Menstruation - common misconceptions

[lilliesnremains.livejournal.com]

Hey all, if this isn't allowed, go ahead and delete it, but I read the rules it it didn't say no, so here goes.

I'm taking a human sexuality class this semester in college, and while i was originally going to do my term paper and oral presentation on "Female sexual abuse and later sexual dysfunction" i have since changed my mind and decided to do "Menstruation-How society views coming of age".

Here's where you guys come in. I have a basic outline of thing I want to talk about in the oral presentation portion, one of which are common myths associated with getting your period, or images displayed by the media. I'm looking for stories of your first time, and how you felt. i'm also looking for how you felt the first time you used a menstrual cup for those of you who use them.
Also, any links you have floating around that you think would be helpful to either suggest to the class or for me to use information from for my presentation.

What i'm hoping is that not only will many people benefit here from this, but that i will be able to change some peoples' minds about it in my class (i'll be talking about things like menstrual cups, cloth pads, and having sex while a girl is menstruating).

(on a somewhat related note, how do you pronounced menstruation? 3 syllables or 2?)

Comments

[asfishlovewater.livejournal.com]

I started my period a few days after my birthday in 5th grade. Early January, I guess it must have been. That morning went something like this:
It started when I got up to pee that morning. My mom was in the shower at the time. I wiped and saw red. "Uh, Mom.... I think I started my period..." Mom peeks out of the shower curtian. "Oh my goodness! That's so exciting!"
She fixed me up with a pad meant for a woman much larger, who had had multiple children. Needless to say, it was a lot more pad than I needed. I believe there were a few phone calls to relatives and friends that morning. Later that afternoon, I was taken to get my ears pierced for the first time. My parents had always promised I could get them pierced when I started my period. I was also taken out to a remarkably fancy dinner. At one point my younger brother almost blurted out to the waitress that we were there because I had gotten my first period that morning. About a week later, my Mom threw me a menarche party. She is involved in a women's group, so they all came wearing red scarves and hats and all that stuff. I had a dress that I wore for a renn faire, which my mom had dyed red for me to wear. Everyone brought red presents: scarves, earrings, roses, candles, etc. They also all brought stories. We all sat at a table covered in feminine products, listening to music, eating snacks, and telling period stories. They even had a little ritual for me to welcome and bless my coming of age.

I feel very blessed to have had such a wonderful introduction given to me by my awesome mom. I am and actor and a dancer and very physically active. Aside from the days that have had me in bed and throwing up from the cramps, I have never minded my period at all. I now have eight piercings in my ears( two nipples too). I am also still a virgin, so I've never had sex while menstruating. However, I am on birth control to help with cramps, acne, and irregular periods.

Marion, 18

[swingkitten9.livejournal.com]

That sounds very Dharma & Greg, in a remarkable way. Heehee.

[thecrimsondrago.livejournal.com]

That is so awesome.

[robynchick.livejournal.com]

that is the coolest story!

[amazon-syren.livejournal.com]

Wow! :-D

Despite the fact that I would have totally mortified if my mother'd sprung something like that on me, that was still totally awesome! :-D