PERIOD, PERIOD.

well, ladles and jelly spoons, this one's not about punctuation.

rather, there have been a lot of others' blogs, reviews, and openness out there in cyberspace which have greatly helped reshape and evolve my perspectives and experiences on this topic, so i thought maybe someone out there would find a nugget of info here that's somehow helpful or informative.

on birth control (pills and iud)

i have been on some kind of birth control pretty much nonstop since i was seventeen. most of the past 13 years that's been birth control pills. my university student health insurance covered name brand ortho tri-cyclen lo, then teacher's health insurance covered an off-brand version of it (which gave me migraines), and then a third try once i moved to berlin offered me a similar cocktail (which also gave me migraines).

three years ago i decided i didn't want to mess with my hormonal balance anymore. shots and patches also weirded me out. while it's super appealing to only have your period a few times a year - our bodies need to do this thing every month. the human body is an insane unlikely construction already. i feel like asking it to be ok with only 4 periods a year is pushing my luck a little and saying 'thanks but no thanks'. so, i'm pretty grateful for the regular automatic room service that takes place.

but i'm also not looking to have children at the moment, nor am i interested in abstinence or trust my ability to monitor my ovulation.

so, 2 years ago i decided on a copper iud. for the most part i am very happy with it:

• it is a minimally invasive 3 minute procedure to 'install' by your obgyn
• it's active for up to 5 years
• can be easily and quickly removed (also by your obgyn) at any time (like if you change your mind)
• the copper version does not use hormones, so no migraines for me!
• i don't have to think about it on a daily or weekly basis
• my body goes through a pretty regular monthly routine

however, the not insignificant downsides (for me) are

• worse cramps
• longer periods

so far, for me the pros have outweighed the cons. but, make no mistake - i've got my eye on the evolution of male birth control.

on feminine hygiene (menstrual cup and period panties) 

i've been trying to pay a bit more attention to what my impact on this planet is. and, i don't mean "how can i leave a beautiful legacy behind?" i mean "as one of billions of leeches on this generous earth,  how can i minimize my shitty human impact on it?"

one of the things i'd read and heard a lot about was the horrible environmental impact of feminine hygiene products.  and, if you're like me, it's impossible not to feel minuscule when confronted with the data on pollution caused by humans. but, i think, too often the proposals made for waste reduction are too absolute to be sustainable for most people's daily lives. and, as result, it's tough to commit to and we continue do what we normally do.

as such, i've started to try and think about my role as "what can i do less/more of..." rather than "what should i stop completely/start doing always" - and i think that's helped me to ultimately be more consistent in my efforts.

to that effect, i have found an approach and balance that works for me in dealing with aunt flo:

menstrual cup

i won't lie, i was very apprehensive at first. in case this technology is new for you - it's exactly what it sounds like.

i did a lot of research about what's on the market, what the strengths and weaknesses are of different brands, and decided to try the lunette. i figured - worst case scenario is it'll be terrible and i wasted 40 bucks.

i decided to do a trial run at home over the weekend - to avoid potential disasters in public.

and, to be frank:

• you can't be grossed out to get your hands a little messy
• inserting took some trial and error
• as did removal

however, i was wicked impressed. here are the deets:

• it's efficient - generally requires attention 1-2 times a day
• it saves you A LOT of money in the long-run (if you're happy with it, it lasts 1-3 years or more)
• it's much nicer for the planet (and for plumbing for those of you weirdos who insist on flushing tampons!)
• the bathroom doesn't smell of disposed used products

also, here's a fun chart i found comparing 'consumption'/use of the three products:

image cred (modabit.com)

so, once you figure out a way that works for you, the cup is crazy easy - you put it in in the morning and remove it any time you have convenient private access to a toilet and sink. i made sure to triple-check about this, and removal once a day is perfectly healthy (up to 12 hours!).

period panties

paranoid as i am, i found i still liked to have panty-liners. and, truth be told, i was often grateful for the extra precaution, as i'm still not 100% consistent with how well i'm positioning the cup. so, i decided to try out the THINX panties ($24-$39 each, depending on the style). i'd seen adverts for them and explored their website. for those of you not familiar with this technology - i have no explanation for how it works other than it's magic.

i have been trial-running two pairs (the hiphugger and hi-waist) in concert with the cup - and with this duet i have been able to almost completely eliminate the use of any disposable feminine hygiene products. i have to say - color this skeptic impressed.

now, i wasn't prepared to splurge on a full cycle's worth of ~$35 panties, so i've been hand washing immediately after use and drying over night each pair (which is what they encourage you to do anyway), and that's been working well while i'm in a normal home/work routine.

all that said, as someone often on trips with little privacy on public transport, i also reserve a few spare tampons and panty-liners where clean hands are more difficult to arrange.

but in the meantime, please enjoy the following: