Free Bleeding

Dear hormonal coil,

Since July 2017 you are in my womb delivering locally some hormones. Since I have my periods every 35 days for 3-5 days with no needs of protections just washing my underwear. Before that my periods was every 35 days but for 8 days and very heavy. I needed to change my protection multiple times a day and leak at night was frequent.

I like to continue to have my periods but this flux it's better for me.

thank you coil

Aurore, France

Pointless

Dear pill,

Thanks for giving me a non-stop period for SEVEN MONTHS. After a while, my menstrual cup got too uncomfortable. And then so did tampons. So then I was wearing pads, and I think my skin ended up having an allergic reaction to the pads. Thanks for all the pointless pain and discomfort.

Anonymous, UK

The Battle Has Just Begun

Dear Vaginismus,

I haven’t won any battle against you yet. Tampons make me cry and sex is impossible. But I will win. One day. The control you have over my body, my choice of period protection, and my sex life makes me miserable. But, as I learn more about you, about how I am going to get help to deal with you, I can confirm it’s the start of the end for you. Here’s to less pain.... emotional & physical.

Molly, England

Bloody Cervix

Dear Cervix,

Why do you need to be so difficult?!

I want nothing more than to do away with pads; the monthly expense, the leaking and the crinkly packets in toilet cubicles.

But no, I can't have my life be changed by using a menstrual cup, because you, my cervix, isn't set back far enough.

You're too close to allow a menstrual cup, ANY menstrual cup, to fit inside me.

So cheers for being such a bloody nuisance, pun INTENDED!

Sincerely
Rachel

Rachel, UK

Anatomy Autonomy

Dear my vaginismus,

I really don't understand why you make my life so difficult, I don't understand why I must carry the burden of a traumatic experience even now, 7 years later. I don't get why you didn't let me use tampons until I was 18. I don't get why my gynaecologist didn't listen to me when I talked about you.

Thank goodness I switched gynaecologists and pill, because everything was making it harder to deal with you. You won't take my autonomy away from me anymore.

Anonymous, Spain

Thanks For the Pads, I Guess…

Dear Camp Counsellor,

When I happened to have my second-ever period during camp, you graciously gave me some of your pads. However, saying "I shouldn't have to give you pads, you need to go buy your own" to a twelve year old - in the middle nowhere, who obviously has no money, when there was still three days left of camp AND her period - probably wasn't the best idea. I understand you didn't need to give me your pads, but you definitely should have helped me.

Sincerely,
Three ruined jeans and a woman who spent ten years afraid of her period

Samantha, USA

Period Alert!

Dear Pads and Tampons,

Why are you so loud to open? Why do you need to alert everyone else in the toilets that I'm on my period.

But more importantly why are we ingrained with this shame about people knowing when we're on our periods? It's something that about 50% of the world go through, so why as newly bleeding humans do we already know it's something to hide from others?

Charlotte, UK

I <3 My Coil

Dear coil,

Thank you for giving me the other three weeks of the month to me. Stopping the migraines, tsunami blood flow and saving me so much money in tampons and pads, (because I had to change both every hour to avoid the tsunami). I’m not sure how I got to 33 without you. My boobs only hurt a little bit now, and my painkiller taking has gone down. I was on strong painkillers, which clot my blood enough that I could use a menstrual cup and a pad. Now I only need a night time one at night, and normal middle ones for day time, only needing to empty the cup three times a day.

Since I had you inserted I have been able to have a light coloured bottom sheet since I don’t bleed out in the night. I keep running through pms, my period (always had to have a week off for that) and the weeks recovery without injury as I couldn’t feel it due to the drugs.

I only get the odd cramp, and my diarrhea is solved.

I have a few extra spots, but nothing as bad as when I ate cheese and milk and ice cream and store bought cake. Or soya. Or monosodium glutamate.

And have I gotten a little chunky due to quarantine or is it you? We shall never know.

There’s no going back now. How did I drive to work when my vision was swimming? How am I alive!

Sincerely
I<3my coil

Anonymous, UK

Fumbling About

Dear Menstrual Cup,

I’ll be honest, I was terrified of you at first, but after 4 days fumbling about with you, I think I’ve finally sussed you out! I really think we could have a future together, especially while I’m dealing with some extra implant-related periods!

