I love this Web site! I had never heard of your museum before, and I think it's terrific. [Thanks very much!]
Reading the review of Terms of Endearment, by Geneva Kachman, caused me to recall a class I had in college, called "The Psychoanalytic Theory of Film and Literature," where every time class was held, we watched one or two films and then had to write a paper discussing the psychoanalytic themes which ran through the plots.
The first two movies we watched were The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. We were told by the professor that when Dorothy gets the red shoes at the end of the movie, this symbolizes the beginning of her menses.
I thought you might find that interesting, given the contents of your museum. [Many thanks!]
Regards
I just found MUM and am so glad you're here.
I'm an avid Instead user. I love it. It was my first introduction to menstrual cups. After reading everyone's comments [for comments over a year old, click; for recent comments, click back through the News sections, starting here] about Instead. I thought I might add my own two cents.
You can alleviate some of the messiness during removal if you just lean back a little so that the rim of the cup is horizontal (or near to it). This will keep most of the fluid in the cup until you can dump it out.
Thanks again
After finding your wonderful museum a few months ago, I ordered a Keeper and ran out to my local CVS [drug store] and bought Instead, so I could try them both.
I have used them for three cycles now, and am very pleased to have found alternatives to disposable tampons.
I find that the Keeper requires some fiddling around - it tends to migrate out after a bowel movement - but a few twists and it's back in place. I have no problem at all with leakage, provided I have it seated correctly [low in the vagina].
Instead is definitely not "one size fits all" any more than a diaphragm is. I find, however, that it's perfect for the last day of my cycle, when I don't really flow, but just "ooze." I don't feel it at all, I don't have to fuss with it, and I know there won't be any "accidents."
These products are such a blessing for me, because I have a heavy flow, and I ruined clothes every month. In the three months that I've been using these two products, I have not even stained my underwear. It's changed my life, and I'm telling everyone I know to use these products. When my daughter feels ready to switch from pads to an internal feminine hygiene option, I will purchase a Keeper for her, too.
I like the Keeper because is very economical (especially for someone with a heavy flow!!) compared to tampons, and does not irritate my insides when my flow slows down, like tampons do. I like using a reuseable product, rather than a disposable one. And it's performed much better than tampons for me.
Instead is great because I can pick it up at any drug store chain, and it's very convenient to slip one in my purse or my desk drawer at work, so I'm always prepared.
There is an adjustment period - using these products takes practice, just like learning to use tampons or pads. I think it's worth sticking it out.
Once again, I thank you for this wonderfully informative Web site. [Many thanks!]
I stumbled onto your Web site tonight and was really fascinated. I saw the page on the Rely tampon, however, and just had to tell you my story about it.
I was in my early 20s when Rely was introduced [1975; read a series of articles critical of Rely, from 1975]. I had incredibly heavy flow each month. Terribly limiting. The doctors said nothing was wrong, it was just the way I was put together. But between these huge, rock-hard tampons and the brick-like pads I had to use at the same time (just to get me through a morning of classes without ruining my clothes), I was going nuts.
Then P&G [Procter & Gamble Company] introduced the Rely tampon. I - loved - them. They were so damned comfortable. Nothing before or since has ever come close to the way they felt. [Many women loved them.] They freed me up, let me go to classes without carrying pounds of supplies in my knapsacks, and didn't hurt when I sat down. (I'm afraid you [meaning the MUM director - she's right, and I don't want to!!] haven't experienced the misery of the "pinch" from a tampon that's slipped out of place.)
When I found out they were being pulled from the market, I ran to the drugstore and bought as many boxes of them as I could carry. The clerk looked at me like I was nuts and I didn't care. Given how heavy my flow was, from what I'd read toxic shock wasn't a risk for me. Nothing stayed inside very long (2-3 hours?), and the flow itself was washing everything out. Couldn't there have been some way for doctors to prescribe them to patients like me who needed extra help? [No one knew much at the time about toxic shock and tampons, but it was felt that Rely must not be used any longer. Read P&G's letter withdrawing it, a gift from Tambrands to MUM.]
Anyway, I'm much older now and after I had my kids I no longer had need for such heavy-duty absorbency. But I feel sorry for the younger women now in my situation. I hope someday that someone will dream up another safe and comfortable solution for them.
Good luck with your project to get the museum a permanent home! [Thanks!]
The experience of menstruation varies so much even among women, from barely noticeable to crippling, that I don't even really think of it along gender lines. I was one of the unlucky ones for whom it was a real burden (a lot of pain, nausea, fainting, etc.). But I just looked at it like being short or nearsighted or having big feet or whatever - we all get what's dished out in the genes. Men have shorter average life spans than women, for instance. Who's to say which is the better deal? :)
The MUM is really a great accomplishment, especially, no offense, for a male to have undertaken. [Many thanks! I've taken a few knocks, but . . . .] I wanted to suggest a book to you if you haven't already read it. It's called The Crone by Barbara G. Walker, HarperCollins, 1988 (paperback). Also The Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, same author. [Many thanks! Here are more books about menstruation.]
It's interesting to read about the history of menstruation, but where you get into how it intersects with religion [and books about menstruation and religion] is really where the action is from the standpoint of the enlightened feminist, and I hope more women AND men will begin tuning in to this. It's revealing how damaging the major religions have been for women's well being, when you read about only menstruation - but going beyond that, it gets downright depressing when you begin to engage in real analysis of all the damage. [It's quite a story.]
Why don't you write a book instead of having a physical museum? [Among other reasons, I believe people would be more affected by a museum. Imagine sitting in a real menstrual hut imported from South America or Africa! That's just the beginning.]
Reader
Boulder, CO
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 prejudice 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
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.