Bloody Knickers's topics - tribe.net

Menstrual Cycles and UTIs

solalia — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:25:08 GMT

Hello ladies. :) I just joined today because I have a question about periods and UTIs.

Every month, about a day after my period ends, I start developing a kidney infection. I have no idea what is causing this because it's always at the same time. I'm very careful about cleanliness and not leaving my Instead Softcups in for too long, so I'm pretty puzzled about what the connection is between these two events. Any ideas?

posted in Bloody Knickers - 2 replies

Save the world with me!

amelia13 — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:05:35 GMT

Lovelies. I started a website about alternative feminine hygiene products and Id love for you to check it out! Its not about money but about education! yay!

http://saynotopads.googlepages.com

posted in Bloody Knickers - 1 reply

Share your story

viiv — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 19:54:17 GMT

Got a bloody story to share? Here's your chance! One of the best ways to promote menstrual activism is to talk about our experiences. From menarche to menopause, I'm sure we've all got a few tales to tell!

I, for one, could barely even say the word "period" until I was almost in my 20s. I remember refusing to make out with my boyfriend and coming up with all these ridiculous excuses just because I didn't want him to know I was bleeding. So crazy.

Ha! I also remember being in dance class as a teenager wearing these enormously thick pads and obsessing with my reflection in the mirror trying to determine if anyone could notice it or not. Nothing worse than a sweaty pad coming apart in yer butt crack while your trying to keep your jazz hands firm, your toes pointed, and your splits flexible! ughhh!! shudder...

ok, your turn!
v :)

posted in Bloody Knickers - 4 replies

blood and spirit

hawke — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 21:26:38 GMT

anyone out there with words to say about heightened spiritual awareness during blood time? y'know, the whole moon lodge and all.

i'm getting into it. a friend of mine really inspired me, and now i always make room for a lot of alone time when i start bleeding. the meditation and dream time are really amazingly heightened.

i've been exploring earth-based native american spirituality for about two years now... i keep running into the whole "oh, you're not supposed to participate/oh it's really ok that you're here but traditional people would have a problem if you did ceremony while you were bleeding"... i started sniffing around and i'm finding out that there's a lot to be found on bleeding and ceremony. i'm thinking the moon lodge thing is a really great idea.

when i was in college, getting my degree in cast metal sculpture, there were a lot of other women in the studio. We'd keep an eye out for one another. if one of us was bleeding, we'd keep her away from the power tools and do the work for her, if necessary. it was just proof positive for me that it was a time of going within, and not a good time to be doing work that required concentration on the exterior level.

i want a moon lodge! i want it nice and cozy. i want the floor covered with nice cushy stuff to lay around on. i want good reading/journaling light. i want a pile of CHOCOLATE.

posted in Bloody Knickers - 2 replies

rape

jenperiod — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 05:03:03 GMT

Rape
reposted from Epona
A lot has been said about how to prevent rape.
Women should learn self-defense. Women should lock themselves in their houses after dark. Women shouldn't have long hair and women shouldn't wear short skirts. Women shouldn't leave drinks unattended. Fuck, they shouldn't dare to get drunk at all.

Instead of that bullshit, how about:

if a woman is drunk, don't rape her.
if a woman is walking alone at night, don't rape her.
if a woman is drugged and unconscious, don't rape her.
if a woman is wearing a short skirt, don't rape her.
if a woman is jogging in a park at 5 am, don't rape her.
if a woman looks like your ex-girlfriend you're still hung up on, don't rape her.
if a woman is asleep in her bed, don't rape her.
if a woman is asleep in your bed, don't rape her.
if a woman is doing her laundry, don't rape her.
if a woman is in a coma, don't rape her.
if a woman changes her mind in the middle of or about a particular activity, don't rape her.
if a woman has repeatedly refused a certain activity, don't rape her.
if a woman is not yet a woman, but a child, don't rape her.
if your girlfriend or wife is not in the mood, don't rape her.
if your step-daughter is watching tv, don't rape her.
if you break into a house and find a woman there, don't rape her.
if your friend thinks it's okay to rape someone, tell him it's not, and that he's not your friend.
if your "friend" tells you he raped someone, report him to the police.
if your frat-brother or another guy at the party tells you there's an unconscious woman upstairs and it's your turn, don't rape her, call the police and tell the guy he's a rapist.

tell your sons, god-sons, nephews, grandsons, sons of friends it's not okay to rape someone.
don't imply that she could have avoided it if she'd only done/not done x.
don't imply that it's in any way her fault.
don't let silence imply agreement when someone tells you he "got some" with the drunk girl.
don't perpetuate a culture that tells you that you have no control over or responsibility for your actions. You can, too, help yourself.

