New this week: Ad for "Growing Up and Liking It" booklet (1963, Modess), and the cover of a booklet (1951) - "Modess . . . . because" ad (1954) - Additions to the pages for Susan Dey, Cathy Rigby and Carol Lynley (Famous People in Menstrual Hygiene Advertising) - Ad for "As One Girl to Another," Kotex booklet for girls (1942)

PREVIOUS NEWS | First Page | Newest News | Contact the Museum | Menstrual Products Safety | FAQ | links | DIRECTORY OF ALL TOPICS


Letters to Your MUM

We all have to do it, even on Easter Sunday.

In my capacity as your MUM I am obligated to help you progress, this time by encouraging you to visit this site and dip into the well of wisd- , no, that's the wrong image.

Relax, turn on some music, and read. By the way, I love the incredibly American euphemism used in the site name:

Just visited your site. Have your heard of Denise's mailbox to which you might consider a link?

Restrooms of the Future

http://www.restrooms.org/

Also, I have a questionnaire up on this site for women and urination

http://www.restrooms.org/urinalquestionnaire.html

I have not had time to visit your site properly, but will. Just wondering if there are any areas of co-operation.

Orde

The site links to another that deals with teaching a cat to use a toilet, specifically Misha, in the photo. I stole the picture, which forms part of the serious instructions, from the site; I love cats.

The teacher writes very well! I don't have the stamina right now to teach my, er, um - oh, I'll just say it! EIGHT cats to use the toilet, but wouldn't it be neat? Just imagine the little guys lining up! They watch each other anyway.

You will like reading the very serious instructions even if you aren't interested in saving money on litter or just don't have the time - or don't have a cat!

 

Misha, concentrating. Don't slip!


She loves The Keeper menstrual cup, and asks some questions:

I've been using my Keeper for eight years now and I adore it.

I remember when I first received it. I was so excited I had to try it out. After a few attempts I was able to insert it, but then getting it out was a bit of a task. Not one to be easily discouraged, the next day I decided to wear it to work (for some reason, I wasn't menstruating). Midday I went into the bathroom to take it out. It was a public restroom, but with just one toilet. I managed to remove the Keeper but it was so springy when I first got it that the darn thing jumped out of my hand and across the room. It was funny to me, but I'm not sure how I would have reacted in a PUBLIC restroom with it full of blood.

As I used the Keeper it got much more pliable and easy to insert. I've never had a problem with leakage or any sort of discomfort. I actually feel much more comfortable with and knowledgeable about my body and cycle since I've been using it. I recommend it to all of my friends.

I have a question. If there is no risk of TSS [toxic shock syndrome] with a Keeper why is there concern about how long it is worn? Are we supposed to take it out for extended periods of time or just to empty it? In my experience, my Keeper has never been anywhere near full, and I often wear it comfortably for 24 hours or more. I haven't had any abnormal Pap smears in all this time or any other signs of problem.

[According to Dr. Philip Tierno, even though there have been no reports of TSS with The Keeper, there haven't been enough usages, so to speak, to generate an idea of how risky it is. There is a possibility that the rubber can harbor and promote the growth of the TSS bacteria. Read his answers to similar questions. And I would say that, if possible, rinse the cup out each time. This would seem to reduce the amount of bacteria in the cup.]

One last comment: there was some concern about blood-borne pathogens mentioned. Why would they (if indeed there is a danger relating to these I don't know, but I tend to think not) be more harmful in a cup than on a tampon or pad?

[It seems to depend on the material the device is made of, and I don't see why a could would necessarily be more dangerous than tampons or pads.]

I love your site, thanks so much for expanding consciousness about menstruation! [Thank you, and you're welcome!]


And she loves the Instead menstrual cup; see a dress made from them:

Dear Harry,

Thanks for hosting this wonderful Web site. [My pleasha.] I recently purchased Instead at Target [drug store] out of curiosity. I figured, $2.00 was a reasonable investment for something I may not like. You see, I have shied away from o.b. tampons [A tampon for many years without an applicator, like the first tampons. See some ads.] for years. Since they now have an applicator, I decided to give them a try.

