Where It All Begins
Nora Swan-Foster in Art Therapy and Childbearing Issues, 2020
Since the 1920s, menstrual product advertising in the United States has focused on hiding and controlling menstruation with the right products. This way of thinking represents an “ideal” American lifestyle of “simplicity, self-sufficiency, and self-control” (Weiss-Wolf, 2017, p. 15) that does not take into account women’s true individual experiences. With regards to art therapy, it is noteworthy to consider the parallels between the creative process and the biological process. Menstruation denotes the destruction or loss of fertility, but reveals the inside of a woman, in particular remnants of her uterine lining. In a similar way, the image reflects an isomorphic expression of a woman’s subjective and emotional world. The person and the temperature of the culture come together through images. The question then becomes, are the images drawn from within her or they foisted upon her? The expressive arts could be utilized as an important way for women to break free of this dichotomy and work with their bodies, menstruation, and pain (Cohen, 1983).
Managing menopausal hot flushes and night sweats
Myra Hunter, Melanie Smith in Managing Hot Flushes and Night Sweats, 2020
Menopause is a time of transition during which we are often confronted by changes in our bodies and sometimes in the way we think about ourselves. There is no doubt that in our society, this time of midlife can be challenging as we strive to balance the needs of others – such as children still at home or leaving home or elderly parents needing more care – as well as work and other responsibilities. You may also have a feeling of ‘now or never’ about plans you have been hoping to pursue but never seem to have gotten around to because of other demands. This guide is designed to help you to manage the key physical symptoms of the menopause, hot flushes and night sweats, as well as providing information on promoting well-being and general good health during this time in your life. For some women the menopause can be a welcome occurrence, as it means the end of menstruation, the need for contraception and the possibility of pregnancy. At the same time, there can be feelings of loss or concerns about health and uncertainty about what lies ahead. Worries about ageing can be a factor too, especially in a society that places a high value on youth and youthful beauty. You may encounter negative attitudes towards the menopause and menopausal women, or even find you hold some yourself.
To remedy barrenness and to promote the faculty of generation’: promoting fertility, 1500–1800
Angus McLaren in Reproductive Rituals, 2020
Bunworth in 1656 argued that whores did not reproduce because their wombs were ‘slippery’ as a result of overuse.72 Fontanus asserted that respectable wives could suffer the same fate.73 Early marriages were, it was thought, often without issue because the seed of the spouses was still too weak and thin; the same was asserted of the elderly. There was general agreement that the days following a woman’s period were the most fertile and when one was most likely to conceive male children whereas in the second week after menstruation one would conceive girls. It was also, naturally enough, assumed that the warm, moist months of spring, the ‘vernal months’, were most conducive to fruitful unions, while the hot, dry months of late summer were not.74
Period Poverty in Lebanon: A Call for Action
Published in Women's Reproductive Health, 2023
Lea Sacca, Christelle Maroun, Stephanie Khoury, Veronica Maroun, Jason Khoury, Priscilla Bouery
It is estimated that half the world’s female population (more than 1.9 billion individuals) experience menstruation every month (Alvarez, 2019). Yet, as normal as it seems, menstruation is still stigmatized around the world, particularly in developing countries with inadequate access to menstrual management and hygiene provisions (Alvarez, 2019; Rodriguez, 2021). According to the American Medical Women’s Association, period poverty is defined as the inadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and educational material, such as sanitary products, washing facilities, and waste management (Vardapetyan, 2021). The issues arising from period poverty hinder societies from attaining the United Nations goals of achieving gender equality by ensuring everyone accessible, affordable, and safe water and sanitation measures (Rodriguez, 2021).
Trait Body Shame Predicts Menstrual-Related Symptoms: Evidence for Extending the Menstrual Reactivity Hypothesis
Published in Women's Reproductive Health, 2023
Jean M. Lamont
Menstrual-related symptoms—such as bloating, abdominal cramps, and fatigue that occur prior to and during menstruation—are viewed as a common occurrence (Chrisler & Levy, 1990; Gottleib, 2020). Such symptoms are expected to occur in the premenstrual phase, or the phase immediately prior to menstruation, and the menstrual phase when menstruation is occurring. They are expected to be absent in the intermenstrual phase, or the phase between the menstrual and premenstrual phases (e.g., Abplanalp et al., 1979; Sigmon et al., 1996). Moreover, cultural wisdom suggests that the experience of these symptoms is mediated by hormones (Chrisler & Levy, 1990; Gottleib, 2020). However, despite reliable hormonal changes across a normal menstrual cycle, menstrual-related symptom severity has been shown to be unrelated to hormone levels (Abplanalp et al., 1979; Bäckström et al., 1983; Sanders et al., 1983) and to vary greatly from person to person (Sigmon, Rohan, et al., 2000).
Translation and validation of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales for menopausal women in Indonesia
Published in Climacteric, 2022
H. D. Susanti, I. Sonko, M.-H. Chung
Mood changes experienced by women with depression may be attributed to menopause, caused by the somatic symptoms that occur during this period. Another study reported that severe and prolonged menopause can cause and worsen mood changes in some women [4]. Furthermore, symptoms that occur in menopausal women may threaten their overall health [5]. Most women consider the aging process and menopause to negatively affect their lives, and the attitude of menopausal women to life changes that occur can affect their level of stress associated with the experience [5,6]. Menopause is a condition in which women do not experience menstruation and their ovaries produce less of the hormones estradiol and progesterone, resulting in infertility [4]. The transition process from fertility to infertility in women gradually occurs over several years of life, typically starting from the age of 45 years [4]. These conditions can result in psychological disorders, excessive stress, mood swings, sleep disturbance and forgetfulness [4].
Related Knowledge Centers
- Menarche
- Menstrual Cycle
- Mucous Membrane
- Progesterone
- Endometrium
- Menopause
- Vagina
- Pregnancy
- Hormone
- Breastfeeding