*If you agree, repost it. It's that important.
Posted by
epona
Oakland East

posted in Bloody Knickers - 3 replies

To bleed or not to bleed...

jenperiod — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 07:36:57 GMT

Below is a post from a friend in response to my blog entry about tampons. After reading it I imediately got all defensive feeling about the fact that I like to bleed. I then started to menatlly list the reasons why. Things like, feeling the natural rhythms of myself, the cycles of introversion and extroversion, feeling feminine, and being reminded about the powerful force of reproduction etc etc.
Anyways here's that post:

In 2006, a new oral contraceptive called Anya, developed to "put women in control of when or if they want to menstruate," is expected to hit the Canadian and U.S. markets. Manufactured by Collegeville, Penn.-based Wyeth Pharmaceuticals -- and currently pending approval by Health Canada -- Anya is the first low-dose birth control pill designed to be taken 365 days a year, without placebos (the hormone-free sugar pills taken at the end of every 28-day cycle). Early findings report that Anya is just as effective in preventing pregnancy as traditional oral contraceptives (98 per cent). And as an added bonus, since Anya provides a steady stream of hormones, it promises to quash a woman's usual cyclical fluctuations, virtually wiping out all the irksome symptoms of PMS.

more... www.macleans.ca/topstories...article.jsp

I also started wondering if maybe I do create the reasons I enjoy bleeding in order to deal with "all the irksome symptoms of PMS" .
I doubt it.

But, I suppose it's possible that women in general could prefer not to bleed.

posted in Bloody Knickers - 2 replies

Say NO to tampons and YES to homemade spermacide!

jenperiod — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 04:43:12 GMT

You don't have to dig too deep to learn about the health hazards of tampons or plastic store bought maxipads. With their chlorine bleaching they contain dioxin which is linked to cancer, bitrth defects, misscarrages etc, etc. Not to mention the fact that they end up drying up your cunt, which isn't all that fun.
This new zine I just got reminded me about all of this. It is called Wive's Tales and is released by the Blood Sisters in Montreal. They are great!
This book covers many other subjects, like natural birth control which is something I have an interest in too. Especially since most forms of female birth controll are even worse than tampons.
This book turned me on to a method I had never heard of before. Sounds much nicer than hormones or jabby iud's.

HOMEMADE SPERMICIDE!

a mild, non-irritating alternative to harsh chemical jellies...

Mix one part ALOE VERA GEL (100%) with 1 part FRESH LEMON JUICE

Insert with the type of applicator for store bought jellies and medications

The book says "PROVEN AND EFFECTIVE" allthough to be honest i don't think I will be depending on this anytime soon, maybe I could dare someone else to try it out.
I have heard of using vitamin c inserted internally in scenarios such as broken codoms. So maybe there really could be something to this.

Wive's Tales and other great zines like it are available by calling 1-877-RED-ZONE. Or you can find them at Still Eagle, (along with my beautifull homemade period pieces).

posted in Bloody Knickers - 0 replies

offensive?

jenperiod — Sun, 11 Dec 2005 02:32:02 GMT

i am curious to see if anyone will find this tribe offensive and censor it it the new era that is about to begin.
Did you receive any of those letters Viv?

posted in Bloody Knickers - 1 reply

tampon angels

jenperiod — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 06:28:56 GMT

I posted a picture of a tampon angel that I found on the internet. I think it is probably one of the better uses for playtex tampons. I think tampon crafting could get pretty interesting.
Here are the instructions for this particular one.

Tampon Angel Pattern
Back by popular demand.....Tampon angel ornaments!!!!!! I use Playtex because they fan out into a cone shape.
1. Dip into water until tampon expands.
2. Remove and tie at the top to create the angel's head.
3. Let hang (by handy dandy string) for several days until dry.
4. Paint face with peach or skin tone color, and draw small black dots for eyes.
5. Add blush or pink paint to cheeks.
6. Paint "dress" with glimmer paint.
7. Criss-cross thin gold ribbon across�chest (around neck) .
8. Add yellow doll hair to top of head as well as a gold� pipe cleaner for a halo.
9. For the grand finale...glue small gold angel wings� to back.

I'm your little visiting angel, pretty as a swan. I'll decorate your tree or wreath from dusk until the dawn. I know that every month you'll think of me and put a smile on! I'll even be hanging around when you crave a box of bon bons. Now I guess you've figured out, and no, you're not wrong... Someone found out another use for a playtex tampon!

posted in Bloody Knickers - 1 reply

Radical menstrual resources

viiv — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 19:38:38 GMT

I'd like to start this thread off by directing you to the Bloodsisters' website, bloodsisters.org, and their sister-site, urban-armor.org. These are the ladies who opened my eyes and I am eternally grateful to them (props to AD!).
v

posted in Bloody Knickers - 7 replies

Let it bleed!!

viiv — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 19:33:59 GMT

I think it's about time the word got out, don't you? The "feminine hygiene" industry has had its way with our bodies for long enough. It's time to take a stand! Menstruating women and their friends unite! Why waste money buying toxic bleached and disposable products with nasty perfumes and horrible ad campaigns by companies that try and make us believe that bleeding is dirty when we can use fun, comfy and soft cotton pads or durable menstrual cups again and again? It's economical, environmentally friendly, and totally empowering. Beeding is natural, bleeding is good, and while Aunt Flo may be a pain in the ass from time to time, I for one tend to welcome her visits from Red River with open arms.
Welcome to the Bloody Knickers forum!!
Viv

posted in Bloody Knickers - 0 replies