR BODY ON YOUR PERIOD
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Your body changes throughout your cycle. Here are some important ways your body may be different during your period and how that may affect sexual activity!
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Some menstruators experience breast tenderness during their period or ovulation. Breasts can be too tender to touch or sensitive in a way that welcomes kisses and caresses. This is important to be aware of and communicate with a partner about!
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Estrogen levels tank during a menstruator’s period, which can result in less natural lubrication. For some, this will mean needing more store-bought lubricant for sex. Others may find that the period flow feels even better than store bought lube!
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The cervix drops during a period. This means that certain positions may feel better for penetrative sex.
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The change in hormones can cause a heightened sex drive for some during menstruation!
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Orgasms can help relieve cramps and period pain. They pump pain relievers into the body and the contractions can help push accumulated fluids out of the uterus
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RECEIVING ORAL SEX ON YOUR PERIOD
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Use a Softcup, Diva cup or Keeper Cup collect the flow so it does not run through the vagina
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Rinse your vagina then insert a tampon before commencing oral. Just remember to remove the tampon before having intercourse!
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A dental dam or non-microwavable plastic wrap can act as a barrier to any menstrual flow. A little lube between the dam/plastic and the genitals can add to the pleasure
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FLOW EXPOSURE
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Some couples may feel comfortable with period flow being a part of sex. Others, not so much. Here are some ways to vary how much of your flow is exposed
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A SoftCup can be used to catch the flow as it drips from the cervix so that it won’t be felt during sex
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Diva cups and keeper cups are not good for penetrative sex because they sit in the vaginal canal. They are a great option for oral sex!
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Put a towel down to catch the flow or have shower sex
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Skip intercourse and oral sex all together and opt for enjoying each other by hand or have anal sex
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Use sex toys such as vibrators and dildos
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Use a condom that is a dark color to mask the period flow
DO I NEED PROTECTION? YES
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The odds of getting pregnant are lower during menstruation, but it is still possible to become pregnant at this time! Cycle length can change monthly, and sperm can stay alive in your body for up to 7 days. So, if ovulation occurs soon after having period sex, there is still possibility for fertilization.
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Certain STIs are transmitted more easily during period sex. HIV and hepatitis are viruses that live in the blood. Using a condom will reduce the chances of getting an STI.
HUNTER KESSOUS
The pink cage
A caged spirit flutters in her prison.
It leaves her neglected
as she meekly crawls in her pool of blood,
in her pink cage.
She shivers everyday.
One day, It throws another spirit
into her pink cage.
She’s a fighting spirit.
Strength surges back to the former,
and together they ram the pink cage against It.
It retaliates, flinging them away.
It’s a battle,
day after day.
Warrior cries. Bloodshed.
After the constant battle,
It is weary,
no longer a believer of Its past idea.
It opens the cage.
The spirits flit out their pink cage.
A breath of newfound freedom and equality.
For another day to come.
Untitled. Hunter Kessous
EMILIE
SIX WAYS TO DEAL WITH PERIOD CRAMPS
When you ask most menstruators what they truly dread about their period, it is not the actual blood that they fear but the painful side effects. Cramps are a major contributor to what makes periods so hellish. Fortunately, there are simple remedies that can be done at home to help relieve pain from menstrual cramps.
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Cramps suck but they can be manageable. If one of these remedies do not work, then try a different one. There is no universal solution because every menstruator is different. What works for one person may not be effective for another. If nothing works then try talking to your doctor.
ILANA FELDMAN
I Ranked Different Period Product Advertisements
If I see one more ad with blue “blood” I will scream.
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Let’s be honest: periods are incredibly villainized and misrepresented in the media. They turn menstruators into bitches and period blood is too taboo to even consider showing in movies and shows. Even commercials for period products tend to avoid the topic at hand.
I decided to watch period product commercials and rank them on the basis of various categories. I chose some commercials that would normally be featured on TV and others that were a bit longer to have a good representation of the ads out there.
Without further ado, here is my ranking:
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Willingness to Discuss Periods: Amy Schumer was barely able to say the word tampon without appearing embarrassed. She is not only an actor in the commercial, but is also a spokeswoman for the brand. Her hesitation to say “tampon” indicates that tampons and periods are feared and taboo.
Presence of Period Products: Briefly shows a tampon, but mostly focuses on the different size options offered by the brand. I can’t be mad that the focus was on size options as that was the brand’s prerogative; however, the lack of screen time tampons received was a letdown.
Presence of Blood: There was no blood. There wasn’t blue liquid either. In this case, nothing seems better than that blue liquid bullcrap.
