Community Info

Community Information

Below is information about the "Menstrual activism" community on LiveJournal. To join this community, click here. You may leave the community at any time.

User:

menstrual_lib (2115514)

Menstrual product revolution
Menstrual activism

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Menstrual activism

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Welcome to the community, here we deal with the seemingly small issue of menstrual health, to show that in fact menstrual health is a big part of all around health, particularly for women, as well as an issue of environmental concern.
Please take part in our poll.

This is a menstrual activism community, please nothing off topic, although questions about anatomy, sex or menstrual options may be related please keep them to a very minimum as part of an on topic post! If you post an off-topic post it will be removed.

The function of this community is to act as a menstrual activist community, menstrual activism is in it's most simple terms about educating women about menstrual health, choices available in menstrual options, health issues, environmental issues and campaigning for changes in how manufacturing effects your bodies and our earth. Education and knowledge about the subject of menstruation is often something greatly overlooked, and in society this is still often viewed as something dirty or embarrassing, menstrual activism also acts as a feminist movement improving social attitudes and education in this area. Don’t be fooled, feminist movements and menstrual health are things which men can be equally as concerned about, not just for the sake of their partners but their own health and the health of the environment.

We are also here to offer education over myth, facts over sugar coating, alternatives and action to take our health into our own hands, this community provides a space to rant about the about menstrual products and our experiences with them. Here we will also discuss way in which we can get our message heard through peaceful and lawful action against mainstream menstrual product manufacturers.

Health issues include TSS, cramps, irritation, vaginal infection, dioxin and other harmful substances within commercial products. Environmental issues include waste and manufacturing practices. Feminist issues include attitudes towards menstruation as an unclean or embarrassing problem rather than a healthy cycle of a menstruating women's body.
Long after the white wash campaign, long after the asbestos myth there are still real dangers often overlooked, changing the status quo doesn’t happen overnight however action to change is the first step.

Rules of this community are simply to respect other members and attempt to avoid posting misinformation – many people may be learning, mistakes on information may well happen from time to time, as long as this is not purposeful there is no problem.

Photo by

soul_tremor, taken from

blood_art.
This one is a message to the makers of "crinkle-free" pads, to pad/tampon marketing in general, to the stupid blue liquid in TV commercials... basically everything that made me feel I was dirty and disgusting for being on my period. My vagina rocks, and I will not be ashamed of it. So there. :)

Menstrual options:

- Commercial tampons – disposable wads of treated rayon/cotton fleece that are inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual flow e.g. Tampax, Lillets, stores own brand.

- Organic tampons – disposable wads of untreated organic cotton fleece that are inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual flow e.g. Natracare, Organic essentials.

- Sponge tampons – reusable untreated sea sponges cut to small sizes that are inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual flow e.g. Jade and Pearl.

- Homemade tampons – reusable wads of material, usually clean strips of cotton sheeting or similar materials that are inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual flow.

- Commercial pads – disposable pads of treated synthetic materials that are placed into panties to catch menstrual flow as it leaves the body e.g. Always, Kotex, stores own brand.

- Organic pads – disposable pads of untreated cotton that are placed into panties to catch menstrual flow as it leaves the body e.g. Natracare, Organic essentials.

- Cloth pads – reusable pads of cotton material that are placed into panties to catch menstrual flow as it leaves the body e.g. Lunapads, Gladrags.

- Homemade pads – reusable pads of material, usually cotton and fleece or similar materials that are placed into panties to catch menstrual flow as it leaves the body.

- Padettes – disposable wads of treated rayon/cotton fleece that are placed within the inner labia to catch menstrual flow as it leaves the body e.g. Interlabial padette.

- Padded panties – reusable cotton panties with a built in gusset panel that are worn to catch menstrual flow as it leaves the body e.g. Lunapanties.

- Blanket – reusable blanket, usually cotton or cotton blend that is placed between the legs to catch menstrual flow as it leaves the body at night e.g. Lunablanket.

- Rubber bell-shaped menstrual cup – reusable bell-shaped rubber cup that is inserted into the vagina to catch menstrual flow before it leaves the body e.g. The Keeper.

- Silicone bell-shaped menstrual cup – reusable bell-shaped silicon cup that is inserted into the vagina to catch menstrual flow before it leaves the body e.g. Divacup, Mooncup.

- Softcup – disposable soft plastic diaphragm shaped cup inserted into the vagina to catch menstrual flow before it leaves the body e.g. Instead.

- Homemade menstrual cup – reusable silicone menstrual cup, usually silicone that is placed into the vagina to catch menstrual flow before it leaves the body.

- Diaphragm as menstrual cup – reusable rubber contraceptive device that is inserted into the vagina to catch menstrual flow before it leaves the body.

- Extraction – a technique performed by a medical professional where an extracting device is inserted into the vagina to extract menstrual blood from the uterus.

- Free-flow – a technique where nothing is used during menstruation which requires either some layering to avoid visible leaking through the external clothing, or learning to recognize when you bleed so to excrete blood in a bathroom.

Any others? Tell us about them!

Related communities;

menstrual_cups Menstrual cup community.

diy_pads DIY sanitary towels.

vaginapagina Vagina community.

menstrualhut Menstruation topics.

womenhealth Women's health questions.

naturalliving Natural living free from chemicals.

cloth_nappies Cloth nappies in the UK.

bloodmoonherbs Herbal fertility awareness.

feminist Feminism on Livejournal.

aussie_cup Menstrual cups in Australia.

breasthealth Breast health.

endometriosis Endometriosis commuity.

good_vibrations Vibrator lovers community.

vaginas_unite Vaginas unite.

vagina_art Vagina art.

blood_art Menstrual blood art.

fam Fertility Awareness Method (natural familly planning).
sex_comm List of sex and gender related communities.
The hyperlist of sex and gender communities can be found here.

Menstrual product links;

* The Keeper * Keeper UK * Divacup * Mooncup * Eco-logique * Instead * Lunapads * Instead UK * Natracare *

Useful links;

SEAC - Student Environmental Action Coalition.
Below the belt - Resource Center for Genital, Sexual and Reproductive Health.
Cultural revitalization - Blog with menstrual activist topics.
WEN - UK based Women's Environmental and Health site.
MUM - Museum of Menstruation.
FDA - US Food and Drug Administration.
Endometriosis Association - The voice of the Endometriosis Association.
WREI - Women's Research and Information Center.
Scarleteen - Contemporary Teen Sex Ed.
My Keeper cup - Articles and information about the Keeper.
Natural Healthcare for Women
Womenkind - Womenkind World Wide
My Monthly Cycles - Menstrual Tracking Online.
Vagina vérité - Vagina related discussion.
Keeper Articles - Articles on Menstrual products from various sources
The first taboo - Article on menstrual taboos.