Menstruation: Don’t be in Denial

We are thrilled. Overjoyed, actually, after seeing one of the most superior public relations tactics ever executed by Bodyform, a U.K. based manufacturer of women’s feminine hygiene products.  Why the big fuss, you ask?  Here’s the background….

Last week, British Facebook user Richard Neill (your average, everyday guy), decided to post publicly about his girlfriend’s period via his personal Facebook page that went like this:

Richard Neill to Bodyform 8 October
—————————————–
Hi , as a man I must ask why you have lied to us for all these years . As a child I watched your advertisements with interest as to how at this wonderful time of the month that the female gets to enjoy so many things ,I felt a little jealous. I mean bike riding , rollercoasters, dancing, parachuting, why couldn’t I get to enjoy this time of joy and ‘blue water’ and wings !! Dam my penis!! Then I got a girlfriend, was so happy and couldn’t wait for this joyous adventurous time of the month to happen …..you lied !! There was no joy , no extreme sports , no blue water spilling over wings and no rocking soundtrack oh no no no. Instead I had to fight against every male urge I had to resist screaming wooaaahhhhh bodddyyyyyyfooorrrmmm bodyformed for youuuuuuu as my lady changed from the loving , gentle, normal skin coloured lady to the little girl from the exorcist with added venom and extra 360 degree head spin. Thanks for setting me up for a fall bodyform , you crafty bugger

As you will note, his cry for attention was heard not by just a few followers, but a viral audience upwards of 80,000+.  Not an easy feat.  A few news media took notice –writing an article or two on his post—and even speculating as to the cause of its appearance.  He may however, in the future, think twice before launching a public tirade via social media about the marketing of women’s sanitary pads as women were listening…and they responded swiftly, nimbly, and in the most brilliant manner — as is typical with women.

The response from Bodyform was a social-media-based, satirical YouTube video conversation with Richard delivered by ‘acting CEO Caroline Williams’ (an actress).

In the video (linked below), “Ms. Williams” outlines the reality of the situation to Mr. Neill –even going so far as apologizing for Bodyform’s ‘deceipt’ relating to the company’s promotion of feminine hygiene products as solutions that would allow women to be comfortable enough while on their period to rollerblade, skydive, horseback ride and the like.  One of the most witty videos every posted—that ends with an unexpected finality that could NOT have been masterminded any better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Bpy75q2DDow

Kudos to Bodyform for ‘saying it like it is’ while remaining elegant, gracious, thoughtful, feminine and superiorly intelligent—all while manufacturing and marketing sanitary pads.  It doesn’t get much better than this.

Moldy Feminine Hygiene?…..ICK!!!!

As most women know (and likely a good number of men as well), feminine hygiene products are made of mostly organic ingredients found in nature—cotton being the most prevalent.  News headlines this week included a very real side effect of using said ingredients—mold. Yes, you read that correctly: mold. 

Texas resident Danielle Parr found unusual black spots growing on an unused tampon.  According to her own blog, she indicated that she noticed them upon accidentally popping the Kotex tampon out of its applicator. YUK!  Upon seeing the unusual decoration on something supposedly relatively sterile, she contacted Kotex tampon maker, Kimberly-Clark Corporation to report the issue, and was told by a company spokesperson that it was a substance she shouldn’t be too concerned about. Hmmm….really?

Her blog reads the response from Kimberly-Clarke, “In instances where it has been found, we conducted tests on the product involved and have found the mold to be a common environmental species that carries no health risk. The vegetative mold is similar in nature to mold on vegetables or in baked goods.”  In addition, they wrote, “Nothing is more important to us than consumer safety. Any discoloration or abnormality with our tampons is extremely rare, and we want to do a full investigation to determine the source and follow-up with our manufacturing facility.”

This incident seemed the perfect catalyst for us to again highlight alternative feminine hygiene products—such as the menstrual cup. This palm-sized medical-grade silicone product is used more broadly in Europe than the United States and currently, manufacturers are all headquartered outside of the United States.  DivaCup in Canada and Lunette in Finland, are two of the most popular.  Or, consider all-organic feminine hygiene products from such companies as Seventh Generation (which Period Packs currently carry) or Natracare —another solid option. Organic products not only use 100% pure cotton, but unbleached cotton (i.e. no chemicals).