Other Menstrual Issues Addressed: This commercial didn’t address any menstrual issues. I would argue that it added to the stigma surrounding menstruation through Amy Schumer’s hesitation to say “tampon.”
Overall Ranking: --
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6: “What’s There To Learn About Tampon sizes?”- Tampax
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Willingness to Discuss Periods: This ad focused more on the product than periods as a whole. It is only 43 seconds long, so I’m not too mad about that.
Presence of Period Products: The entire commercial was focused on the tampon they were trying to sell and thus almost always had a tampon on screen. They were not at all hesitant to show off their product.
Presence of Blood: There was a cartoon depiction of what looked like water drops being absorbed by the tampon. The creators could have just as easily shown red cartoon drops, but I guess period blood is magically blue.
Other Menstrual Issues Addressed: None, but again I am not super mad about this as the commercial focused solely on the product. However, the product itself is focused on discretion and because of this, only encourages the menstrual stigma.
Overall Ranking:
5: “How do Tampax Pocket Pearl tampons work?”- Tampax
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4: “Kimberly Clark”- Kotex
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Willingness to Discuss Periods: The commercial makes fun of the tampon commercials with happy girls rather than actually discussing periods. However, by doing this the ad address that periods aren’t as enjoyable as other ads make them out to be. Personally, I enjoy the sarcastic play on a traditional commercial, even though they don’t talk about periods directly.
Presence of Period Products: The brand shows its product at the end of the commercial, but still in the packaging. I would have liked to see a tampon or two thrown in there.
Presence of Blood: There was no blood in the commercial, but it was mentioned indirectly by making fun of the actresses wearing “white spandex” in other commercials.
Other Menstrual Issues Addressed: While this ad didn’t address any specific menstruation-related issues, it indirectly discussed the misrepresentation of menstruation in ads. The ad tried to fight the taboo surrounding periods through this conversation.
Overall Ranking:
3: “Always #LikeAGirl”- Always
*A quick note: This ad focused on female empowerment rather than periods themselves. Since this was a popular commercial, I wanted to include it in this article; however, I am ranking it both in terms of female empowerment and as a period product ad.*
Willingness to Discuss Periods: Although this campaign was started by Always, it was more focused on female empowerment than periods themselves.
Presence of Period Products: There are no period products in this ad. Considering that this ad was aired during the Superbowl, Always avoided a great opportunity to address periods, show period products, and smash the stigma.
Presence of Blood: There is no blood in this ad, but that makes sense as the ad focuses more on female empowerment than menstruation.
Other Menstrual Issues Addressed: While this would be a great campaign for female empowerment when you consider that this is put forward by a menstrual product company, it is clearly excluding menstruators who aren’t girls. I don’t think this ad was meant to exclude a large group of menstruators; however, when considering this ad in combination with the biologically female symbol on Always’ packaging, the company overlooks gender diversity among menstruators.
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Overall Ranking:
2: “MENstruation”- Thinx
Willingness to Discuss Periods: This entire ad discusses periods. Not only did this ad discuss periods, but they talked about periods in public spaces without shame.
Presence of Period Products: The commercial shows wrapped period products and also shows a tampon string sticking out of a menstruator’s underwear.
Presence of Blood: There was no blood visibly shown in this commercial; however, as the ad didn’t show an unwrapped period product fully, there was not much opportunity to include blood.
Other Menstrual Issues Addressed: The creators beautifully addressed the role of the patriarchy in period stigma. Since periods are commonly (and of course incorrectly) viewed as a “women’s issue,” the ad’s premise of men getting and talking about their periods helps to demonstrate that if periods were a universal experience, they would likely be less taboo.
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Overall Ranking:
1: “Blood Normal”- Libra
Willingness to Discuss Periods: Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before. This ad showed people of multiple genders dealing with the everyday inconveniences created by periods. The commercial has a menstruator asking for a pad during a dinner party, people buying menstrual products, taking their products to the bathroom, discussing periods in work environments, and shows the pain that menstruators experience while also showing that periods are not always something that physically holds menstruators back.
Presence of Period Products: There are pads in multiple scenes and different scenarios throughout the ad. The creators even showed a used pad; however, they censored the blood on this pad as a part of the commercial.
Presence of Blood: SO. MUCH. BLOOD! Not only did this ad use red liquid to show the absorbency of the product, but they also showed blood dripping down a menstruator’s leg in the shower. They really only neglected showing blood towards the end of the commercial to make a point regarding the stigma surrounding periods.