When I first saw Instead, my old fears, associated with o.b., resurfaced. I inserted o.b. when I was a teenager and my experience was quite unpleasant. I couldn't remove it!! Mom was in New York and I refused to tell my Dad.

Anyway, I'm 33 now and wiser. I decided to give Instead a chance. And I am happy to report, it works GREAT!!! for me. Don't think I will ever go back to tampons.

Thanks for listening.


Tell Your Congressperson You Support the Tampon Safety and Research Act of 1999! Here's How and Why


The BBC wants to hear from you if your cycle is a blessing, makes you creative, if you have experience with menstrual seclusion, or know about current research !

Here's your chance to say how you feel about menstruation!

Please, may I post a letter on your letter page?

I'm researching a documentary for the BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation] about menstruation - myths and facts and blessing or curse.

I have much information about the curse and predjudice but I am finding scant information about the blessing! I was thrilled to find medical information linking surgery for breast cancer and the menstrual cycle and the New Scientist report about differing medication levels required during the 28-day cycle, and the research about eating requirements differing during the cycle etc., but I want to hear from women who have evidence of the cycle as a blessing, for example, artists, writers, etc., who are at their most creative whilst menstruating.

I also want to meet women who practice menstrual seclusion, as with menstrual huts of the past [and of the present; women still use menstrual huts].

And anything and everything to do with research into menstruation.

Next week I am interviewing Mr Peter Redgrove and Penelope Shuttle who wrote the first book on menstruation that offered positive information, The Wise Wound, 1978. I am very excited about asking many questions resulting from the book. If you have any questions for them pertaining to the book or their second book, Alchemy for Women, about the dream cycle corresponding to the menstrual cycle, I would be delighted to forward them to them on your behalf. They are not on the net so any questions would have to have addresses!

Thank you so much for this glorious Web site [many thanks to you for saying that!] and I look forward to hearing from visitors to your site.

Ali Kedge.

ali@shortkedge.freeserve.co.uk or fflic.zip@business.ntl.com


Help Wanted: This Museum Needs a Public Official For Its Board of Directors

Your MUM is doing the paper work necessary to become eligible to receive support from foundations as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. To achieve this status, it helps to have a American public official - an elected or appointed official of the government, federal, state or local - on its board of directors.

What public official out there will support a museum for the worldwide culture of women's health and menstruation?

Read about my ideas for the museum. What are yours?

Eventually I would also like to entice people experienced in the law, finances and fund raising to the board.

Any suggestions?


Do You Have Irregular Menses?

If so, you may have polycystic ovary syndrome [and here's a support association for it].

Jane Newman, Clinical Research Coordinator at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University School of Medicine, asked me to tell you that

Irregular menses identify women at high risk for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which exists in 6-10% of women of reproductive age. PCOS is a major cause of infertility and is linked to diabetes.

Learn more about current research on PCOS at Brigham and Women's Hospital, the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania State University - or contact Jane Newman.

If you have fewer than six periods a year, you may be eligible to participate in the study!

See more medical and scientific information about menstruation.


New this week: Ad for "Growing Up and Liking It" booklet (1963, Modess), and the cover of a booklet (1951) - "Modess . . . . because" ad (1954) - Additions to the pages for Susan Dey, Cathy Rigby and Carol Lynley (Famous People in Menstrual Hygiene Advertising) - Ad for "As One Girl to Another," Kotex booklet for girls (1942)


PREVIOUS NEWS | First Page | Contact the Museum | Menstrual Products Safety | FAQ | links | DIRECTORY OF ALL TOPICS

Take a short tour of MUM! (and on Web video!) - FAQ - Future of this museum - Tampon Safety Act - Contact the actual museum - Board of Directors - Norwegian menstruation exhibit - The media and the MUM - Menstrual odor - Prof. Mack C. Padd: Fat Cat - The science and medicine of menstruation - Early tampons - Books about menstruation - Menstrual cups: history, comments - Religion and menstruation: A discussion - Safety of menstrual products (asbestos, dioxin, toxic shock syndrome, viscose rayon) - A Note from Germany/Neues aus Deutschland und Europa - Letters - Links

© 1999 Harry Finley. It is illegal to reproduce or distribute work on this Web site in any manner or medium without written permission of the author. Please report suspected violations to hfinley@mum.org