Now, I’ve never personally found any mold on my tampons, and I switch from pads and tampons to menstrual cups depending on flow and range of activities when my period arrives.  My personal feeling is that there are definitely appropriate times to use all available products—but it is important for each woman to find the right products for her body and lifestyle needs.  Just be sure that the products you do use in/around your lady parts aren’t a gross-looking black, green, brown or yellow.

Danielle’s Blog: http://www.parrforthecourse.com/2012/03/tale-of-moldy-tampon.html

Why not wait….??

Many parents often think that opening the door to awkward topics such as menstruation, puberty, sex, etc. will result in too much curiosity—and they therefore, put these important conversations off or leave them in the hands of school or pediatrician, instead.

I recently viewed an old episode of Supernanny in which a family with four children had not yet had a conversation about sex with their 13-year-old son, whose room contained unopened condoms scattered across his dresser. Supernanny Jo Frost was horrified and questioned the parents as to whether or not they’d given them to their son or provided him guidance/sex education. When both parents replied ‘no’ and told her that they just hadn’t talked about it (hoping by not talking they’d ultimately prevent their teen from being curious about and having sex), Supernanny just about had a heart attack on camera!

As a parent of three children myself, I know all too well how weary us parents can become over the years. It starts with sleepless nights caring for newborns, and graduates to the Terrible Two’s and Three’s, and eventually, filled social and activity calendars—all of which must be juggled alongside careers, relationships, marriage and oftentimes, other children. When life is this hectic I can see how conversations (especially the ones we prefer not to have too soon) get put on the back burner. Ask my husband how often I say, “Can we discuss X topic tomorrow?”  and he’d tell you it happens a lot.

Interestingly, after launching Period Packs two years ago, we quickly realized that our clients are mainly comprised of parents who purchase gifts for the special young ladies in their lives after they begin menstruating.  While this is certainly a wonderful time for a young lady to receive a celebratory, yet discreet gift in the mail, we encourage parents to engage their daughters on the topic of menstruation in advance of its actual onset since menstruation isn’t exclusively about the onset of monthly bleeding. These days, we have a responsibility to educate our young women about everything from safe Internet practices to safe sex. We must explain the importance of regular medical exams, hygiene, breast self-exams and overall preparedness.  Young ladies today do seem to have more on their plate than their predecessors—likely due in part to amazing advancements in technology and the Digital Era in general. Information moves rapidly across a variety of platforms—many of which can be obtained right from a handheld device like a smart or cell phone. It’s a little frightening sometimes.

With this easy access to information, some parents assume (or hope) that their engaged and intelligent tweens/teens will leverage the Internet to research the things they need to know on their own. The main challenge with that plan is that not all information on the Internet is accurate (in fact, much of it is pure opinion) and much of it is shared with improper or incorrect context.

I’ve come to realize, now a parent myself, how important it is to have open communication with my children about everything—and I mean, everything.  I have promised them (and myself) that I can handle anything they drop into my lap.  I just hope I can always keep that promise.  Time will certainly tell.

In the meantime, I’ve already started to plan how I’m going to begin discussing menstruation with my soon-to-be 7-year-old daughter. It seems so young, but current research estimates that more young women are getting their period between the ages of 7-14.  Since she’s been around Period Packs for so long, I’m sure she’ll grasp it more quickly than others, yet I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to put off that day for as long as I could.  I’m still in the ‘your my little princess’ phase with her and seeing her grow up—so seemingly quick—nearly breaks my heart.  Alas, some silver lining is that we will begin discussion soon, and my goal will be to wrap it around a few chocolate sundaes, hot cocoas and wonderful one-on-one bonding moments with her in the years to come.  Now that is something to look forward to–YUM!

It makes ‘scense’…

So, when was the last time you were in a public restroom (at work, at the gym, or out on the town) where you needed to dispose of your used feminine hygiene products (i.e. tampon, pad or liner)?

C’mon…we’ve all had to contend with the silver ‘boxes’ that rest directly at eye-level within most public bathroom stalls—often overflowing with nasty looking used products that stink up the joint!

This is one of those elements of menstruation that we don’t openly discuss. Why? Because it is gross, embarrassing and icky!

Fortunately, Upstate New Yorker Ann Germanow, has taken direct aim at addressing used feminine hygiene product disposal. Along with her business partner and husband John, Germanow is seeking to change the way women dispose of their used feminine care items through a specially-designed, biodegradable, scented single-use plastic bag called SCENSIBLES.

