(no subject)

[rivka]

My parents were diligent and responsible, plus I had two older sisters and an extensive reading habit. So, long before my first period arrived, I had a very good biological and practical understanding of what was involved.

But I can still remember, that first day, my feeling of outrage as the reality sunk in: "Really? Every month from now on, this?! Are you kidding me? What a lousy way to organize a species!"

Then, for eighteen years or so, it did happen every month, and it was just... normal. Inconvenient, but normal. It stopped when I was pregnant with Alex, but because I stopped nursing her so early it was back by four months postpartum. That wasn't long enough to lose my sense of "normal."

But Colin nurses like a fiend, and when my period arrived yesterday it was one month shy of two solid years since the previous one. And that one was one of only two or three that I had after I miscarried; then add in my second pregnancy as well.

So, at age 36, I find that I've lost my sense of "normal" again. I'm sitting here thinking "Are you kidding me with this? Why do we do this?! No, I know about the uterine lining, but really, people, what the hell?"

Comments

[janetl.livejournal.com]

I am reminded of some ancient history. I was given a new prescription for birth controls pills that were slightly different than old ones -- lower dose and presumed healthier. I had breakthrough bleeding for several days mid-cycle. I go to the doctor's office, where I am seen by a female nurse practioner. I explain the problem and say I want a prescription for the former product. NP goes to male doctor, returns and says "doctor says that breakthrough bleeding is minor thing, and you should stay on this new prescription".
Me, in Darth Vader voice (if memory serves), "I must speak to that doctor NOW". And more along that line, until she actually dares to bother the doctor (this was 25 years ago).
Doctor, much surprised and irritated at being questioned, arrives. Me (a.k.a. Darth Vader), "Do you have any idea what it is like to have a orifice without a sphincter that can bleed at any time? No control at all? What on earth makes you think this is a minor annoyance?" and more in that vein.
Needless to say, he did not apologize for presuming to make decisions for me without talking to me first, or imply that his wisdom wasn't superior, but he did immediately wrote the prescription to get me the hell out of there.

[ailbhe]

*applause*