Lots of love,

Ellie

Ellie, Australia

My Cup Runneth Over

Dear Menstrual Cup,

It’s been a rough ride finding you, the one that fits and doesn’t hurt or make my cramps unbearable. We’ve been through a lot, and things have been messy, but I’ll never look back. (Plus you’re kind of beautiful in a funny sort of way!)

P.S. thank you for making “my cup runneth over” part of my regular vernacular!

Anonymous, UK

Knickers in a Twist

Dear period panties,

I am so grateful you came into my life. After years of painfully fighting with my friends, tampon and cup, and a rocky relationship with pads, I did not think I would find a relationship like this. Thank you for being there!

Anne, Ireland

Like Clockwork

Dear Pill,

Thank you for halving the amount of pads I have to use each period and for taking the stress of not knowing when my period will show up!

Thank you for minimising the back pain and cramps I used to get but had to ignore!

Thank you for making life just a little bit easier to deal with by taking the period stress away making it all work like clockwork!

Sincerely, Me

Kate, UK

Sinking Heart

Dear pad and tampon companies,

Do you realise my heart sinks when you put female signs on your packaging? Do you know you're hurting nonbinary people? Would it be so hard to... not?

Alex, UK

Small Victory

Dear vaginismus,

Fuck you for keeping tampons from me for so long. I hope that maybe one day you'll even let me use a menstrual cup. But for now I'll smile and be thankful everytime I wear a tampon, and relish knowing that I had a victory over you, even though it was small.

Katie

A Love Letter to Menstrual Cups

Dear Menstrual Cup,

I wanted to say thank you.

Thank you for coming into my life. Thank you for keeping me clean and comfortable throughout my tiring and extremely busy workday. Thank you for saving me from monthly episodes of thrush due to poor pH balance from pads and tampons. Thank you for saving me so much money! (Seriously, why are disposable hygiene products so expensive!). Thank you for allowing me to support the local business that makes you. Thank you for ensuring that a new menstrual cup gets given to an underprivileged person who cannot afford to buy disposable hygiene products monthly, every time a new menstrual cup is bought.

Thank you.

I love you dearly.

Lexi, South Africa

That’s No Place for a Tampon

Dear tampons,

I truly appreciate you now, but there was a point in time where I could not figure you out.

My friends were using you, and it seemed like the product "grown-ups" used, oh, what a misconception. I pretended like it wasn't my first time using you, so there was nobody to teach me. Now it seems so straightforward. I assumed it wouldn't go up inside me because that's uncomfortable and why would you want more discomfort on your period. So I just tucked you neatly between my labia and hoped for the best. Fair to say you weren't designed like that and I soaked through my knickers much to my dismay.

I understand now and want to thank you for the times you have come in handy, We've been through a lot together.

Milla

Merry Menstrual Christmas

Dear Menstrual Cup,

For almost a year I begged mum to buy you as a Christmas or birthday present and she finally gave in. I feel bad for not using you as much as I should, I just find you so uncomfortable, and difficult to get into the right position... Like that time I leaked all in my underwear while in central London.... But., I promise to use you more, I know you’re good for me and the environment, and I’m trying my best.

Sara, England

A Big Piece of Plastic

Dear Menstrual Cup,

Why didn't I start using you earlier?! You have completely changed my period and are so easy to use! I always thought you were intimidating from afar- a big piece of plastic going up there? Really?!

But no, you are perfect. You catch the blood, you are eco friendly, you are easy to clean, you save me money.... Even my cramps seem less bad! I just wish I had discovered you sooner, rather than suffering through the rash on my legs from pads, ruined underwear galore, the ridiculous cost and waste.

You make me feel better about myself, like I am actually making mature changes and am taking steps to improve. For me you symbolise my entire zero waste journey- a simple but terrifying change, a step in the right direction, a discovery of something great. I am so so grateful for the ease of use and the savings to the planet you have given me.

Thank you menstrual cup for transforming my periods into something slightly less unpleasant.

Anonymous, UK