Red flow. Period. Rag. Cycle.
Whatever you call it, menstruation has a
bad rap. Although certain cultures have
honored the menstrual cycle throughout time, most cultures view it as a taboo
issue. Even though more than half of the
world’s population experiences this natural cycle throughout the reproductive
years, menstruation remains a topic mainly discussed behind closed doors.
Just like many other women, I
grew up believing that my period was an embarrassing and often painful hassle. TV commercials for Midol controlling the
“cramps, bloating, and fatigue” of one’s period, along with Playtex ads that
emphasize “discrete” tampons, only strengthen this image. It makes sense that women (and men) grow up
with the message that a woman’s period is not something to celebrate, let alone
discuss openly. In her book Bossypants,
Tina Fey sums up the image society has drummed up for the menstrual cycle:
I was ten years old. I had noticed
something was weird earlier in the day but I knew from commercials that one's
menstrual period was a blue liquid that you poured like laundry detergent onto
maxi pads to test their absorbency. This
wasn't blue so...I ignored it...
Although I went as far as
obtaining a birth control implant to prevent my period, I had a change of heart
when I began my graduate studies and joined the Clinical Neuroscience and
Women's Health track offered through my school. In this program I learned the in-and-outs of
the menstrual cycle and how to incorporate it into psychological practice. After learning more about how my own
reproductive cycle works and how it relates to the field of psychology, I began
to appreciate and become interested in the very thing I used to dread. I was amazed to discover that the majority of
psychologists and other mental health workers do not ask about the menstrual
cycle during intakes or treatment sessions although there is a growing body of
literature that connects it to psychological functioning. I often find myself wondering why as a clinician-in-training
I am able to discuss very personal issues such as suicide, self-harm,
infidelity, and abuse, but have not been trained to discuss my patients’
periods. The menstrual cycle remains an
uncomfortable topic even for mental health employees with whom patients expect
to share any and everything personal about themselves.
There is hope for
putting an end to this once taboo subject! The establishment of pioneering organizations
such as the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research (SMCR) has created a movement aimed
at reducing stigma and providing research and education about reproductive
health. After attending the SMCR Conference earlier this year, I
realized the extent to which women are starting to promote menstruation in a
positive light. Being on your period may
even be the new up-and-coming trend! While I wasn’t quite prepared to display a symbolic
Red Stain Badge of Honor pin like many attendees wore, this conference helped
to fuel my interest in the issue. I had
the privilege of meeting dozens of female leaders and founders
of companies such as Menstrupedia, The Period Store, and the radio show Holy Hormones Honey! who are taking steps to empower
women and provide accurate information and resources. Other campaigns such as Free the Tampons are working tirelessly to promote rights for
menstruating women. Much like toilet
paper comes standard in bathrooms in the U.S., this campaign urges public
facilities to provide free supplies for women.
I am very excited to see these
organizations and campaigns taking flight.
My hope is that these new messages will create awareness about the
menstrual cycle and its importance in psychological functioning. With this knowledge, women should be more
open to discussing this once taboo topic and clinicians should be able to
provide a better standard of care for their patients!
Written by Lisa Hoyman
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