(no subject)

[cassiopia.livejournal.com]

I love knowing my body as well as I do. My cycle runs between 25 and 28 days...lately its been closer to 25. So I knew between Monday and Friday my period would start. I was hoping for Monday so it would be gone by the weekend (we're going to an SCA event, which means camping and garb) no such luck. Got it today. Better than last year though when I got it on the first day of the trip and nearly dripped on the floor because I was away from a bathroom and a clean tampon. This year I have cloth pads and I don't think I will have nearly the paranoia about leaking (I'd hate to stain my lovely dresses).

I've really enjoyed the switch to cloth pads, though it means no swimming or hot tubbing when I have my period, which has become a problem...I might try the Keeper sometime soon. But I have no idea how to clean/empty it in a public bathroom at work...ideas from any Keeper users out there?

I use the Fertility Awareness Method for birth control. Had sex during the end of my fertile phase and the condom broke (YIPE!) he panicked a bit more than me. I know my body, I knew we were pretty much in the clear but was using condoms a day or 2 extra to be sure. But the arrival of my period today was still a bit of a relief, and confirmation that yes, I DO know my body. Its an empowering feeling.

I really feel for those of you out there who have such vicious cramps and heavy flows. I almost feel bad about posting here when I have it so easy. But we are all different and have different experiences with our cycles. I'm glad this space is here for us to share.

*pulls up a comfy chair and a glass of wine*

Comments

[moonrose.livejournal.com]

Haven't tried the Keeper, but I've tried sea sponges which ROCK... and I just take them out, rinse them, then go put them back, even at work... I try to wait till everyone's left the restroom though - some of the women here are awfully uptight.

Re:

[cassiopia.livejournal.com]

where can you get them and how easy are the to insert/remove?

what happens when someone walks in while you are at the sink rinsing?

[moonrose.livejournal.com]

Got mine at a hippie grocery kinda place - like Whole Foods. You can get them online I think too, do a search for 'Sea Pearls'. They took a little getting used to for me to insert becaue I had never been able to use tampons before, and it is just a sponge, no applicator, but the learning curve was afwully small. They were fairly cheap (2 sponges for under $10, and they were all I needed for the week and I'll be able to reuse them). Removal wasn't bad because I only put it as far as I knew I could reach, and it didn't shift much at all...

And as far as someone walking in, honestly, its so small they won't prolly see it, and the blood rinses out *fast*, and if they ask what it is, *shrug*, tell them. Either they'll be interested and you can share the discovery, or they'll freak out and leave you alone anyhow ;) I mean, seriously, it's just menstrual blood. *grin* I actually felt a much greater connectin to my body and my cycle and my blood using the sponges, actually.

[jungle-girl.livejournal.com]

I also use the Fertility Awareness Method. How is it working for you? How long have you been using? Do you rely more on the mucus observation or temperature? So many questions! But I had never met someone that uses this method. I started in december, while I was still using IUD, and "trained" for a few months until I felt it was safe for me to take the IUD out, two months ago. So far so good, and I reaaly enjoy that feeling you mentioned, of knowing and trusting my body.
And I also use cloth pads. When I go to the beach during my period I do put a organic cotton tampoon, as much as I don't like it.
Well, it was very conforting to read your post!

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[cassiopia.livejournal.com]

Good to hear from otehrs who feel as I do.

I rely on temp and cervical fluid both. I've been tracking since March. I was bad about remembering to take my temp this cycle because my sleep schedule was messed up so I relied on cervical fluid and used condoms as a back up. Today starts a new cycle and my sleep schedule has stabilized so I can go back to temp traking as well. I really love bing able to use this method. And my partner likes not having to use condoms all the time. A frequent question I get now is "So where are we on the cart?" LOL.

I'll have to look into organic tampons or the sponges mentioned before...missing out on swimming and the hot tub just plain stinks. When I'm on my period is exactly when I WANT the hot tub...heh.

[jungle-girl.livejournal.com]

You know, I was absolutely amazed when I found out about this method. I've had all kinds of problems related to sexual expression, and some of them made me feel I would only be safe with a IUD, which stays there forever. I'm so happy now with this thing. But I have to say that I owe it to my husband also. Without his help and patience it wouldn't be that easy.
It also made me realized how much I didn't know my body before, and still have lots to learn. After years of sexual confusion, it takes a while to make peace with my womb...