LET’S TALK PERIODS

Trigger warning for any of you with a squeamish disposition: I will be taking about my period. Yes, that’s right: the blob, the crimson wave, the monthly monster - whatever you want to call it. I guess some of you may be wondering what prompted this rather taboo and obscure subject? Well, the fact is half of the world’s population bleeds once a month and like many topics associated with women or people with a cervix, we rarely have the space to talk openly and honestly about it. Shut up and put up is often the narrative when it comes to periods. My most recent period lasted almost two weeks. I was moody and irritable, tired, sad, paranoid, dizzy, bloated and doped up on paracetamol for the most part. To top it off we had a heatwave. I was so heavy that even with my heavy flow period pants on, a towel in my bed, my sheets were still ruined. I’ve not even checked to see what damage has been done to my mattress! As someone who struggles to change my own bedding - tried it once and it took me the best part of two hours - it occurred to me that as a physically disabled woman my periods seem to be even more of a stressful experience, but I never really hear anyone talk about it. So, I thought I’d just share some of my own disability-related period barriers. I was a late bloomer and didn’t even think I would get my period. Why? Because disabled people are often infantilised and not seen as sexual beings with the same reproductive organs as everyone else. Whilst all my mates got theirs, I became more and more anxious and scared that having a period was just another milestone as a disabled kid I’d miss out on and worse, this meant I’d not be able to become a mother (in the conventional sense). Like a lot of my childhood and adolescence I was left with many unanswered questions and feelings of otherness. So, if you are a parent or caregiver please, please, educate yourself and have an open conversation with your teens, because we already have enough to deal with as a disabled kid. I think it’s also important to discuss boundaries when assisting someone who needs it when using sanitary products as early on as possible. The more we talk, the less awkward these interactions need to be, and remember disabled people have a voice and deserve respect at all times.

Getting dressed from a seated position as a wheelchair user is not an easy task so pulling up knickers with a sanitary pad in them can often leave them crumpled and it feels like you are sitting on a butt plug all day - and not in a good way! If you are assisting someone with this, double and triple check it hasn’t crumpled, because it is so uncomfortable.

Having short limbs means wiping my tushy can be a challenge, never mind inserting a tampon, that’s why I really love period pants. They are an investment, and are notably much more expensive than sanitary pads, but in the long term I think they are better for the environment and they actually give me a little bit more independence. I’ve not been on my contraceptive pill for over ten years now as I was advised to stop taking them because of my limited mobility, and also a history of aneurysms in my family. However, it appears that many GPs are not very knowledgeable when it comes to giving good advice on contraception for disabled people. I think this is something that we should be pushing to educate ourselves on and perhaps urge our affiliated charities and organisations to lead the way in this research and in starting conversations. Finally, as any wheelchair user is already aware, chairs are notorious for getting hot. Black leather and island seats with metal work means that when you’re on your period you will be even more uncomfortable and sticky. Here’s a few tips to reduce chafing and skin rubbing:

Wear cycling or bike shorts

Use a little bit of petroleum jelly or anti-chafing gel

Cover your wheelchair seat with a pillowcase temporarily Periods are hard bloody work (excuse the pun), but having a disability can add to that stress. Let’s talk more and share more tips and tricks on periods, and destigmatize something that is part of being human.