Getting your period has traditionally been deemed the first step into your womanhood. For pre-teen girls who are comparing training bra sizes, carrying a pad or tampon may be a sign of having finally made it; at least in a tangible “there’s proof every month” kind of way.
The association between womanhood and menstruation isn’t shed once other physical or mental changes begin to occur; if anything, the association strengthens. An article in The Atlantic is asking why.
“I feel like there’s a lot of things that make me feel like a woman and my period isn’t one of them,” said Kristin Vincenzo, a public-relations professional, to The Atlantic writer, Alana Massey.
The health story was inspired by the criticism and incredulity Masey experiences in her day-to-day life when she explains that her last period was May 2012 by choice. She has a Mirena IUD implanted, which is an intra-uterine device intended for birth control or to alleviate the effects of menstruation.
Throughout the piece, one very important concept is highlighted — there are no known side effects to a woman choosing a form of birth control to regulate or stop her period. It’s ultimately a decision that should be treated as a case-by-case, person-by-person life choice.
Cover image courtesy of Shutterstock.
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