Knowing Your Body

 Disclaimer: This blog may be too personal for many of you. I am about to talk a lot about womanly things, so if you do not wish to read more about me personally than you think you want to know click away. I warned you.

 So in general knowing your body and it's functions is a good thing. You can become in tune with your body and know illness coming on, tummy troubles, headaches and when they come. However when it comes to women knowing their own body the less known is better attitude happens a lot. Who really likes talking about their periods? Not many, let alone talking about how your period is totally normal, natural, and needed or the reasons behind the period. Most women know about every 28-34 days on average things start sucking. Cramps hurt, PMS sucks for everybody around you (ha ha sorry Marine!), bloating makes sweatpants seem fashionable suddenly. But how many of you know tell me how your cycle really works? ...I am guessing not many, which is sad we women need to know our bodies and take charge of them! Especially those looking to increase their fertility and pregnancy odds. Even more those try to conceive and having troubles, you REALLY need to be in tune with your body. There are some things to learn to help. I want to talk about them here, now.

 There is this book that I recommend to anybody wanting to know more about their body, fertility, and anything related to being a woman. It's Called Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It is an amazing read. It teaches you things I know the majority of you have never known about before. Example have you ever felt your own cervix? ...nah I didn't think so. Have you ever heard about charting your daily basal body temp to track ovulation patterns? Or ever take notice your personal vaginal fluids during the month? All of those relate to your fertility and are important to be aware of.  I know this isn't for everybody and I am not saying everybody needs to go ahead right now and shove your hands up there, but it is your body maybe you should know how it works. Maybe you should get over your high schoolish giggles and stop being grossed out or whatever and understand yourself a little better.

 The cervix is quite the amazing little thing. Did you know it changes positions, textures, opens up and closes all throughout your cycle? Did you know it also produces mucous when you are most fertile, mucous that is stretchy-clear almost like egg whites actually. Have you ever even seen one? If not hop on over to The Beautiful Cervix if you dare, it's pretty cool. You might learn something!

 Have you ever heard of a woman who takes her temperature every morning and charts it? Probably not most likely. It really informative and a great tool to track and pin point ovulation in a woman. During the beginning of a woman's cycle her body temp is low (like around 97degrees) and it should stay pretty steady. As the body ovulates the temp jumps up (know as a thermal shift) and after ovulation the temp stays higher and can either drop back down low when the new cycle starts or can stay high or even higher if pregnancy occurs. It's pretty neat, though can be a pain to remember your temp every morning at first. If you so should choose to read the book above it can teach you more about this method and even has software that tracks everything for you, all you have to do is plug in your temps. Check out the galleries here for some examples of charts. I have been doing this for years, since before Ladybug was born.

 Ok so have you been informed a little yet? You really should read that book, or check out the fourms that go along with the book on their website http://www.tcoyf.com/forums/. Maybe some day you will find out what Mittelschmerz means! I will give you a hint...it sometimes hurts!!!

 We all know our periods suck, what is to love about them? How many of you have been using tampons or pads all your life? Did you ever think there were other options? Ever think about them chemicals in those products you use? Or how much money you have wasted on them? Ever hear of the toxic shock syndrome? If not maybe you should look it up, and come back and read about how to avoid that and probably makes your period way more comfortable (including the elimination of cramps, cause ya know those suck monkey balls). So there are many options out there for you but first you need to get rid of that yuck or eww factor like asap....is it gone? ok here we go

 OK here is option number 1 and the option most women use. It is called a menstrual cup (this particular one is called a diva cup) and I personally use this one. I love it. I never would go back to anything else honestly. So how does it work? Well it's a cup, it goes in (ok yes there is a learning curve on this but once you get it, you get it!) and it collects. It is not gross, you simply carefully take it out and empty it twice a day or more if you have a heavy flow. Rinse it out and put it back in. simple. It's not messy, I personally have never had a spill or a total gross moment using the cup ever. I can personally say I used to get some nasty cramps, like make you think about taking more than one perocept at a time cramps and since using the cup I ever have no cramps or extremely mild whatever mainly annoying cramps. Want to know why? ...well simply put I am not putting some awful chemicals from a tampon in my body. Another reason to love the cup is the no trash factor....like on vacation recently it was simple and easy...no embarrassing trash in the bathroom for all to see. Be honest when you go into a bathroom and see nasty bloody trash you are grossed out aren't you? Or ever had a dog enjoy that trash and bring it out for all to see? Yep...that doesn't happen here with this...nobody knows besides you! When your period is over simple wash/boil (whatever the cup says to do) and store for next time around. It isn't big at all, most come in sizes to perfectly fit you and your needs. It's made of silicone or some have natural rubber so it is soft and flexible, and once in you nearly forget you are even on your period! Seriously this is way easier, cost effective, less gross, and more green than what you are doing now. For about $30-$40 for a cup it will last a few years, how much do you spend for a few years on tampons or pads? ...think about it!  

 Next is a pad, a washable pad. Now I personally do not do this route but plenty of women do. Pictured above is a popular brand called Luna Pads. The idea with these is the same as the pads you use now. The have wings that snap into place and some in light, regular, heavy, and overnight pads. They have fun cute prints (cause I am not sure...women like cute things?). The backing is waterproof so they do not leak and They are super soft and you can buy some with minkee tops, have you ever felt minkee? It is heavenly soft! Your vag would thank you for being so nice if it could! (or that might be creepy....) So these are for those who do not like inserting things, like if it's not comfortable for you or hurts but you want something green and healthy. You would change these like normal and then place them in their own bag (most starter kits come with waterproof bags to keep by the toilet and can be washed too) or I have seen some women keep a wet bucket near the toilet and place in there so they don't stain. You throw these in the wash with a little natural detergent and wash for next time. It's a little more involved than the cup above but a very great product and plenty of women use these. I know a few and they love and swear by them. Me personally I have enough laundry to do, just saying.

 Ok so this one is in my personal opinion a little too out there for me and therefore not for me BUT i do know somebody who uses these. This is a natural sea sponge tampon. It is a sea sponge that is small enough for you (these also come in sizes including teen sizes which I find pretty cool!). When they come to you they are hard but you prep them to get the softness. The idea behind these is simple, they absorb. When you change it out you rinse in the sink, yes you do have to squeeze out these which is where I personally draw a line. You wash them in a little water and some mild soap I think (feel free to correct me if I am wrong) and maybe some tea tree oil to keep bacteria away. They are good for 4-8months and are nice and cheap. Sorry I cannot offer more info on these I just don't have much as I only know the one person to use them!

 There are plenty of more options out there including cotton bamboo washable tampons. You just need to figure out what level of comfort you have with yourself and go from there. I never in my life thought I would be this out there I guess, but honestly the cup is the best thing ever and I would NEVER go back from it. I love my diva cup I really wish somebody had told me sooner about it. So go out buy or rent the book above, use google, browse the fertility fourms, read about options you have and take charge! You may even come back and thank me some day....maybe!