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

[-xdominox-.livejournal.com]

firstly, i had pretty good sex education, starting in grade 4, so I knew a lot of stuff about it already, wasn't shocked or anything.

Once when i was about...11? i went to the toilet, looked in and saw blood. i thought i had gotten my first period, my mum gave me a hug and a pad. Later i realised that I hadn't got it, and that my mother had just not flushed the toilet. *sigh*

i actually got it when I was 12, i was at a friend's place. I'd had cramps the night before, although I didn't realise that's what they were. I was woken up by them, went to the toilet and found blood on my undies. my friend already had hers, so she gave me some pads. we went to the beach, i stayed on the beach and built a sandcastle... and went to the toilet like every 2 hours to change, even though it was unnecessary, but that's what I'd read.

it took me a very long time before i used tampons. I tried in high school, because I was a competitive swimmer and waterpolo player. but I could never get it right! it finally happened in 12th grade, where I was getting ready for dancing... and just made it work.
that's all i have to say really!

[-xdominox-.livejournal.com]

oh, and I'm 19.