(Side note: For menstrual cup wearers and reusable pad aficionados, you’ve good. In fact, there’s no need to read on unless you occasionally wear a disposable pad, tampon or liner product. However, not all of us can comfortably wear a menstrual cup. We’re simply more comfortable with disposable options. (forgive us….please!)

Anyway, the personal size, lightly scented SCENSIBLES baggies are an alternative to flushing tampons down the toilet or rolling up your used maxis in toilet paper—a lame effort at best and a complete waste of toilet paper, to boot! What’s more, SCENSIBLES contain built-in antimicrobial agents to inhibit the growth of odor causing bacteria and they are also manufactured with an additive to enable them to biodegrade in landfills, making them more environmentally practical.

The SCENSIBLES solution is beneficial not only for each individual woman, but cleaners of the bathrooms they use, and the follow-on patrons forced to contend with improperly disposed of used feminine hygiene products (imagine overflowing toilet, or worse, bloody-stained pads/tampons hanging out of a container on the wall at eye-level).  C’mon…you’ve all seen these…and they are disgusting!

And, being disgusting isn’t the worst part. According to SCENSIBLES, restrooms account for fifty percent of service complaints—while only residing in 5% of total building space. The main areas of concern?  Let’s start with G E R M S —those lovely little microbes that most frequently spread from person to person via contact with unclean restroom fixtures, as well as the overlooked danger of exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Since sanitary napkin disposal units are usually emptied once a day, they harbor O D O R S –making the restroom an unpleasant stop for all patrons. Finally, businesses must pay extra costs to have flushed tampons removed from plumbing and septic systems—which can be severely damaged by feminine care products disposed of in this manner.

The Germanows have not only patented their unique disposal option, but also provide a delivery system for their products so that they can be easily and commercially installed in public restrooms around the world. Women’s restrooms in Wegman’s supermarkets, the San Diego Zoo, the Washington State Ferry System, ball parks, hospitals, and many other buildings/businesses across the country now carry SCENSIBLES dispensing systems.

Fortunately, SCENSIBLES Personal disposal Bags for Feminine Care Products can also be purchased at www.scensiblesource.com and Amazon.com (as well as retail stores across the Northeast) for $3.50/box of 50
bags. 

The company is so confident about their product, that if you contact them directly through their website, they’ll send a sample of their SCENSIBLES baggies for you to try for free! www.scensiblesource.com.

THANK YOU Ann and John. We’re not sure why it took so long for someone to come up with a solution for this problem, but we’re very, very glad you did!

“Menstrual Bracelet” – Mood ring of the millenium?

When an invention stirs controversy, there must be something interesting about it.

Such is the case of Karl Dorn, an inventor (and plasterer) from Britain.

Dorn recently entered an inventors contest with a wrist-based product called, “Help for Husbands.”  The product is simply a wristband, reminiscent of mood rings of the 70s, that monitors body temperature of the wearer, and changes color a few days prior to the onset of menstruation–thus advising others of potential mood swings before they occur.

 Hmmm….

The 43-year-old plasterer from from Southend, Essex (United Kingdom) said that the idea percolated after years of chatting with his male friends about their domestic tales of woe. “It’s a visual aid for men so they can be a little bit more understanding at certain times of the month,” he said.

This development comes on the heels of news reports from Norway wherein some businesses were attempting to demand that female workers wear a red bracelet to indicate that they were menstruating–therefore providing a reason as to why they required an increase in bathroom breaks?   WHAT???    How humiliating!  businesses apparently suggested (via survey) that lost productivity was causing grave concern and therefore, they were seeking bases for that lost productivity. One of the reasons cited was an increase in bathroom use of its female employees.

Within the last year, even technology has caught up with what I like to tag, ‘fear of womanhood.’ MEDL Mobile, for example, last year launched Code Red, an iPhone/iPad application that allows men to keep track of a woman’s period–again–so that he can be more sensitive during those PMS-days.  A quick search also finds, PMS Buddy, another free, online application that is supposed to highlight those days when women are more ‘irritable.’

Frankly, I’m stunned. 

There are two communities of thought when it comes to menstruation. Either you are okay with it as a biological course for women and ‘it is what it is.’ Or, you are an uneducated ass requiring significant education about the fact that women don’t ‘opt’ to get their period. It just happens.

As such, mocking women for having it, suggesting it makes women weaker, angrier, less productive, ‘hormonal’ or anything along those lines–is in short, lame.  