Other Menstrual Issues Addressed: With a non-menstruator buying pad, discussing periods in both social and work environments, and discussing the taboos surrounding menstruation, this ad actively works to fight against the stigma surrounding periods. Further, the creators were unafraid to show period blood on the screen while still addressing the stigma surrounding periods. I also appreciated that this ad made a point to show that all menstruators are affected by their periods differently and that all reactions are valid, from those who continue with their daily life to those who need to spend a few days at home.
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Overall Ranking:
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MADISON LEIFER
Your First Menstrual Cup
In the era of climate change, we are all trying our best to limit our negative environmental impact. We think of limiting plastic straws, reducing the length of our showers, going to climate justice protests, and avoiding driving. But do you ever think of the impact something as simple as periods have on the environment? A single menstruator in the US will use an average of 17,000 pads and tampons throughout their lifetime! Furthermore, there is an economic cost to using these products as well-- menstruators in the US spend a total of $17 billion USD annually on tampons and pads.
The environmental and economic benefits among others are one of the many reasons you might consider switching to sustainable menstrual products such as a menstrual cup, reusable pads, or period underwear. As a menstrual cup user for the past three years, I know that trying one out can be intimidating! Here are a few tips and tricks for your first menstrual cup:
1. Benefits of a menstrual cup
There are tons of benefits of using a menstrual cup! Here’s a few:
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Cost efficient: it can be used for up to 10 years, and is typically only $25-40 USD.
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Sustainable
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Can be worn for 12 hours without taking it out!
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Leaves you less susceptible to Toxic Shock Syndrome than tampons
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Can shorten your period by around half a day, due to the suction
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Some users report less cramping when using a menstrual cup
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Can be used during oral sex or external fingering
2. Do your research
Although the Diva cup is by far the most well-known brand of menstrual cup, there are tons of options out there! Cups vary based on flexibility, width, length, color, grips, and stems. It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but it’s important to pick a cup that is right for you. Some cups are shorter for those with a lower cervix, and more flexible cups or those with a ring may be easier for first time users to put in and take out.
3. Learn about folds
The way that menstrual cups work is that you fold the cup to put it in, and only let it unfold once situated directly below your cervix. You must make sure that the cup completely unfolds and is suctioned to the walls of your vagina, or else it will leak. There are many types of folds and different menstruators find different folds easiest to use. Just google “menstrual cup folds” or poke around on your brand’s website to find them!
4. Putting your cup in
How do you put your cup in? Here’s how:
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Wash your hands.
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You may put one foot up on the toilet seat or side of the bathtub to make the cup easier to put in.
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Relax your pelvic floor muscles.
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Choose your preferred fold and put the cup in, do not release until the top of the cup is completely inside your vagina.
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If the cup hurts to put in, try a fold that makes the cup thinner at the top, or use a little bit of water-based lube. Silicone-based lube will break down the silicone in the cup.
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Move your finger around the outside of the cup to make sure that it is unfolded
5. Be patient
Just like anything, using a menstrual cup is a learning curve, and it might not go perfectly the first few times. For your first attempt, you may want to pick a day that you will mostly be around the house, or wear a pad or panty-liner for extra protection. Take your time to learn different ways to get the menstrual cup to suction. Your menstrual cup should not leak if it is being worn correctly and is not full.
If your cup isn’t suctioning correctly, try this:
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Move your finger around the outside of the cup after putting it in to feel that it’s unfolded completely. If it is not unfolded, pinch the menstrual cup a few times or adjust its position.
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Push the cup up a little ways and then pull it down only slightly by the stem, this should help increase the suction.
6. Practice taking it out in a private bathroom
Taking out your menstrual cup the first few times can get a little messy, so try to use a private bathroom if you can. Here’s how:
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Take it out over the toilet or in the shower
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Wash your hands
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Pull gently on the stem/ring of the menstrual cup to pull it down slightly. You should not be able to pull it all the way out with the stem.
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Pinch the bottom of the cup to break the suction. Use one hand to hold the stem while you pinch with the other hand if this is too difficult.
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Gently pull the cup out, holding it as upright as possible. You may fold it slightly to make it thinner.
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Pour out, and wash!
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Put back in or put away.
7. Washing your menstrual cup
Wash your menstrual cup out with warm water and any dye and perfume free dish soap (free and clear) between uses. Dry before putting back in. Some menstruators boil their cup between cycles, but it is generally regarded as unnecessary. Please note: do not use menstrual cups if you don’t have easy access to clean water, soap, or bathrooms. Doing so may lead to infection.
8. Not your thing?
Menstrual products are a personal choice, and if a menstrual cup doesn’t sound right for you, that’s okay! If you are still looking to explore sustainable options for your period, check out the many brands of reusable pads and liners or period underwear.
CASSADY ADAMS