Okay real talk – when was the last time you heard someone say “menstruation” out loud without that awkward side-eye? Last week at brunch, my friend mouthed “I’m cramping” like she was confessing to tax fraud 😂. We’ve been conditioned to treat our cycles like some dirty secret, and honestly? I’m over it.
Let’s start with the ick factor. A 2023 study in Journal of Health Psychology found 68% of women still use code words for their periods (“Aunt Flo’s visiting” anyone?). But here’s the kicker – participants who openly discussed menstrual symptoms reported 40% less cycle-related anxiety. My personal experiment? Last month, I told my male coworker “I need to adjust this meeting – my uterine lining is evacuating like it’s a fire drill.” His confusion was priceless, but guess who didn’t fake-smile through meeting cramps?
Now let’s talk about the wellness industrial complex. Suddenly everyone’s selling $80 “moon cycle” crystals but ignoring actual biology. I fell down this rabbit hole after passing out at yoga from ignoring iron deficiency (pro tip: kale smoothies > manifestation journals when you’re bleeding buckets). Nutritionist Dr. Lee (name changed) explains: “Menstruation isn’t mystical – it’s a clinical process consuming 10-30% of your daily iron needs.”
The workplace horror stories? Endless. My friend Emma (not her real name) nearly got written up for keeping tampons in her desk. Meanwhile Japan’s had menstrual leave policies since 1947! But here’s the plot twist – cycle syncing boosted my productivity more than any corporate policy. Tracking my follicular phase for creative work and luteal phase for admin tasks? Game-changer.
Let’s get spicy about pleasure. Did you know cervical position changes through your cycle? I didn’t until my 30s! Our sex ed classes taught us to fear pregnancy but never how ovulation affects libido. Last Valentine’s Day, I scheduled date night around my fertile window – let’s just say my partner didn’t complain 😉.
The real tea? This isn’t about mandatory period talk. It’s about refusing to organize our lives around society’s discomfort. Last month I bled through a white skirt at a client lunch. Instead of the usual panic-and-shame tango, I said “Nature’s artwork – happens to 1.8 billion people daily.” The client? She high-fived me and shared her endometriosis story.
So here’s my challenge: Next time someone whispers “Do you have a… you know…” in the bathroom, hand them a tampon while loudly discussing clot texture. Let’s make the world squirm until it learns to cope. Our cycles aren’t gross – they’re literally why humanity exists. Now who’s with me? 💪🏼