Men, if you need a visual aid or reminder, try visiting the local pharmacy or supermarket and troll the tampon/menstrual pad aisle. If you can identify which women are menstruating versus those just stocking up on supplies, comment on this post.  There’s no real difference. Men and women can both become ‘short-fused’ and most of the time, it has little (or no) connection to a hormone shift.

What strikes me the most is that businesses (including mine) are taking direct aim and female menstruation. What gives? I know why I’m doing it–and it isn’t because I could win an inventor’s contest or procure a million dollars in revenue (even if I dream it may). What it boils down to in my opinion is that really, we’re becoming more comfortable with ourselves. After years of hiding behind closed doors or under layers of petticoats, men and women are identifying with the opposite sex more. Great news. 

Yet, since the Dorn ‘menstrual bracelet’ is still a theory without a prototype, and MEDL Mobile won’t release sales figures for its new application, let’s just see what happens. Are we really gaining more comfort with the realities of our differences or simply looking for a way to make (or keep) a few bucks?  You be the judge….

Read more about the Dorn invention:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1359757/Time-month-warning-wristband-tells-men-wives-PMS.html#ixzz1FYo6wOWT

For background on the Norwegian coup for red bracelets, go to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1334400/Female-staff-Norway-ordered-wear-red-bracelets-period.html

Hygiene…Take I

As young girls, many of us enjoyed playing dress up. We put on cute, frilly frocks, high heels and wore makeup–even if it was hand-me-down or drug store freebie-style. It gave us pleasure to look older, to beautify ourselves and enjoy tea party while wearing feather boas around our tiny necks. This impulse only intensifies as we age–especially thanks to the heavily externally-focused society that most of us reside in today. On the covers of magazines sit air-brushed celebrities and beautiful models that encourage us to try new brands of perfume, designer duds or brand of makeup. It’s hard to miss. While we need not fall prey to this marketing attack from all angles, the one message that should resonate with young ladies today is a focus on ‘hygiene.’

Various 'aids' for perfecting personal hygiene are available.

There are different definitions for hygiene depending on how or where you were raised. Some young women are satisfied with a soap-and-shampoo shower, while others take a more lengthy and intense route using additional body scrubs, facials, conditioners, lotions, perfumes, etc. Regardless of which avenue you walk on, once menstruation begins, your body begins to behave differently. By ‘differently,’ I mean that your sweat glands have matured and your body will be prone to sweating. If not managed properly, the result will be what is commonly referred to as ‘body odor.’ Your body hair too will begin to grow in unexpected places–which in many cases–will require young women to shave (legs, armpits, specifically). These changes are just the beginning of a young girl’s metamorphosis to womanhood.

But, DO NOT FEAR!

Once you determine an individualized routine for keeping clean (regular showers or baths), the first step has already been taken. Anything above and beyond this (shaving, wearing antiperspirants, etc.) are simply an evolution to hygiene that some girls take, and others choose not to take. It is a very personal choice.

The FUN part of womanhood is choice. You can choose what type of soap to use (liquid or bar; scented or natural, organic/goat’s milk, etc.). Can you say ‘heeelllooooo Bath and Body!’ (http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/home/index.jsp)  What is also enjoyable is the experimentation process. Some scented deodorants work well, while others, should just be tossed into the trash as quickly as possible.  When beginning your journey into womanhood, do so with confidence and a sense of control and power. Just determining which soap and shampoo you use is a process in itself. Try several brands. Experiment with the scents of the products, how they leave your hair feeling, and what works best with your skin type. After some trial and error, you are bound to find a solution that works for you. Although, I’ll admit…I’ve shaken up my routine a number of times over the years since new products always catch my attention.

Bar soap options...galore!

Vegan Oreo Soap from ‘DirtyAss Soaps’ — Very unique.

   

Deliciously-scented liquid soap....

Update:  Period Packs just learned about a unique vagina-specific spa treatment called “The V-Steam,” available exclusively at the Tikkun Holistic Spa http://tikkunspa.com/ located in Santa Monica, California. According to the spa website, “the V-Steam was inspired by an ancient ritual practiced for many years in Korea. The steam from the herbal tea rises and absorbs into your skin & orifice. This steaming treatment stimulates the production of hormones to maintain uterine health and aids regular menstrual cycles.”  Now, we’re not suggesting that everyone run out and try this, but should there be readers in our audience who have, PLEASE contact us immediately and we’ll pay you for a review!

Next up: The importance of ‘Handwashing…’

Don't Forget To Wash Your Hands!