Why can't we talk about periods? | Jen Gunter

Summary

In this powerful talk, the speaker recounts her personal struggles with menstruation and societal taboos surrounding it. She challenges the shame and misinformation by explaining the biological processes behind periods and advocating for better education and understanding. The speaker humorously dismantles myths about 'menotoxin' and the patriarchal oppression of women through menstruation, while also discussing the physical aspects of periods, including cramps and period diarrhea. She emphasizes the importance of addressing menstrual pain and ending the era of menstrual taboos through knowledge and open conversation.

Takeaways

• 😣 The speaker experienced severe menstrual symptoms as a teenager, including cramps, leakage, and period diarrhea, which led to missed school days.
• 🤔 She questioned the societal taboos around menstruation, comparing it to other bodily functions that are not considered shameful or dirty.
• 😅 A lack of open discussion and education about menstruation was highlighted, with the speaker's own mother and doctor providing little help or understanding.
• 😓 The speaker humorously critiqued the size of early menstrual products and the segregation of menstrual products in stores, pointing out the absurdity of 'feminine hygiene aisles'.
• 🤯 Menstruation has been historically misunderstood and stigmatized, with myths about women's ability to spoil crops or wilt flowers perpetuated by religion and pseudoscientific ideas like 'menotoxin'.
• 🧬 Menstruation is a unique process among mammals, involving the building and shedding of the uterine lining in the absence of pregnancy, and is not inherently toxic.
• 🩸 The menstrual cycle involves 30 to 90 milliliters of blood loss, which is necessary for a thick uterine lining that can support a potential pregnancy.
• 💪 The uterine contractions during menstruation are comparable in pressure to those during the second stage of labor, explaining the severity of menstrual cramps.
• 🛑 There are effective treatments for menstrual pain, including TENS units, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and hormonal contraception, which can reduce pain and blood loss.
• 🚫 The speaker advocates for an end to menstrual taboos and the importance of knowledge and open conversation about menstruation for women's health and empowerment.

Q & A

What were the speaker's personal experiences with menstruation during her teenage years?

The speaker experienced severe menstrual cramps, blood leakage onto clothes and bed sheets, and period diarrhea, which led to missing school one to two days a month.

Why did the speaker feel that menstruation was treated differently compared to other bodily functions?

The speaker questioned why menstruation was considered different since other bodily functions like eating or walking did not lead to leakage of fluids.

What was the advice given by the doctor when the speaker sought help for her heavy periods?

The doctor advised the speaker to eat liver when she sought help for her heavy periods.

Why did the speaker feel that the societal approach to menstruation was problematic?

The speaker felt that the societal approach to menstruation was problematic because it was surrounded by shame and silence, which prevented open discussion and education about it.

What historical beliefs contributed to the stigmatization of menstruation according to the speaker?

Historical beliefs that contributed to the stigmatization of menstruation included the idea that women could spoil crops, milk, or wilt flowers, and purity myths from religious beliefs.

What was the concept of 'menotoxin' mentioned in the 1920s and '30s, and why was it problematic?

The concept of 'menotoxin' was a belief that women elaborated a toxic substance during menstruation that could wilt flowers, which was problematic because it was based on a lack of diversity in medical opinions and perpetuated myths about menstruation.

How does the speaker explain the biological process of menstruation?

The speaker explains that menstruation involves the brain triggering the ovary to produce an egg, estrogen building up the uterine lining, and if pregnancy doesn't occur, the lining is shed, causing bleeding.

Why does the speaker argue that the thick uterine lining is necessary for menstruation?

The speaker argues that a thick uterine lining is necessary to provide an obstacle course for embryos, ensuring only the highest quality embryos implant, as part of evolution's strategy to maximize beneficial outcomes for pregnancy.

What is the pressure generated in the uterus during menstruation, as mentioned by the speaker?

The pressure generated in the uterus during menstruation is 120 millimeters of mercury, which is comparable to the pressure during the second stage of labor when pushing.

What are some ways the speaker suggests to address menstrual pain?

The speaker suggests using a TENS unit, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and hormonal contraception to address menstrual pain.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of discussing menstruation openly?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of discussing menstruation openly to break the culture of shame, challenge myths, and ensure that women are not suffering in silence without access to proper knowledge and treatment options.