TresSugar

Serena Williams vs. Aunt Flo - Love It or Leave It?

TresSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0700

While I think tampons sell themselves thanks to their life-changing qualities, Tampax has recruited tennis great Serena Williams to pitch their lady products in a new commercial. Dressed in her tennis whites, Serena has nothing to fear from Mother Nature, because she's also wearing a tampon! Over the years, companies have appealed to femininity or used the rhetoric of freedom to sell tampons to women. What do you make of the latest attempt?

Tampons and Maxi Pads: A Walk Down Memory Lane

TresSugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:15:00 -0700

Whether you call it your Moon Time or the Curse, if you're a woman, you have to contend with a monthly period. Let's take a look at how advertising sold its pads and 'pons to women of yore. Whether it was through distraction (hey, look, a pretty dress!) or through the rhetoric of freedom, advertisers did their best to sell a product women have never really been thrilled to buy.

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Vintage Menstruation Pamphlet Tells Girls About "Purification"

TresSugar — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:30:00 -0700

"That is all, darling, and now you know that Margaret was different today because it was for her the first day of the new purification. It was such a new event that she naturally felt like being quiet."

"Mother," said Marjorie May, "you are wonderful to have told me about this new experience I am soon to have. I shall feel quite a young lady when the new purification comes, because it will mean that I have grown up."

- To read the 10-page pamphlet from the '30s on how to talk to a young girl about menstruation, check it out here.

When a Girl Becomes a Woman: Menstruation Genes Found

TresSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:30:00 -0700

"You're a woman, now." That sentence probably wouldn't make much sense to a young girl - sometimes as young as 7 years old - who has begun to menstruate. A new study suggests that genes, in combination with other factors, determine when a girl will reach the moment commonly referred to as the first sign of womanhood.

According to the study, genes that direct the onset of menstruation sit next to DNA controlling height and weight. This may explain why shorter and heavier girls get their periods at a younger age. In addition to the newly discovered genes, we know that factors like nutrition and exercise influence the onset of puberty.

Scientists hope that finding out what causes early menstruation will eventually improve women's health. The age of first menstruation has been dropping in the West (some girls get their first periods at the age of seven), especially among girls with higher BMIs. This is of concern to the health community, because early menstruation is associated with depression, aggression, substance abuse, low self-esteem, and a higher risk of disease as an adult.

How old were you when you got your first period? Were you thrilled, traumatized or just expecting it?

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Dressed to Ill

GiggleSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:45:00 -0800

Oh, dear. Is it that time of the month for Jennifer Esposito's shoulders? I didn't think you could evoke the '80s and menstruation at the same time, so uh, well done?

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When It Comes to Your Period, Is This Normal?

DearSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0700

For most women, getting our period is something we've come to terms with. While it doesn't leave us feeling all that great, it's something we can't change, at least right now!

Your period comes and goes every month, and you probably don't give it much thought, aside from putting tampons on your grocery list, so take this quiz to make sure you know what should and shouldn't be happening to your body during that time of the month.

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Take the quiz

A Do or a Don't: Period Pet Names

DearSugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0700

I’m a fan of slang terms (uh, lady business!), but there’s something that just bothers me when people use a slang term for their periods. I mean there's nothing cute about a period! I completely understand wanting to avoid using menstruation to describe what’s typically an unpleasant few days, but “period” is just so much less visual and more succinct than Aunt Flo, crimson wave, on the rag, or the monthly gift. So are you with me on this one? Does it bother you to hear these silly names? If not, how do you describe your period?

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Emmenagogues: Do They Really Help With a Late Period?

DearSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:00:00 -0700

If you're not trying to become pregnant, a late period can be no fun. It's so tough to just be patient and wait for Aunt Flo to show up, so that's where emmenagogues come in. It's a long name for a category of herbs and plants that are believed to induce menstruation. Supposedly they work by stimulating blood flow to a woman's pelvic area. Some of these plants include celery, parsley, yarrow, aloe vera, mugwort, swiss chard, and hemp.

I don't want to put down herbal remedies, but scientifically speaking, the time your period comes is all based on when you ovulate. So if something affected your body from ovulating such as stress or illness then you'll ovulate later, which means your period will also come later. If you do take one of these emmenagogues, and your period comes, it's likely that it's just one big coincidence and your period would have showed up whether you sipped parsley tea or not.

Of course, this is just my opinion so what do you think? Have you ever heard about herbs, essentials oils, foods, or techniques that can induce menstruation? I'd love to hear about them and whether or not they really worked!

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Five Common Causes For Late Periods

DearSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:00:00 -0700

A late period is one of the scariest experiences if you're not planning on being a mom anytime soon. It's actually pretty normal for women's periods to be delayed for several reasons, and you shouldn't just assume it's because you're pregnant. Here are a few to keep in mind.

Your cycle might be irregular from month to month. This means that last month your cycle might have been 24 days long, and this month it could be 32 days long. When your period doesn't show up when it's expected, it could be because your body hasn't finished its cycle yet.
Stress caused you to ovulate later than usual. Your body releases an egg from your ovary with the intention of becoming pregnant and if you were worried or upset about something at that specific time, your body will wait until it feels you are emotionally ready. That means you could ovulate up to a week or more later than usual or you could even skip your period altogether.
You are sick or injured. If your body is not well, then you aren't equipped to handle a pregnancy. Your body will ovulate when it feels you are healthy again. This could delay your period or stop it altogether.
You're not getting enough to eat or are exercising too intensely. This again will affect your overall health. If your body is working too hard to keep you well, then there's no way a pregnancy can occur. Your period may be late, irregular, or it may disappear altogether until your body feels that your health is in order.
You're taking new medication. Taking certain prescriptions or changing your meds can affect your cycle, so talk to your doctor if you skip your period.

Dear's Advice: If your cycle is consistently regular and your period happens to be unusually late, worrying about whether you're pregnant isn't going to make you get it any faster so take a pregnancy test to help ease your mind. Whatever the results are, you'll be able to decide what step to take from there.

Thinking Outside the (Tampon) Box

DearSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:00:00 -0700

With all the recent interest in becoming more eco-conscious, I’ve found myself learning about all sorts of new ways to start living the green life, which is how I was reminded of the DivaCup. It's a a contemporary and environmentally-friendly menstrual cup that's made from silicone. As an alternative to tampons and pads, the DivaCup collects the menstrual flow as opposed to absorbing it. To find out more about its similarities and differences from tampons and pads, read more.

The DivaCup is inserted into the vagina, with the rim of the cup cradling the cervix similar to a diaphragm.
It should be removed and emptied typically two to three times in a 24-hour period, which for many women is less than with tampons or pads.
However, it must also be cleaned with hot, soapy water. Of course, emptying it and cleaning isn't something most of us want to be managing in the work bathroom, but in those cases, it's safe to wipe it down temporarily, until you're able to wash it at home.
Just like with tampons, once it's properly inserted you should not be able to feel it and there are no restrictions when it comes to activities.
It can be worn in conjunction with the NuvaRing, but it should not be worn during sexual intercourse and does not act as a contraceptive.

Though menstrual cups can seem a little, well, gross, I do like the idea of an eco-friendly alternative to pads and tampons. Like birth control, feminine hygiene is all about finding the product that works for you, so it's important to be knowledgeable of all the choices available.