Being Period Confident

Here's a question: are you period confident?

Why are we so worried about talking about periods? I remember when I first got mine, aged 12 and a long time before some of my friends, I lied for months about having started because I was embarrassed by it. I used to be petrified changing for PE incase someone spied my pad in my Hello Kitty knickers. I was definitely not period confident. Bleeding monthly has been a feature of my life for 8 years now and probably will be for the next 30, and I've become less embarrassed by it. 

So, when Fab Little Bag reached out to me to talk openly about 'Aunt Irma' and how we should all be period confident, it was a real no-brainer. Fab Little Bags are a convenient way to dispose of tampons, because it came to their attention that women flush their tampons down the toilet because the idea of putting them in the bin is incredibly embarrassing. Personally, I've never flushed my tampons - my mother taught me better than that - but the fact women do because they're embarrassed really surprised me. What are we so embarrassed about ladies? Without further ado, I am going to be sharing with you my tips on being period confident. 

Realise you're not the only one!

50% of the population of the world possess a uterus, and most of these people menstruate. And also, despite what you might think, most of the population who don't have a womb (mainly men!) don't have a problem with periods because they know it's natural too. I was a little scared the first time I came onto my period in the infancy of my relationship but because Johnny isn't a ridiculous human being who pretends that bodily functions don't exist because they're not conventionally sexy, and any person who does have an issue with periods isn't worth your time!

Periods generally mean you are healthy!

I can't speak for everyone, but a regular period usually means that you are healthy and everything downstairs is working the way it should. It means you're very likely to be fertile (although not always) and missing and having very irregular periods can be a sign that your diet isn't correct, or that you may have some underlying health issues. If you keep in mind that while your period can be a pain while it's happening, it's a sign that you're functioning properly as a human being! 

Find the right products for you!

Period products aren't a one size fits all kind of deal. Some people prefer pads, some people prefer tampons and some people prefer other, more sustainable methods like the MoonCup. Finding the right products for you can really help you feel your best when it's womb week. For example, I'm really loving the Always Infinity pads for sleeping in at the moment. They're so comfortable and really absorbent for overnight wear so you don't have to worry about leaking while you're sleeping. And of course, products for disposal are always useful, so pick yourself up some Fab Little Bags as well! 

It's difficult to embrace something that society shames us for, but just remember that you are a strong, independent owner of a bomb-ass reproductive system and it doing its job is nothing to be ashamed of. What are your tips for being period confident?

*This post is part of a collaboration with Fab Little Bag.